To the Manor Born

Citadels of Hungarian Independence
The hilly region to the north-west of Hungary was once of great strategic importance in the wars with the Turks and Habsburgs. As a result, the countryside is scattered with the remains of a number of castles and fortresses, most notably those the fort in  Eger and the Rákoczi castle in Sárospatak. The legacy of the ill-fated war of independence fought by Ferenc Rákóczi from 1703 to 1711 can be explored on walking tours linking the hilltop castle ruins in the Zemplén Hills. Some castles, such as that at Szirák, Sasvár in Parádsasvár and the Erzsébet Királyné in Parádfürdő have been painstakingly restored and now offer top-quality accomodation.