A simontornyai vár: Kandidátusi disszertáció, 1980
The Castle of Simontornya: Candidate's Dissertation, 1980

Author(s): Miklós Horler
Contributor(s): Anna Tüskés (Editor)
Subject(s): Architecture, Visual Arts, History of Art
Published by: Pécsi Tudományegyetem Művészeti Kar Művészettörténet Tanszék
Keywords: Renaissance fortress-palaces; medieval castle; restoration; architectural history; archaeology; art history; engineering methods; Central European castle architecture; Simontornya
Summary/Abstract: The monograph examines the architectural history, historical significance, and scientific restoration of the medieval castle of Simontornya, one of Hungary’s most important surviving Renaissance fortress-palaces. The study originated from a large-scale restoration project carried out between 1964 and 1975, during which historical research, archaeology, architecture, and monument conservation were closely integrated. The author presents the restoration not only as a technical reconstruction but also as an interdisciplinary scientific process combining architectural history, archaeology, art history, and engineering methods. The book traces the origins of the castle back to the late thirteenth century, when Simon, son of Salamon from the Döröcske clan, established the first fortified structure on the site. Subsequent chapters analyze the transformations of the fortress under major aristocratic families including the Lackfis, the Garais, and the influential Renaissance patron Mózes Buzlay during the late Middle Ages. A central theme of the monograph is the reconstruction of the castle’s Renaissance rebuilding around 1508, which the author interprets as a key example of the spread of Italian Renaissance culture from the royal court of Buda into provincial Hungary. The work provides detailed analyses of architectural elements such as courtyards, façades, loggias, fireplaces, windows, portals, spatial organization, and decorative stone fragments uncovered during excavations. Horler argues that the scientific study of architectural fragments and structural remains allows historians to reconstruct lost medieval buildings more accurately than traditional stylistic analysis alone. The monograph also situates Simontornya within broader Central European architectural developments, demonstrating connections with Bohemian, Austrian, and Italian castle architecture and Renaissance court culture. Overall, the book presents Simontornya Castle as a crucial monument for understanding the evolution of Hungarian medieval and Renaissance architecture, while also serving as a methodological model for modern monument restoration and architectural-historical research.

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