Tévedések az enteriőrbemutatásokban I. III. Béla király esztergomi várbeli írókabinetje; Mátyás király reneszánsz lakosztálya Kőszegen; víziváraink és vízivárkastélyaink; gödöllői lovarda; barokk alkóvos hálószoba
Errors in interior presentations: King Béla III's writing room in Esztergom Castle; King Matthias's Renaissance suite in Kőszeg; our moated castles and moated castle mansions; Gödöllő riding school; Baroque alcove bedroom

Author(s): Károly Bugár-Mészáros
Subject(s): Architecture, History of Art
Published by: Pécsi Tudományegyetem Művészeti Kar Művészettörténet Tanszék
Keywords: historic interiors; monument preservation; castle restoration; interior reconstruction; heritage interpretation; medieval residences; Baroque architecture; Renaissance interiors; historical authenticity; cultural heritage
Summary/Abstract: The study critically examines widespread errors in the presentation and interpretation of historical interiors in castles, palaces, and monumental buildings. The author argues that authentic monument presentation should reconstruct the original functions and lifestyle context of historical interiors instead of creating unrelated modern exhibitions within restored spaces. One major example discussed is the royal residence of King Béla III in Esztergom, where a medieval writing cabinet (scriptorium) was mistakenly reconstructed as a double-seated toilet despite its ceremonial architectural setting. The paper demonstrates that the original spatial hierarchy of medieval royal apartments can be understood through international analogies such as the papal palace in Avignon and the archiepiscopal fortress in Salzburg. Another important case study analyzes the Renaissance apartments of King Matthias in Kőszeg Castle, where original room divisions were removed and transformed into a modern theatre hall, destroying the authentic residential sequence. The author also criticizes the restoration of Hungarian moated castles whose defensive water systems were left dry, thereby eliminating an essential component of their historical character. Special attention is devoted to the Baroque riding hall of Gödöllő Palace, whose original monumental interior was divided by modern constructions that concealed its historic architectural structure. The study further examines the destruction and inappropriate modernization of rare Baroque alcove bedrooms, including the insertion of elevators into historically significant sleeping alcoves. Additional examples from Gyula Castle illustrate how Empire-style ceremonial halls, bedrooms, dining rooms, and residential towers were transformed into modern exhibition spaces, cafés, offices, and escape rooms, ignoring their historical functions and decorative programs. The author concludes that such interventions seriously damage the visual and cultural integrity of Hungary’s architectural heritage and calls for restoration practices that respect original spatial organization, interior decoration, and historical lifestyle representation.

• Details
• Contents