Illésházy Castle in Máriatölgyes
Building, structure
The former Illésházy Castle stands in the center of the city. The four-winged, multi-story, towered, simple Baroque building had 60 rooms and a chapel. ; The construction work of the castle was started in the 1740s by Count Illésházy Gáspár Illésházy (1593 –1648). After his death, his son, Gábor Illésházy (1618–1667), and then György Illésházy (1625–1689), inherited the estate, who completed the western wing of the building, where he also furnished a chapel. The building received its current form under the ownership of György Illésházy's adopted son, Miklós Illésházy (1653 –1723). ; After the death of István Illésházy (XI.) (1762–1838), the Illésházy family became extinct, and its estates passed to various noble families – the Batthyánys, the Esterházys and the Sina banking family. The Máriatölgyes Castle became the property of the Sina family. István Illésházy's valuable collection of manuscripts and books became the property of the Hungarian National Museum. The collection also included the Dubnici Chronicle, which was written about the history of the Hungarians in Oradea in 1479. ; The renovated wing of the building, facing the street, houses the City Museum and a tourist information center. The castle also has an extensive English park.