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Written by:
Noémi Vizi
- Photos: Rajkai Péter
- Reading time: 2 minutes
The Eclectic Nieger-Valkó Manor House
Our next choice for presentation is the Nieger-Valkó Manor House, located in Solymár, Pest County. As an interesting historical fact, the settlement was already inhabited during the Bronze Age and the Roman period. Later, during the Ottoman occupation, it became depopulated, and at the beginning of the 18th century German settlers, known as Swabians, were brought here. A castle once stood in the area as well, surrounded by legends, but over the centuries its memory gradually faded into obscurity.
The Nieger-Valkó Manor House stands next to the railway station of Solymár and is unfortunately abandoned today, in a dangerously deteriorated condition. Yet this eclectic-style property was most likely built in the first years of the 20th century. Its builder was Károly Nieger, a painter of German origin who was primarily known for creating replicas of works by famous artists. He moved to Solymár in 1895, purchased a plot of land, and built the fortress-like manor house he had envisioned. With its terraces, staircases, and romantic, wild garden, it immediately attracted attention. However, his life took a different turn, and he sold the property to the Valkó family in 19061.
László Valkó was a civil servant who was also interested in sculpture, as was his younger son, also named László. They decorated the exterior walls with reliefs, carvings, and wall sculptures. The elder Valkó son, Aristid, originally graduated as a lawyer, but he was deeply interested in music and archaeology as well. The garden of the manor house concealed numerous archaeological finds from the Iron Age, the Roman period, and the era of King Matthias Corvinus. Their exploration is connected to Aristid Valkó, who even established a small private museum in one of the rooms of the manor to display the discovered artefacts. From the 1930s until his death in 1988, he welcomed visiting groups every Sunday and personally guided them through his collection.
Aristid also had a much greater ambition connected to the previously mentioned castle of Solymár: he wanted to discover and excavate its remains. The site called Sloszpéeg by the Swabian inhabitants – better known today as Matthias Hill – was a significant clue, as its German/Swabian name means “Castle Hill”2. Although he tried to convince others that the remains of the former castle were hidden beneath the hill, few believed him. He began excavations alone, later assisted by his father, and after news spread about the discoveries, more and more people joined the work. The excavation lasted for 15 years, between 1928 and 1943. With remarkable dedication and perseverance, he fulfilled his dream. The archaeological finds from different historical periods were presented to visitors in his private museum. After his death, his collection was transferred partly to the Hungarian National Museum and partly to the museum of the Solymár Local History Society.
Following Aristid Valkó’s death, the Valkó family sold the manor house, which changed owners several times over the decades. Various smaller and larger alterations were carried out, but these unfortunately damaged the overall appearance rather than improving it. The restoration of this unique building requires a dedicated patron who falls in love with the eclectic manor house and, sparing no resources, opens a new chapter in its history.
