The Széchenyi Family’s Estates and Castles in Hungary

The name of Ferenc Széchényi (1754–1820) is closely associated with the foundation of the Hungarian National Museum. He was a dedicated collector of art and historical objects. He lived in Horpács and later moved to the castle in Cenk after the death of his parents. In 1802, he offered his collections – including engravings, maps, coin collections, as well as books, Hungarian-related printed works and manuscripts – to the public. This donation led to the creation of the Hungarian National Museum and indirectly contributed to the establishment of the National Széchényi Library⁶. Plans for the reconstruction of the Nagycenk castle were prepared in 1791 by architect Menyhért Hefele, but the count was reluctant to add another floor to the building. Instead, he commissioned József Ringer to create more modest plans, which were completed by 1800.⁷

Ferenc’s son was István Széchenyi (1791–1860), known as “the Greatest Hungarian”. István received a religious education, while his family also considered language learning extremely important. The family spoke and corresponded in German, while Széchenyi also mastered Latin, English, French and Italian⁸. This knowledge laid the foundation for his later travels and international connections. The experiences he gained abroad greatly influenced his reform-minded thinking. In 1809, together with his uncle Pál, he joined the noble army fighting against Napoleon. His military career lasted until 1826, during which he received several honours⁹. He inherited the estate of Cenk from his father in 1815 and became increasingly interested in horse breeding. He travelled to England several times and purchased horses there. Thanks to his initiatives, horse races began in Pest and the first Hungarian casino was established. In 1821, he met Baron Miklós Wesselényi, whose influence encouraged him to improve his Hungarian language skills. In 1825, Széchenyi delivered a speech in Hungarian in support of national spirit and the development of the Hungarian language, offering one year’s income from his estates for this purpose. This donation became the foundation of the Hungarian national scientific institution¹⁰, today known as the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.