- Noémi Vizi
- Photos: Szilvási Csaba
- Reading time: 2 minutes
The Pongrácz Castle in Csombárd – a home of nature-inspired dreams
"I would only exchange our dream home, which includes an equestrian estate in Fejér County, for a castle at most," says the owner of the Pongrácz Castle in Csombárd. Their lives changed completely when they sold everything they owned, loaded their furniture, belongings, clothes, and of course their horses onto trucks, and moved their entire life to the small village in Somogy County, into the castle. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves…
Csombárd is a small village located approximately a 12-minute drive from Kaposvár, first mentioned in historical records in 1324. The area belonged to the estates of the Csák family (Mihály Csák in 1726, after his death his wife Erzsébet Bakó from 1733, and Imre Csák1 for ten years from 1767). They began construction in the 1700s, possibly in the early 1730s. Then love intervened, and one of the Csák daughters married a male member of the Pongrácz family2. The two families united, and together they completed the manor house that can still be seen today, around 1780. Gusztáv Pongrácz dreamed of creating a magnificent weekend residence here and commissioned the building in the Baroque style. It was used as a retreat, not as a permanent residence. The landscaping of the park and the planting of trees had already begun during this period. Some ancient trees can still be seen on the estate today. The 300-year-old oak tree is one of the jewels of the arboretum, standing in front of the castle. (The estate officially came under the ownership of the Pongrácz family in 1856.)
The last noble owner was Elemér Klobusiczy Blaskovich, from whom the castle was nationalised in the 1940s. It was then used as a cooperative office and also served as staff accommodation3. Preservation works began in the 1980s under the guidance of the chief architect of Somogy County. Once the building became habitable again, it regained its original function, as it continued operating as a holiday retreat of SÁÉV (Somogy County State Construction Company). For several years it also welcomed guests as a castle hotel, but later it passed into private ownership. Many people attempted to save the building, but all of them eventually gave up before completing their mission. The exception is the current rescuers of the Pongrácz Castle, who took on the challenge in the 2020s.
They were not discouraged by the enormous waist-high weeds, nor by the looted, neglected, water-damaged, yet structurally excellent building. They simply fell in love with it. When they sold their equestrian estate, the family of three moved to Csombárd together with their horses, which they consider family members. At that time, they did not yet know how many challenges they would face or how long it would take to restore the castle on its 3-hectare estate to its deserved splendour. They dreamed big – and succeeded in making that dream a reality. In 2021, they moved into one room of the castle and progressed slowly, step by step. From autumn 2022, the building began operating as a 20-room castle hotel and event centre. One year later, it was expanded with a restaurant4. With a salon, lounge, large kitchen and comfortable rooms, the Pongrácz Castle welcomes guests as a castle hotel and event venue.
The chapel is one of the jewels of the estate. Similar to the castle itself, its walls are decorated with Baroque-style frescoes, which have survived in remarkably good condition. A photograph from 1901 was discovered and used as the basis for the reconstruction. The restoration was not an easy task, as the cooperative had previously used the chapel as a coal storage facility5. The works began in 1990. Although the altar was eventually moved to a church near Lake Balaton and the chapel has not been consecrated, it remains a charming place worth visiting to admire the frescoes. The Pongrácz Castle is also considered a historic monument.
To enhance relaxation and peaceful immersion in nature, the garden features a traditional bathing tub, while the wellness area in the cellar includes a sauna and jacuzzi. Children can also enjoy their stay, as a playground and sports facilities are located in front of the castle. A visit to Csombárd offers a truly active and rejuvenating experience.
If you are looking for a similar castle or villa, please contact us. Dániel Vitáry is available at +3630/618-2271 or via email at vitary@dandan.hu.
