Savoy Castle
Encyclopedia
The Savoy Castle is an 18th century
baroque style castle located in Ráckeve
, Hungary
. Construction of the spacious home was begun in 1702 at the commissioning of Prince Eugene of Savoy
and finished in approximately 1722. Prince Eugene of Savoy acquired Csepel Island
in 1698, and thereafter began the planning process of this "maison de plaisance". Eugene commissioned Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt, a student of the Roman Carlo Fontana
to design the castle. Seven letters from Hildebrandt to the prince remain in the archives of the Gonzaga family in Mantua
and evidence planning and construction information about the castle. The castle has side-wings which were completed in 1714 and the whole construction process was finished in around 1720 to 1722. The prince did not actually reside in Ráckeve mansion after it was finished and, following his death, the estate was appropriated by the Crown.
Under the reign of Maria Theresia of Austria, the mansion and the adjoining land in Csepel was managed by the Hungarian Chancery. In 1814 the middle part of the mansion, along with the stately Baroque cupola, was destroyed by fire; what is seen today was rebuilt after the fire. Until its reconstruction in the 1980s the mansion suffered constant decline. The castle has enjoyed renovation and revitalization and is presently used as a hotel.
18th century
The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar.During the 18th century, the Enlightenment culminated in the French and American revolutions. Philosophy and science increased in prominence. Philosophers were dreaming about a better age without the Christian fundamentalism of...
baroque style castle located in Ráckeve
Ráckeve
Ráckeve Ráckeve Ráckeve (Ráckeve (Ráckeve ([[Serbian language|Serbian: Српски Ковин) is a town on [[Csepel Island]] in [[Hungary]]. It is situated in [[]].-History:...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. Construction of the spacious home was begun in 1702 at the commissioning of Prince Eugene of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy , was one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history, rising to the highest offices of state at the Imperial court in Vienna. Born in Paris to aristocratic Italian parents, Eugene grew up around the French court of King Louis XIV...
and finished in approximately 1722. Prince Eugene of Savoy acquired Csepel Island
Csepel Island
Csepel Island is the largest island of the River Danube in Hungary. It is 48 km long; its width is 6–8 km. Its area comprises 257 km². The word Csepel is pronounced CHE-pel....
in 1698, and thereafter began the planning process of this "maison de plaisance". Eugene commissioned Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt, a student of the Roman Carlo Fontana
Carlo Fontana
Carlo Fontana was an Italian architect, who was in part responsible for the classicizing direction taken by Late Baroque Roman architecture.-Biography:...
to design the castle. Seven letters from Hildebrandt to the prince remain in the archives of the Gonzaga family in Mantua
Mantua
Mantua is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province of the same name. Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family, made it one of the main artistic, cultural and notably musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole...
and evidence planning and construction information about the castle. The castle has side-wings which were completed in 1714 and the whole construction process was finished in around 1720 to 1722. The prince did not actually reside in Ráckeve mansion after it was finished and, following his death, the estate was appropriated by the Crown.
Under the reign of Maria Theresia of Austria, the mansion and the adjoining land in Csepel was managed by the Hungarian Chancery. In 1814 the middle part of the mansion, along with the stately Baroque cupola, was destroyed by fire; what is seen today was rebuilt after the fire. Until its reconstruction in the 1980s the mansion suffered constant decline. The castle has enjoyed renovation and revitalization and is presently used as a hotel.