Gyula Castle Theatre

Annually from 1 July to 15 August

Since 1964 the court-yard of Central Europe’s only complete brick castle has been home to the GyulaCastleTheatre and artistic festival. On every night between 1 July and 15 August Gyula awaits visitors with spectacular historical drama, opera, operetta, ballet, puppet theatre, classical music, medieval court music, jazz, folk music and the best of folk dancing.

The performers are principally Hungary’s leading professional groups and artists. but the program also includes regular appearances by foreign artists. Performances are also held on the sumptuous stage by the lake next to the castle courtyard, and on various other stages around the town, thus creating a truly magical festival in Gyula, the pearl of the Alföld.

Although tourism has always been significant in the Western part of Hungary, fewer tourists come to the East of the country. But Gyula, at the Southeast tip of Hungary, is a town with an unparalleled atmosphere that houses one of the country’s largest and most beautiful thermal baths. It has 12 museums. Offering advanced infrastructure and good hospitality, the town is an ideal centre for cultural tourism.

Festive events have been held on Cathedral Square in Szeged since 1931. An audience of up to 4000 is offered real popular theatrical productions: opera, drama, folklore, musicals, and rock operas. Every year Cathedral Square, Hungary’s most impressive square, is transformed into a theatre, with modern seating stands, a lighting tower, a sound system, orchestra pit and rotating stage, and is home to the country’s biggest open-air theatre and music festival.

A particularly important moment in the festival’s past was the premiere of Cavalleria Rusticana, performed by the musicians of the Scala in Milan, with Mascagni conducting. Since then every year has brought spectacular productions with the participation of world stars. Since the mid-Eighties this is where the Hungarian premieres of the most significant foreign and Hungarian rock operas (István the King, Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Misérables, Cats, Miss Saigon, Elisabeth), take place. Memorable dramas include Madách’s The Tragedy of Man, many of Shakespeare’s works, Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, Schiller’s William Tell, and Rostand’s Cyrano.

All across the town the program is enriched by fine art exhibitions, chamber music concerts, organ concerts, and alternative theatre company performances. Szeged is a real festival city, in the heart of Europe, easy to find on the E5. The city has hot and cold baths, and convalescent holiday resorts. The region offers farm programs and horse-riding. And the visitor looking for the famous Szeged paprika or fish soup will not be disappointed. In particular we recommend the Ópusztaszer National Memorial Park and the Bugac plain.