Gyula Castle Festival
24-26 July 2026 (Friday-Sunday)
Traditionalist festivities and war game
Year after year, during the last weekend of July, some 300 traditionalists re-enact the 1566 siege of the Gyula Fortress.
One of the most spectacular war games of Hungary revive real events with live commentary and explanations about the unfolding story.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Between July 2nd and September 2nd 1566, some 30 thousand Ottoman soldiers surrounded and assaulted the castle of Gyula which was protected by 2-2.5 thousand Christian soldiers. In the military history of Hungary, this was an exceptionally long siege. The battle ended with the signing of the surrendering treaty by László Kerecsényi, constable of the Gyula fortress and Pasha Pertev, the brother-in-law of Sultan Suleiman II. Due to the depletion of stock in the castle and the dysentery epidemic, the Hungarian captain handed the castle over to the Ottomans in return for free passage.
In its time, what Kerecsényi did was considered to be high treason, but historical sciences today look at this event differently. The memory of these 16th century heroes is kept alive daily, through the professionals who work at the castle, and yearly, over a three day period, by traditionalists and the ever growing number of those who attend these unforgettable events.
Check out our Facebook page, and relive the siege with us! We’ll show you, day by day, exactly what happened 460 years ago.
The Border Fortress Days of Gyula
During this festival, the Turkish era Gyula comes alive. On the last weekend of July, one can gain insight into the lives of the heroes who fought on the battlefields. Through the re-enactment of the war scenes, the tradition keepers evoke the spirit of the battles. They retell the story of the castle and its surroundings, the legends of the defending heroes and the lives of the defenders and the attackers. On the castle grounds, one can look into the traditionalists’ camps in order to see from up-close how they dressed, what they ate, and how they passed time 500 years ago.
The most interesting and spectacular part of the festival is the war game which revives the moments of the attack sequences.
At night, the visitor can decide whether they want to listen to a concert on one side of the castle or to party with the traditionalists on the other.
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Programs 2026
24 July (Friday)
Events in the town centre
18.00-19.00 Gladius Hungaricus Band
Location: Pálmakert restaurant
Events at the hussar castle
19.30 Opening ceremony of the XIV. Gyula Castle Festival Gun salute in memory of the heroes defending the castle Parade in the historical area of town Route: Várkert – Harruckern square – World Clock – Kossuth square – World Clock – Harruckern square – Várkert)
Gun salute by the traditionalists during the parade at Kossuth square and in front of the Directorate of Water Management (Vízügyi Igazgatóság) building.
21.30 A GRUND – band from Vígszínház
Events can be visited free of charge with the exception of the programs in the Gyula Castle and Castle Spa.
We reserve the right to change the program.
25 July (Saturday)
Events at the northern plank bastion
10.00-20.00 Kahvehane – eastern cafe
Introducing Turkish aristocratic life – hookah, rosewater-based drinks
11.00-12.00 “What is a hungry soldier worth?” Camp show kitchen from the Early Modern Era
21.00 Camp festivity
With Hollóének Hungarica Early Music Band, Gladius Hungaricus Band
Events at the zwinger
10.00-20.00
Presentation of pastoral life and clothes, construction of Hortobágy reed huts
Events at the hussar castle
10.00 Greyhound show – demonstration of coursing
17.30 RE-ENACTMENT OF THE SIEGE OF GYULA CASTLE with the participation of international military traditionalist groups
20.00 DEÁK BILL GYULA
22.00 TORNÓCZKY ALL ACCESS
Events at the eastern plank
10.00-20.00
Historical game yard
Hungarikum exhibition (felt cloak, bullwhip, tools of shepherding)
Rabbit whipping – pastoral games, bullwhip
14.00-15.00 Camp show kitchen (wheat threshing, grinding, flatbread baking, honey beer tasting)
Events at the western plank wall
10.00-19.00 Crafts, tricky puzzles, skill games
11.00-12.00 Nősülne a kapitány (historical play)
13.00-14.00 Soldier Academy – foam fencing
14.00-15.00 Archery – medieval interactive game for children
15.00-16.00 Battle of squires vs. marauders
16.00-17.00 Instruments in hands – Hollóének Hungarica Early Music Band
Events in the castle
10.00 Forged in Fire – operating smithy
11.00 Falconry demonstration
12.30 Fencing – demonstration and teaching
The events can be visited with the entrance tickets to the castle (armband with unlimited entries for the day: +500 Ft/person).
Events in the Castle Spa
15.00 Raiding Turkish marauders – the Seymens of Tata Castle
The events can be visited at the current ticket prices of the Castle Bath.
Events at the moat
10.00-20.00 Life on the moors – presentation of traditional moorland life
Events can be visited free of charge with the exception of the programs in the Gyula Castle and Castle Spa.
We reserve the right to change the program.
26 July (Sunday)
Events at the northern plank bastion
10.00-18.00 Kahvehane – eastern cafe
Introducing Turkish aristocratic life – hookah, rosewater-based drinks
14.00-15.00 “What is a hungry soldier worth?” Camp show kitchen from the Early Modern Era
Events at the zwinger
10.00-18.00
Presentation of pastoral life and clothes, construction of Hortobágy reed huts
Events at the hussar castle
16.00 Recapturing of Gyula Castle
19.30 MAGNA CUM LAUDE
21.00 Thomas Necker
21.30 SHOW&BORS
Events at the eastern plank
10.00-18.00
Historical game yard
Hungarikum exhibition (felt cloak, bullwhip, tools of shepherding)
Rabbit whipping – pastoral games, bullwhip
Events at the western plank wall
10.00-18.00 Crafts, tricky puzzles, skill games
10.00-11.00 Heptathlon and squire training for children
11.00-12.00 Gladius Hungaricus Band
12.00-13.00 Mercenary School
13.00-14.00 Falconry demonstration
14.00-14.30 Witch race
14.30-15.30 Battle of squires vs. marauders
Events in the castle
11.30 Weapons in hand – you can hold the weapons in your hands
The events can be visited with the entrance tickets to the castle (armband with unlimited entries for the day: +500 Ft/person).
Events at the moat
10.00-18.00 Life on the moors – presentation of traditional moorland life
Events can be visited free of charge with the exception of the programs in the Gyula Castle and Castle Spa.
We reserve the right to change the program.
