The sturdy remains of the medieval castle – one of four original towers and a palace wing – were rebuilt in neo-Gothic style at the end of the 19th century to mark a visit by Emperor Franz Joseph. Once a royal retreat for kings Sigismund and Matthias, today they house the Domokos Kuny Museum . On the ground floor are a mishmash of archaeological finds from nearby Roman settlements, bits of the 12th-century Benedictine monastery near Oroszlány and contemporary drawings of the castle in its heyday. The ‘Life in the Old Castle’ exhibit on the 1st floor is interesting; don’t miss the cathedral-like green-tiled Gothic stove that takes pride of place in the Knights’ Hall. Material on the 2nd floor comprises the black and white sketches of János Schadl and the work of a dozen 18th-century artisans, including Kuny, a master ceramicist. Tata porcelain was well known for centuries (the crayfish, once abundant in the lake, was a common motif) and the craft indirectly led to the foundation of the porcelain factory at Herend near Veszprém.
