Rákóczi Castle
Sárospatak, Hungary
A Renaissance castle on the Bodrog river, seat of the Rákóczi princes, with a museum on their uprising against the Habsburgs and a pleasant riverside park.
Rákóczi Castle (Sárospataki vár) in Sárospatak in northeastern Hungary is a key cultural site of the region. Building began in the 16th century. From 1616 the Rákóczi family lived in the castle for about 100 years. Ferenc Rákóczi II led a freedom struggle against the Habsburgs for eight years from 1703, and in 1708 a session of parliament met in the castle. In the Sub Rosa room a conspiracy against the Habsburgs was formed in the 1670s, at the wedding of Ferenc Rákóczi I.
According to Visit Hungary it is the best-preserved Renaissance castle in Hungary. The Lorántffy Loggia, completed in 1642, is described there as the most beautiful Renaissance stairway in the country. In the Red Tower an exhibition shows the lifestyle of the nobility in the 16th and 17th centuries; the tower also holds a 22-metre-deep well cut through rock. A reconstructed gun foundry stands in the courtyard.
Today the castle houses the Rákóczi Museum of the Hungarian National Museum. Check opening hours and exhibitions beforehand.
- Nearest town
- Sárospatak, Hungary
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 48.3236, 21.5745
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Hungary: Vignette needed for motorways. Buy the e-vignette online before you drive on motorways. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Tengerszem CampingCampsite1 km from Rákóczi Castle · 300 pitchesWi-Fi
- Bodrog Turistaház és KempingCampsite10 km from Rákóczi CastleTentsCaravans
- Smaragdvölgy PihenőparkCampsite11 km from Rákóczi Castle
- Táborisko pri Rákócziho kaštieliCampsite12 km from Rákóczi CastleTents
- Camping Malá BaraCampsite16 km from Rákóczi CastleTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowers
- Téka táborCampsite24 km from Rákóczi Castle
All campsites in Hungary · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Rákóczi Castle?
Rákóczi Castle is in Sárospatak, Hungary, at GPS 48.3236, 21.5745. It is about 26 km from Tokaj.
Can you camp near Rákóczi Castle?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Sárospataki Református Kollégium Csónakháza, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 12 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Rákóczi Castle?
Rákóczi Castle is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Eger and Tokaj: Hungary’s northern wine hills.
What is there to see near Rákóczi Castle?
Places worth a stop nearby: Tokaj (26 km), Košice Old Town (50 km), Zádiel Gorge (64 km) and Krásna Hôrka Castle (81 km).
When is the best time to visit Rákóczi Castle?
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)