Historical Playhouse
In December 2023, the Historical Playhouse opened in the former Milking Barn of the Festetics estate, thanks to European Union funding. Located on Bécsi Kapu Street, the building is not only a guardian of history but also a genuine adventure park, featuring modern and exciting play opportunities. It perfectly illustrates how the treasures of the past can become today’s joys.
The southern wing houses two rooms for craft workshops, welcoming kindergarten and school groups. Three rooms host the exhibition “This Is What Cows Are Like,” where children can learn about cattle, milk, and dairy products through playful, hands-on activities. The main attraction is the 202 m² playhouse, reflecting Festetics history, with rooms specifically designed for boys and girls. A boat installed in the playhouse—complete with a slide, climbing structure, and drawing table—recalls the noble family’s shipbuilding past.
The project, “Integrated Product and Service Development of Keszthely Festetics Castle” (GINOP-7.1.9-17-2020-00039), was realized with 2,524,528,239 HUF in non-refundable European Union funding.
Opening Hours
June 1 – August 31: Monday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00
September 1 – May 31: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00
The playhouse is an ideal venue for children’s birthday parties, offering countless games and unforgettable experiences with friends. Children of all ages, from toddlers to energetic older kids (0–10 years), can enjoy a fun-filled day of play.
The playhouse also hosts family events and craft workshops for kindergarten and primary school groups. Make it a day dedicated entirely to celebration and carefree fun!
Contact: jatszohaz@nof.hu
Rendezvények alkalmával a feltüntetett jegyárak módosításának jogát fenntartjuk.
Ticket Prices Weekdays | ||
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0–2 years:
| Free |
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2–10 years
| 1 800 Ft |
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Accompanying adult
| 1 000 Ft |
Ticket Prices Weekends | ||
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0-2 years
| Free |
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2-10 years
| 2 600 Ft |
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Accompanying adult
| 1 600 Ft |
History of the Milking Barn
The castle’s Milking Barn, today known as the Fejőház, was built during the era of Festetics II. Tasziló in 1889. Situated at the far corner of the park, the barn originally housed 24 milking cows, 10 one-year-old calves, and 11 nursing calves. It was complemented by farm utility rooms, including a fodder room, milk storage, cooling chamber, kitchen, and staff quarters. The estate’s milkmaids lived on-site and produced various dairy products for the Festetics kitchen. Historical accounts note that Mary Hamilton often visited to taste the products alongside the children.
The entrance leads to a salon, separated from the stables by a sluice room to ensure hygiene. The floor plan labels a room as the “Countess’s Salon,” showing that the Milking Barn was not only functional but also served a representational purpose. Designed as an ornate garden pavilion, it provided a resting place for park visitors. Together with the Holland House commissioned by the Dég branch of the Festetics family, the Milking Barn represents one of the most significant surviving examples in Hungary of the idealized farm buildings characteristic of landscape gardens.
FURTHER EXHIBITIONS
Hunting Exhibition
Historical Model Railway Exhibition
Carriage Exhibition
Bird Park
Aristocratic Travels and Adventures Exhibition
