The medieval castle that once stood on the site of the mansion was surrounded by the floodplain forests of the River Danube. When in the 18th century the building was refurbished in a Baroque style, a correspondingly fashionable park was established. In the 1790's Bernhard Petri (1768-1853), the fashionable landscape gardener of the day, arranged a sentimental landscape garden, partly on the territory of the former Baroque park.

The designer's descriptions of the work carried out and the beauty of the finished gardens have survived to this day. From these it is evident that he used all the principle tools to conjure up the desired atmosphere. There was a stream with a little island upon which stands a statue of a centaur, as well as bridges, garden vases, stone benches, a neo-Gothic garden hut, a Romanesque-style church and picturesque clumps of trees and groves.

Immediately around the building, giant plane trees stand tall, one huge specimen even in the mansion's enclosed courtyard. Behind the mansion is a large grassy area also lined with centuries-old giant trees: vast maples, pines, yews, poplars and lindens.The gardens have been a nature reserve since 1965.

It can be visited upon prior arrangement.

This is part of the Xploring Hungary series sponsored by FoxAutorent

How to get there:
By public transport, local Volán buses that serve the village from Győr. By car exit the M1 motorway at Lébény and continue northeast, then after Mecsény turn left to Ásványráró and reach Hédervár after another six kilometres.

Address: Hédervár, Fő u. 47.
Phone: 96/213-578

Source: hungarystarsthere.com