Perched on the banks of the River Rába, Sárvár is renowned throughout Hungry for its revitalising spa and healing waters. It centres around a centuries-old castle where the first Hungarian book, “The New Testament of 1541”, was printed and where King Ludwig III of Bavaria died in 1921.
Things to do in Sárvár
In the heart of Sarvar is Nádasdy Castle, which is named after an influential local aristocratic family. While it was originally established in the 13th century, much of the current structure dates from the Renaissance and now houses an impressive collection of Hungarian art and weaponry. A highlight of Nádasdy Castle is the Knight’s Hall with its elaborate ceiling fresco by Hans Rudolf Miller.
Adjacent to Nádasdy Castle is the nine-hectare Sárvár Arboretum, which is home to around 300 species of trees and shrubs. The site was once occupied by vegetable gardens and orchards before the arboretum was founded in 1812 by the Este-Modena family. Stroll along the leafy walking trails while admiring the sycamore, yew and oak trees, many of which are more than 200 years old.
One of the best ways to experience Sárvár is on a four-wheeled bringohinto, a unique cross between a stagecoach and a golf cart. From Nádasdy Castle, you can ride through the historic Sar quarter and to the picturesque lake of Csónakázó tó, where you can rent pedal boats or take advantage of the children’s play equipment.
Getting around Sárvár
Sárvár is around 30 minutes’ drive from Szombathely and two hours from Budapest. Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport is 2.5 hours away and has flights to destinations across Europe and the Middle East. Trains connect from cities across Hungary to the Sárvár railway station and buses travel throughout the town.