Museums of Memory

Downtown Museums

Historical Panopticon

The Historical Panopticon, located in a cellar system and accessible from the Promenade Street, brings to life the great figures of Hungarian history. We can see more than 120 dolls made by folk artist Éva Zorkóczy, from Attila to Cardinal Mindszenty, as well as nun and priest costumes.

“In the background, the music of the István the King rock opera is heard, creating a fantastic atmosphere.”

Krisztina DeményLocal tour guide

Horrorarium and Torture Museum

Through a gateway in the vicinity of the Historical Panopticon, we enter the first Hungarian Horrorarium and Torture Museum, where we can take a look at various medieval torture techniques, such as beheading, drawing and quartering, and tongue-tearing. The wax figures here were made by students of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, among which the figures of Erzsébet Báthory and Vlad Tepes “Drakula” come to life.

“Not recommended for the faint of heart.
Half a millennium of torture from the Middle Ages to the present day, from the Far East to America, wax figures and illustrations show the tortures of the Middle Ages. The dark tortures of the Middle Ages, Germanic, French and Japanese methods can be seen, but we can also meet Drakula and the sadism of Erzsébet Báthory of Csejte. The tools made based on contemporary documents faithfully reflect the cruel practices of previous centuries. ”

József VadernaLocal tour guide

Radio and Television Museum

At the end of the Promenade Street  on the “castle” side is located the Radio and Television Museum, which presents electronic devices from the 1920s through a nearly 1000-piece collection. The museum, which was housed in a baroque-style wooden granary building built in 1820, was founded in 2006 by József Nádler, a local radio and TV technician and electrician. 70% of the exhibition pieces are still functioning devices: TVs, radios, record players, tape recorders.

“The near past technical history of Hungary, mainly Orion and Videoton TVs and radios from the beginning until 1980. I recommend it to every technical and non-technical adult and student!!!”

Bertalan FarkasLocal guide

House of Stoves

Next to the Festetics Castle we find the House of Stoves, where we can take a look at the process of making traditional Hungarian stoves, as well as old ovens, cookers and heating equipment. We can also see 70 models of stoves and ovens from Hungarian regions – the collection is constantly growing. An interesting and at the same time sweet service is that we can even adopt a stove. The House of Stoves also includes a pottery workshop, where we can watch Imre Szalay, a potter, stove and oven builder, craftsman at work, and even try out tile making in a group program.

“There are three small rooms, one of them is the workshop where you can only look in, the middle one is the shop. Here you can buy beautiful products at very low prices. Whoever says it’s expensive, doesn’t know the value of these objects. The last room is a stove model exhibition, which is particularly interesting, and for the support of the master alone it is worth 200 forints.”

Balázs RipplLocal Guide

Erotic Panopticon

Next to the Vidor Game Museum on the Promenade we find the Erotic Panopticon, what is unique in Hungary , which presents a historical naughty exhibition. On the naturalistic style exhibition, through the life-size silicone sculptures of the students of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, the Renaissance erotic literature comes alive: Boccaccio, De Sade marquis, Kama Sutra figures.

“Naughtiness, mischief. Bold, open wax dolls.”

Krisztina GyimesiLocal tour guide

HintOne ticket for 7 museums! If you would like to see unique collections of games, are interested in the lifestyle of the past century, and would like to visit the special Snails Parliament, then buy a combined ticket to the Downtown Museums!

Parking

Parking is possible at the Zeppelin Square parking lot, in front of the Fejér György City Library, as well as in the adjacent streets.