István Tiborcz’s BDPST Group renovated the castle in Tura using a tax discount, the park of which could still be visited with an entrance ticket last year. This has already changed for this year.
In April, a new era began in the life of Tiborcz’s BDPST Group: the luxury hotel brand called Botaniq Collection and its loyalty program Botaniq Benefit were launched.
The brand, which encompasses luxury hotels, was announced on April 11 by one of its dreamers, Ráhel Orbán, creative director of BDPST Group, and Zoltán Somlyai, CEO of operator BDPST Hotel Management Zrt.
Speaking of which, we visited the park of the Turai Castle, which could be visited after buying a HUF 2,500 visitor ticket until 2023, but this has changed this year.
Since January, only guests of the hotel and the restaurant can enjoy the park that was once still open to visitors.
We tried to book a table on the spot, but unfortunately we arrived at the wrong time: a private event was taking place in the castle grounds on Monday at noon. After a day or two, however, we could even return: according to the helpful local colleagues, we can also enjoy a coffee or a cake to visit the exceptionally beautiful park.
The castle bearing the name of Zsigmond Schossberger was completed in 1883, and since then it has served as a Nazi front command, a Soviet military hospital, a Hungarian state folk school, and a popular filming location. As the new owner, the prime minister’s son-in-law began the renovation of the castle in 2016, as a hotel, it has been operating since 2020.
In the castle, double rooms with breakfast are available at a price of around HUF 100,000 per night, which is the level of the Hilton and Intercontinental hotels in Budapest.
You can’t complain about the food either: the last heir is called Klára Schossberger Clarisse the place recommended by the Michelin Guide (we also tried it after opening). The main dishes, which are mostly under ten thousand HUF, can be accompanied by appetizers, soups and desserts for four or five thousand HUF, also at “standard” Budapest prices.
We can take a walk in the park for as little as HUF 4,300 Honey pear cremeux, pistachio sable, cardamom ice cream also with the purchase of dessert, at not terrible costs as a weekend program.
The property itself was purchased for HUF 200 million by BDPST-owned TRA Real Estates Kft. back in 2015, a loan of HUF 2.45 billion was taken out from Gránit Bank to renovate the building, and at that time the tax discount that the state offered not long before, the government pushed for the renovation of historic buildings. At the end of 2021, BDPST became the main shareholder of Gránit Bank Zrt., so the multibillion-dollar mortgage loans were brought in-house.
Two years ago, the soccer field next door also became the property of TRA for HUF 47.7 million, but as the mayor put it: “Fortunately, the 47 million does not have to be used to build a new field, we will receive state support for the construction of a new, larger sports complex, where there will also be a training field to shape.”
Telex already spotted it in 2021: they received nearly 400 million for this purpose.
The locals also like it (from the outside)
If we are talking about places in Tura, we should not forget the Old Gödör pub, located next to the train station, which is a regular place for locals looking for friendly service and reasonable prices. So I also sat down for a press coffee and a glass of water, for which I paid a total of two hundred forints.
The guests on Monday morning were happy that the castle was finished:
It was already in a very dilapidated condition, but now it is beautiful.
said one of them. István Tiborcz is not only the largest owner, but also an important employer of the settlement: as I found out, several of the locals work in the garden, in the kitchen and as cleaners.
Photos: Benedek Lits (5 pictures)
I got into a conversation with a local mother at the bus stop next to the evocatively named Kastélykerti Kindergarten. He moved to the city in 2021, he had only good things to say about the castle, even though he had never visited the park even once in the 3 years. He also just missed the tour organized for the locals in 2020.
The collection
Istán Tiborcz is a real collector: he also owns premium hotels, high-class restaurants and the country’s first elite club. The Tura castle is the flagship of the BDPST Group premium collection, which currently has eight members:
- Botaniq Turai Castle itself and
- the fine-dining restaurant in the castle, Clarisse.
- The Verno House in Budapest, which opened in 2022,
- Flava Kitchen & More restaurant is also recommended by Michelin.
- Andrássy Kúria & Spa in Tarcal,
- and the Bobajka Restaurant and Cafe
- The Botaniq Budai Klub, located on Svábhegy, (where you can apply with a motivation letter, CV and company portfolio),
- as well as Melea – The Health Concept, “health hotel” in Sárvár, which opened this year.
For loyal visitors: Botaniq Benefit
Regular guests who regularly visit the brand’s units can collect loyalty points, through which they can receive discounts. The discount systems have 4 levels:
- Premium you can join as a member after the first purchase. Through the so-called Bontaniq points, we can get 5% of our spending back. We can also expect an extra birthday discount and credit.
- Elite Members are those who have spent more than HUF 1 million at the 8 locations in one year. In addition to the above, they can get a larger room and a welcome drink free of charge.
- THE Diamond level starts at 5 million per year. Here, the reward is a free guest night and a large dose of Bontaniq.
- Botaniq Budai Klub members receive a separate level, but they can effectively enjoy the benefits of Diamond in exchange for paying the club’s membership fee.
Tags: Tiborcz Castle Tura checked enter beautifully renovated park
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