Castle of Somló

The Castle of Somló stands on the northern slope of Somló Hill near the village of Doba in Hungary. It was built by the medieval Hungarian kingdom, with construction likely beginning in the late 13th or early 14th century atop a basaltic extinct volcanic hill.

The earliest written reference to the castle dates to 1352, when King Louis I took possession from a local noble, János son of Csenik, and transferred it to Benedek son of Heim. In the late 14th century, from around 1370 to 1380, the fortress served directly as royal property. Subsequently, the castle passed through the hands of several prominent Hungarian noble families, including the Garai, Rozgonyi, Kanizsai, and Kinizsi lineages. Notably, in 1479 King Matthias granted the castle to Pál Kinizsi, a well-known military leader.

The late 15th century marked an important transformation when Bishop Tamás Bakócz acquired the castle in 1495. He undertook extensive renovations, converting the fortress into a Renaissance-style stronghold. These works included upgrading the defenses, adding a chapel tower, and embellishing door and window frames with carved stone details. Armaments were also enhanced under Bakócz’s care, with records showing the installation of two large cannons, several smaller guns, and two bombards starting in 1498.

In 1543, the Castle of Somló played a significant military role during a battle under its walls. Hungarian defenders successfully repelled Ottoman forces, inflicting heavy losses and maintaining its status as a critical defensive position in the region. Ownership shifted several times during the turbulent 16th century, with the Csoron family acquiring the fortress mid-century. They kept its military function but imposed onerous levies on the local peasantry.

During the early 18th century, the castle featured in the Rákóczi War of Independence. Imperial troops controlled it until 1707 when the leader Vak Bottyán liberated the site. Afterwards, the castle served primarily as a strategic supply point but soon faded from records, signaling a decline in its military importance. The rise of nearby Sümeg as a military center led to the gradual abandonment and dismantling of Somló Castle. By this time, only minimal artillery pieces remained on site.

In the 18th century, the Erdődy family regained ownership and consolidated nearby villages, yet they built a new residence in Doba known as the “Somló Castle,” choosing not to restore the medieval ruins. The family held the property until 1945, when Soviet forces took possession. After centuries of neglect, restoration began in 2017 under Hungary’s National Castle Program.

Local lore connects the site to Pál Kinizsi, with a nearby basalt formation called “Kinizsi Rock.” Its saddle-shaped depression is said to mark where Kinizsi rested after climbing the hill to inspect the castle.