The Hungarian government will contribute with a total 1.6 billion forints (EUR 5.1m) to the renovation of the Castle of Borša (in Hungarian, Borsi) in southern Slovakia, where Ferenc Rákóczi II, leader of the Hungarian uprising against the Habsburgs at the beginning of the 18th century, was born.
Csaba Latorcai, Deputy State Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, said in Borsa that the first phase of the reconstruction, namely the renewal of the facades, the roof and the doors and windows, could start this year, using half of the total amount. The refurbishment project, managed by the Hungarian Teleki László Foundation and the local government, will be completed by 2020.
photo: István Nagy
The most well-known owner of the castle was the Rákóczi family. Ferenc Rákóczi II, a national hero in Hungary, Prince of Transylvania and leader of the Hungarian uprising against the Habsburgs between 1703 and 1711, was born here on 27 March, 1676. After the initial success of the anti-Habsburg uprising, Rákóczi was defeated and went into exile, ultimately settling in the Turkish city, Rodostó (Tekirdağ), where he died in 1735.
The Rákóczi Castle was built by István Zeleméri Kamarás, the captain of the Tokaj castle, around 1579. The Rákóczi family came into possession of the castle through the marriage of György Rákóczi I and Zsuzsanna Lórántffy. A few sources indicate that members of the Rákóczi family usually stayed there during their trips to Munkács (Mukachevo).
via MTI, mnm.hu, britannica.com