A monumental renaissance-baroque mansion (chateau) with a park in Humenné, built on the site of a medieval water castle
The mansion building is built on the area of a former castle and has a square ground plan with a central courtyard. Its security was guaranteed by square towers in the corners. The tower with the entrance gate and the drawbridge over the water ditch rises in the middle of the facade. From the Baroque period, interiors with a central hall and a number of salons with wall paintings have been preserved.At present, it houses the Vihorlat Museum with an art-historical and natural-science exposition that is tied to Upper Zemplin.
The first mention of the manor house as a manor is from 1449 in connection with its occupation by the brothers and the subsequent fire. However, it is probable that at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, a medieval water castle stood on this site - the seat of powerful landowners - the Drugeths, who came to Hungary with King Charles Robert. In 1317, the king donated to them, among others, the castles of Jasenov and Brekov and the town of Humenné for their proven services and loyalty in the fight against the dissatisfied nobility. However, nothing more has been preserved about the appearance or area of the original castle.
The new building period came after 1619, when Gabriel Bethlen conquered the town and its surroundings. This year, the old castle burned to the ground and the Drugeth family had a large representative manor house built in its place. Gradually, a large building with a square floor plan was built with a central courtyard and massive square corner towers, which guaranteed safety. As a reminder of the medieval castle, the drawbridge at the entrance to the manor house has been preserved. The roof was finished with an attic. The last male descendant of the Drugeth family, Sigismund, died on April 19, 1684. The manor was inherited by his wife, Countess Terézia Keglevich, and after her death it was divided between the Althan families (the eldest daughter of Julian Terézia) and Zichy (the youngest daughter of Klára). But already in 1728 the manor house was again divided, now into three parts between the children of Petr Zichy - František and his sister Terézia, Countess Vandernath and Anna Mária, Countess Csáky.
In the second half of the 18th century, the largest reconstructions took place, when the arcades were bricked up, a large balcony was added and the attic was replaced by trusses covered with shingles. Major modifications were also made to the interiors of the manor.
From the beginning of the 19th century (1812), after the marriage of Karol Andrássy with Etelka Szápary, the Renaissance-Baroque building became the property of the Andrássy family, who rebuilt it into the form of French Baroque castles.
At the end of World War II, the manor house was severely damaged, and a fire in 1946, during which the shingled roof burned down, also helped. This was later temporarily repaired, but the complete reconstruction of the building did not begin until 1964 and lasted for seven years. The manor house was put into use only in 1972. At present, it houses the Vihorlat Museum with an art-historical and natural science exposition, the content of which is connected with the upper Zemplín. In the years 2015-2016, the first stage of modern reconstruction took place. The roof of the manor house underwent the most significant renovation. They replaced the copper roof with an aluminum one, restored the external façade, refurbished the windows and grilles, and restored all the coats of arms, balustrades, restored the drawbridge and replaced the main gate.
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