Styrian Castles and Vampires

 

THE FOLLOWING ITINERARY IS FROM A PAST SOCIETY TRIP, AND IS PRESENTED FOR INTEREST ONLY, TO ILLUSTRATE THE TYPE OF TRIP THAT THE SOCIETY ORGANISES OUTSIDE THE UNITED KINGDOM

 

A six day/five night tour of literary and historical locations in Hungary and Austria

 

Tuesday 10th June - Sunday 15th June 2025

 

We will visit the castle at Visegrád, where Vlad Tepeş was imprisoned from 1463 to 1475; castles owned by Elizabeth Bathory, the Blood Countess; Schloss Hainfeld, the home of Countess Purgstall who was possibly an inspiration for Le Fanu’s Carmilla; and the city of Graz, home of one Countess Dolingen from Dracula’s Guest.

There will be free time to explore Budapest and Graz.

 

Itinerary:

 

Day 1: Tuesday 10th June (112km)

Catch the 7:25 BA flight from Heathrow to Budapest airport, arriving 10:55. There we meet our guide and coach to begin our tour, first driving to Visegrád (70km) on the Danube bend for a lunch break. Afterwards we visit the castle where Vlad was imprisoned. Continue to Budapest (42km) for a 2-night stay at B&B Hotel Budapest City.

 

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Budapest

 

Day 2: Wednesday 11th June

A full free day at leisure in Budapest to explore the many attractions of the city.

 

Day 3: Thursday 12th June (260km)

After breakfast we drive west to the castle of Sümeg (174km), dating from the 13th century. After a lunch break we continue to Sárvár (42km) to visit the castle, once the home of Elizabeth Bathory. Drive to Köszeg (44km) for a one-night stay at Hotel Irottkö.

 

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Burg Lockenhaus

 

Day 4: Friday 13th June (161km)

Departing Köszeg, we cross into Austria to visit Burg Lockenhaus (9km), another Bathory castle. Drive south to Riegersburg Castle (84km), which sits on a dormant volcano, before driving to Schloss Hainfeld, home of Jane Anne Cranstoun, Countess Purgstall. Continue to Graz (57km) for a two-night stay at B&B Hotel Graz-Hbf.

 

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Riegersburg Castle

 

Day 5: Saturday 14th June

Free day in Graz to explore the city.

Perhaps you may encounter Countess Dolingen?!

 

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Forchtenstein Castle

 

Day 6: Sunday 15th June

Leaving Graz, we head to the castle of Güssing, constructed from a former Benedictine monastery dating from the 12th century (83km). We then make our way to Vienna airport (168km) for our BA return flight to London Heathrow (BA703) departing at 17:00 arriving at 18:20.

 

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Vlad Tepeş, the Blood Countess, Carmilla and Dracula’s Guest! And all in just six days…. What more can you ask for?

 

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Fly back to the top!