There is a name in Veszprém that has been associated with Várhegy for nearly a thousand years: Saint Michael. From September 24 to 27, life in the Castle District will once again revolve around the patron saint of the cathedral. History, music, guided walks, special evening programs, family games, exhibitions, wine tastings, a pilgrimage, and a festive Mass await those who, this weekend, want not only to see but also to step into the city’s history.
The Feast of St. Michael falls on September 29. On this day, the liturgical calendar celebrates the archangels St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael.
The program booklet is available here.
A tradition dating back nearly a thousand years?
The Diocese of Veszprém already existed in 1009; the start of construction on the cathedral dedicated to St. Michael is linked to the first half of the 11th century and Queen Gisela the Blessed. Due to the wars and destruction that occurred over the long centuries, we cannot speak of uninterrupted St. Michael’s Day celebrations. The city’s St. Michael’s Day festival as we know it today was first held in 2009, so the celebration both preserves its roots in the distant past and lives on in its present form.
St. Michael’s Day was once considered an important milestone in everyday life as well. It was on this day that the animals were driven home from the pastures, accounts were settled with the shepherds, and fairs and festivities were held. Many of these traditions were revived during Veszprém’s earlier St. Michael’s Day celebrations: a shepherd’s blessing, folk dancing, sheep herding, and folk art programs evoked the atmosphere of St. Michael’s Days of yesteryear.
In 2026, the city will gather around a renovated cathedral
This year’s celebration holds special significance, as it is the first series of St. Michael’s Day events since the rededication of the renovated cathedral on October 5, 2025. The cathedral, with a history dating back nearly a thousand years, is once again open to visitors, and numerous special venues in the Castle District are also taking part in the festivities.
The series of events begins on September 24 with a lecture titled “Mohács 500 – On the Battlefield in a Bishop’s Mitre?” Historian Dr. Tamás Fedeles will discuss the role played by ecclesiastical militias in the defense of the Kingdom of Hungary in the late Middle Ages. Admission is free.
Starting Friday, the Castle District itself will become a living history guide. The “Light and Reverence” walking tour will showcase the grand halls of the Archbishop’s Palace and the frescoes of the Gizella Chapel; the film *A 1,000-Year Legacy* will present the renewal of the Castle District; and the “Journey of a Thousand Years” route will lead from the Cathedral through the crypt to St. George’s Chapel.
And when night falls, Castle Hill reveals a completely different side of itself.
A flashlight-guided tour of the tower begins at 8:00 p.m. on Friday. This special St. Michael’s Walk begins in the bell tower of the cathedral and leads through the main church and the crypt to St. George’s Chapel. The light from the flashlights highlights details and subtle traces in the dim light that are easily overlooked during the day.
A Saturday that will be hard to pack everything into
On September 26, nearly the entire Castle District will be filled with events. MIP2026 – Move in Progress offers a behind-the-scenes look at the relocation of the Archdiocesan Library and Archives, while the “Archives Playroom” awaits families at the Kiss Seminary. In the Palace Garden, visitors can learn hand embroidery, and in the game “In the Footsteps of Queen Gizella—Become a Church Builder!” participants can experience the world of medieval church construction through building, embroidery, and stone carving.
The Prayer Trail invites visitors to find tranquility; a special guided tour led by chief architect Tamás Vörös, DLA, will take place, and in the afternoon, the “Angels and Demons” program will showcase depictions of angels and demons in the Castle District. In the evening, a joint concert by organist László Deák and flutist Márk Fülep will fill St. Michael’s Cathedral with music, while in the cellar of the Archbishop’s Palace, visitors can sample wines from the Veszprém Archdiocesan Winery.
On Sunday, the people of Veszprém will set out on their journey together
At 10:00 a.m. on September 27, a group walking pilgrimage will set out from the St. Michael statue on Óváros Square toward Várhegy, and then at 10:30 a.m., Archbishop György Udvardy of Veszprém will celebrate the festive Mass for St. Michael’s Day on Trinity Square.
This afternoon, the “Light and Reverence” walking tour will include a special stop at the Koller Library; the St. Michael’s walks will begin at 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.; and at 5:00 p.m., led by Áron Vavra, historic preservation project manager, the focus will shift to the inscriptions and reliefs on Vár Street.
For those who want to see even more of the Castle District, exhibitions and games await you all weekend at the Biró–Giczey House: “Thistles and Lilies—Magdolna’s Flowers,” recognized as the Exhibition of the Year in 2025; a UV-light treasure hunt; depictions of angels; archaeological artifacts; and the “Lancea Regis—The King’s Spear” program, where you can make your own commemorative coin.
In the past, on St. Michael’s Day, the flocks would return home, the shepherds would settle their accounts, the markets would be bustling, and the autumn festival season would begin. Today, guided walks, concerts, games, exhibitions, gatherings, and a communal pilgrimage fill Veszprém’s Castle Hill.
The format has changed, but the essence remains largely the same: to meet, to pause, to discover, and to celebrate.
