Achaeometrical Research in Hungary II., 1988

ENVIRONMENT - András PÁLÓCZI HORVÁTH: Multidisciplinary archaeological research of the medieval royal palace-garden at Visegrád

Múzeum = HAM, Hungarian Agricultural Museum, Budapest). Researchers involved: Mr Gergely Búzás archaeologist (KMM), Ms Andrea Torma archaeobotanist (HAM), Mr Tamás Somhegyi archaeozoo

logist (HAM). Mr. Ferenc Gyulai archaeobotanist (MTA Régészeti Intézete = Archaeological Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest). 2. Historical data Visegrád became a royal residence in 1323 during the reign of King Charles Robert Angevin (1308-1342; BUZÁS and SZŐKE 1992: 132; LASZLOVSZKY 1995: 9). The king and the rich built manor-houses in the town (BALOGH 1966: 222; BUZÁS 1994: 113). King Louis I Angevin (1342-1382) began the building of the first huge royal palace at Visegrád between 1356 and 1366 (BUZÁS 1994: 114-115). Later the plans were altered, after 1378 the building process followed another ground plan. At last construction was finished by King Sigismund between 1387 and 1405 (BUZÁS and SZŐKE 1992: 134; BUZÁS 1994: 116-117). At the beginning of the 15th century, there was a palacecompound measuring 123x123 m in the NE section of this area, with a quadratic building that served for habitation within the palace (BUZÁS 1994: 49). North of the palace, the royal gardens could be found. During the reign of King Sigismund of Luxembourgh (1387-1437) between 1405 and 1408, the Royal Court moved to Buda. Although Visegrád lost its function as a royal residence, the king liked to stay here and had some smaller buildings erected as well (BUZÁS 1994: 117). Under the reign of King Matthias Corvinus (1458-1490), the palace of Visegrád became the summer residence of the king. King Matthias renewed the palace between 1476 and 1485 and rebuilt it following Renaissance tastes. The windows, doors, columns, tile stoves etc. were replaced, new ornamental fountains were built and beautifully terraced „hanging" gardens were erected on the terraces (BUZÁS and SZŐKE 1992: 135; BUZÁS 1994: 120; LASZLOVSZKY 1995: 20). King Matthias's contemporaries mentioned the palace of Visegrád as a beautiful and complex building that far surpassed the Italian villas (Galeotto Marzio, Bonfini, Cervinus, Ranzanus, Nicolaus Oláh etc. BALOGH 1966: 224225; BALOGH 1985: 60). They never failed to mention the hanging gardens and the lime-trees of the upper garden, planted in equidistant rows that fonned a regular line of trees. Dark green boxes (genus Buxus) edged the walking-paths. The Renaissance gardens may have been planned by Chimenti Camicia (Florence) who directed the constructions of the royal palace at Buda (BALOGH 1966: 485-487; BALOGH 1985: 175). Written sources mention vineyards and orchards north of the palace. The most detailed description of the palace and the adjacent gardens was given by archbishop Nicolaus Oláh in 1536, who moved to the Netherlands with Queen Maria Habsburg after 1526. But even he didn't give a detailed description of the orchard and vineyards (BALOGH 1966: 225-226; BALOGH 1985: 162, 165, 175). After the death of King Matthias, there were only some smaller renovations at Visegrád. In 1544 Visegrád fell under Ottoman Turkish rule. In 1587 a German traveller saw the beautiful gardens around the ruined buildings and even in 1755 some parts of the gardens could be seen (BALOGH 1966: 227-228; BALOGH 1985: 176). In the 18

th century, the ruins were exploited as stone quarries. During the 19-20

th century the royal gardens were developed into agricultural areas. 178