History carved in stone – how the Veszprém Castle Quarter was revitalised

The Veszprém Castle is one of the city’s most important landmarks, having shaped Veszprém’s character for centuries. The origins of the Veszprém castle district date back to the time of the founding of the Hungarian state. The castle hill already played a prominent role at the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries, when Veszprém became one of the key ecclesiastical centres of the early Hungarian Christian state. The bishopric was already in operation by the early 11th century, whilst tradition attributes the foundation of the cathedral to Queen Gizella.

However, the castle district as we know it today is not the product of a single era: built on medieval foundations, it was transformed in the 17th and 18th centuries by the addition of Baroque palaces, religious buildings and institutions into the complex historical ensemble that is now one of Veszprém’s most important landmarks.

The regeneration of the castle district in Veszprém was one of the largest heritage restoration projects in Hungary in recent years. The project, funded under the Veszprémi Főegyházmegye scheme and implemented by Castellum Vagyonkezelő Igazgatóság, involved 18 listed buildings, approximately 35,000 square metres of built-up area and 10,000 square metres of green space.

Several major contractors were involved in the project, which ran from 2022 to 2025, including Fejér-B.Á.L. Zrt., LATEREX Építő Zrt., VEMÉV-SZER Kft., SWIETELSKY Magyarország Kft. and B&G Generál Kft.

The complexity of the project is clearly illustrated by the fact that the contractors had to work in a coordinated manner within a confined city centre environment, on listed buildings and across parallel work sites. The specific characteristics of the castle district posed a particularly serious organisational challenge: the castle was effectively built on a rock, an area accessible only via a narrow street, where pedestrian traffic, the movement of materials, goods traffic and day-to-day work all had to be safely organised simultaneously.

„The major challenge was to coordinate the movement, supply of materials, parking and organisation of up to five hundred people a day across 18 listed buildings. What’s more, all this had to be done in an area that is effectively a huge cul-de-sac on the cliff. We therefore had to set up a dedicated transport system, scaffolding, goods lifts and time-slotted goods traffic.”

Lóránt Csehi, project manager, VEMÉV-SZER Kft.

When the building influences the plans

A distinctive feature of a historic environment is that the building itself often influences the plans even whilst under construction. There were several notable examples of this in the castle quarter. In the Staff House – now known as St Joseph’s House – an old oven that had previously been bricked up was uncovered during demolition work. The excavation revealed that a high-capacity kitchen, which served the bishop’s household, may have been in operation in the building as many as several hundred years ago. Construction had to be halted at this point, and the plans had to be amended so that the oven could be preserved and put on display.

At another site, during earthworks for a water tank designed for an outdoor fire-fighting system, previously undocumented remains of a castle wall were uncovered. Here too, the solution was not simply to carry on building over the historical layers. The developer and the designers opted for a new technical solution: instead of a conventional water tank, a high-pressure steel tank system requiring less space was installed, whilst the uncovered wall remains were documented, protected and reburied.

This clearly illustrates that, when renovating a listed building, the professional task involves not only construction but also the responsible management of the values of the past.

Mapei solutions for the regeneration of the Veszprém Castle Quarter

In the buildings of the castle district in Veszprém, where there are old structures, historic spaces, varying floor levels and distinctive stone cladding, it was necessary to choose solutions that are technically safe whilst still blending in with the character of the historic environment.

Products from the Mapei range were involved in this work at several sites:

• for decorative floor and wall coverings,
• in the case of terrazzo flooring,
• for indoor tiling work
• and for outdoor stone cladding projects as well.

Modern decorative finishes in historic buildings

In the Gizella Chapel, the juxtaposition of the old and the new was particularly striking. In the Havelka Beton Art design, the Mapei Ultratop Loft system was used. When preparing the surfaces, Eco Prim Grip Plus, Primer SN and Ultraplan Maxi were also used, whilst the final decorative finish was provided by Ultratop Loft F and Ultratop Loft W provided by, Mapefloor Finish 52 W and Mapefloor Finish 58 W surface protection.

One of the unique features of the project was the presence of a cooling and heating panel in the ceiling; consequently, when finishing the surface, attention had to be paid not only to the aesthetic appearance but also to the sensitivity of the structure. Due to the side walls and ceiling surfaces sloping in multiple directions, achieving clean edges, precise joints and a uniform surface presented a significant technical challenge.

The Ultratop Loft system did not simply appear in this setting as a surface finish, but as a handcrafted decorative solution in which the contractor’s professional expertise also determines the final result. No two finished surfaces are exactly alike; consequently, the system was particularly well-suited to adding a restrained yet distinctive contemporary layer to the historic space.

The Ultratop Loft system was installed in the passageway and corridor of the Grand Provost’s Palace. Here, the characteristics of the old subfloor, the heating cable layer arrangement and the existing artificial stone edging presented the greatest challenges. During the installation, Primer SN screeding, sandblasting, Ultraplan Maxi sub-floor levelling, followed by another Primer SN layer, the Ultratop Loft F and Ultratop Loft W decorative surface, as well as Mapefloor Finish 52 W and Mapefloor Finish 58 W protection. The surface not only had to look good, but also fit perfectly: it had to meet the old, uneven artificial stone edges in such a way that the final result remained level throughout.

Terrazzo cladding with a contemporary technical solution

In several buildings in the castle quarter, the decorative terrazzo flooring was laid using Mapei materials. The Palazzo Kft. team worked in the Archbishop’s Palace, the Provost’s House and the Gizella Chapel.

For these floor coverings, use Mapefloor I 910 primer, Mapefloor I 300 SL resin as a binder, and Mapelux Lucida wax were used. The terrazzo surfaces were created in several stages: after preparing the substrate, the resin-bound terrazzo flooring was ground, polished and then given a final protective finish.

The terrazzo flooring in the Gizella Chapel was a particularly challenging project. During the installation, attention had to be paid not only to the aesthetic appearance of the new flooring, but also to ensuring that it harmonised with the proportions, historical atmosphere and technical requirements of the chapel interior.

„A subtle, well-integrated terrazzo floor covering with a copper inlay system was created for the historic space. We incorporated nearly 200 running metres of copper into the 35–36 square metre floor, and the precise positioning of this, and its alignment with the space, was a very exciting and by no means brief task. The same technology was used for the block-stone-effect stair cladding, into which we also had to incorporate the air vents required for the air-conditioning of the frescoes.”
Róbert Kiss, Managing Director, Palazzo Kft.

This detail clearly illustrates that, in a historic building, the flooring does not function as a standalone visual element. The flooring had to simultaneously reflect the architectural concept, support the technical functioning of the space, and blend discreetly with the chapel’s historical character.

Natural stone cladding on existing substrates

For the interior tiling work, Mapei stress-relief, adhesive and grouting solutions were used at several sites. Several specialist contractors were involved in the project: Real Gres Kft., Stukkó Kft., Épkő Kft., and the team led by sole trader László Bognár.

In the Staff House, the Körmend Palace, the crypt of St Michael’s Cathedral, and the buildings of the Major Seminary and the Archbishop’s Palace, several contractors carried out work on flooring – mostly made of natural stone – covering a total area of several thousand square metres. When bonding the cladding, the specialists used, amongst other things, Mapeguard UM 35 stress-relief plates, Keraflex Extra S1 and Mapestone TM Plus adhesive mortar, as well as Keracolor FF Flex grout were also used.

Natural stone cladding presented not only an aesthetic challenge but also a significant technical one. Due to the old structures, the varying qualities of the substrate and the historic setting, the sequence of layers had to be chosen with great care at each site.

„When laying cold flooring in a heritage setting, there are many factors to take into account. In many cases, the old subfloors were of varying quality, so it was necessary to install a stress-relieving layer at several sites. As natural stone was the primary material used, particular emphasis had to be placed on the selection of auxiliary materials coming into contact with the stone, such as adhesives and grouts.”
András Doma, sales representative, Mapei Kft.

The key to the technical reliability of the project lay in the fact that the cladding system did not consist of a single product. The system, which was tailored to the condition of the substrate, the sensitivity of the natural stone and long-term use, ensured that the cladding was installed to last and in a manner befitting these historic spaces.

Outdoor stone cladding for heavy-duty use

Among the outdoor works, the paving of the courtyard and garden behind the Archbishop’s Palace was also a major undertaking. For the laying and grouting of the basalt stones, specialist contractor László Bognár used the following materials: Mapestone TFB 60 and Mapestone PFS 2 outdoor jointing mortars, whilst for the joints he chose the Mapeflex PU45 FT joint filler and adhesive was also used.

In the case of outdoor stone paving subject to heavy wear and tear, durability is not determined solely by the quality of the stone itself. Equally important is the bedding and jointing system, which must withstand the effects of the weather, moisture, frost and the wear and tear resulting from use. In the castle district, therefore, a system was required for the outdoor paving that not only provides an aesthetically pleasing surface but is also capable of withstanding environmental influences in the long term.

Outdoor stone cladding for heavy-duty use

Among the outdoor works, the paving of the courtyard and garden behind the Archbishop’s Palace was also a major undertaking. For the laying and grouting of the basalt stones, specialist contractor László Bognár used the following materials: Mapestone TFB 60 and Mapestone PFS 2 outdoor jointing mortars, whilst for the joints he chose the Mapeflex PU45 FT joint filler and adhesive was also used.

In the case of outdoor stone paving subject to heavy wear and tear, durability is not determined solely by the quality of the stone itself. Equally important is the bedding and jointing system, which must withstand the effects of the weather, moisture, frost and the wear and tear resulting from use. In the castle district, therefore, a system was required for the outdoor paving that not only provides an aesthetically pleasing surface but is also capable of withstanding environmental influences in the long term.

Permanent solutions for a living heritage, right from the start

Every decision made during the regeneration of the castle district in Veszprém centred on how to preserve and make use of everything that previous centuries have left us. It is therefore particularly important to Mapei that, through its solutions, it has been able to contribute to the renewal of a heritage that not only presents a fitting image of Veszprém today, but will also serve the local residents and visitors reliably for many years to come. For a renovation is only truly successful if it is not merely completed, but functions sustainably: with definitive solutions from the outset, to realise architectural dreams.

Watch the video filmed on location!

https://youtu.be/BahR95BY8Rk

ADATOK

Reference name: Veszprém Castle Quarter

Work carried out using Mapei products: decorative floor and wall coverings, terrazzo flooring, indoor tiling, outdoor stone cladding

Venue: Veszprém

Year of completion: 2022–2025

Investor: Veszprémi Főegyházmegye

Organiser / project lead: Castellum Vagyonkezelő Igazgatóság

Architect: Veszprém Architects’ Workshop Kft, ADV Műterem Kft., MCXVI Kft., Czita Építésziroda Kft.,

Main contractor: LATEREX Építő Zrt., VEMÉV-SZER Kft., Fejér-B.Á.L. Zrt., SWIETELSKY Magyarország Kft., B&G Generál Kft.

Specialist contractor: Havelka Beton Art Kft., Palazzo Kft., Real Gres Kft., Stukkó Kft., Épkő Kft., László Bognár, sole trader

Mapei contact persons: András Doma

Mapei partner dealer: BAU-SYSTEME 92 KFT.

Photo: Homestage Film

RECLAIMED MAPEI PRODUCTS

Decorative floor and wall coverings: Eco Prim Grip Plus, Primer SN, Ultraplan Maxi, Ultratop Loft F, Ultratop Loft W, Mapefloor Finish 52 W, Mapefloor Finish 58 W

Terrazzo casing: Mapefloor I 910, Mapefloor I 300 SL, Mapelux Lucida

Indoor tiling: Mapeguard UM 35, Keraflex Extra S1, Mapestone TM Plus, Keracolor FF Flex

Outdoor stone cladding: Mapestone TFB 60, Mapestone PFS2, Mapeflex PU45