Once again the horses take centre stage at the revived Festetics stables

The Spanish Riding School of the Viennese court once stood on the site of the Fenékpuszta estate near Keszthely. In 1739, the land was purchased by Kristóf Festetics, who decades later reared a stud of European renown. The Georgikon, founded in 1797 by George Festetics I, was a training centre for stallions and grooms. The golden age of Fenékpuszta dates back to the time of Taszilo Festetics II, at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The lord of Keszthely achieved good results in equestrian sports both in Hungary and Europe.

In addition to the continuous development, stables, a farm and servants' quarters were built, and by 1820 the small manor house that can be seen today was completed. It was at this time that the complex took on its present form. By 1883, the Fenyves basin had been built, through which the Festetics could drive from the Keszthely castle directly to the small castle. Horse breeding was carried out on the estate until the early 1940s. After the Second World War, a flax factory, a hemp factory, a cooperative and a primary school were established on the site.

From stable to interactive centre

The former Festetics estate and small castle were renovated in two phases: following the complete reconstruction of the small castle, the renovation of the two stables (calf and cattle stables) could now continue. Commissioned by Nemzeti Örökségvédelmi Fejlesztési Nonprofit Kft. (NÖF), a new equestrian museum was created thanks to the work of ZÁÉV, a new equestrian museum was created from the Baroque-style farm buildings with their classicist façades. While visitors can learn about the world of horse racing in the 635 m² former cattle barn, the 420 m² former calf barn houses an interactive centre presenting the Fenéki stud farm and the Festetics family's horse breeding activities. Thanks to the development, community spaces have also been created in the area, providing an ideal location for horse riding camps, among other things.

Almost unsalvageable buildings found

In 2022, the project "Fenékpuszta Majorság Integrated Product and Service Development - Fenékpuszta Majorság Development Phase II" was awarded to ZÁÉV, which was able to renovate the two buildings according to the plans of T2 Cove Design Kft., with the help of Tamás Riedl, the lead designer. The so-called calf shelters and gully shelters were not only disused, but were found in a very dilapidated state by the contractors.

"This created the constraint that we had to dismantle the gully support up to the structural walls, where we could save almost nothing except the supporting walls" - said project manager László Ihász.

They had to consult the Department of Architecture and Heritage Protection of the county government at every stage of the work on the listed buildings, as there are even Roman ruins under the farmstead. During the renovation of the gully house, the building was insulated by cutting through the walls, and a wooden roof and wooden decking were installed. New roof cladding was applied to the former farm buildings and, after reinforcing the masonry, the entire plaster system was reinstated on the pillared façades. As the structure of the calf shed had already been renewed in the first phase, the contractor was responsible for the remaining finishing works.

Since its construction, the farm buildings have been transformed countless times, and there was not a single wall fabric that did not show signs of a wall opening or other previous intervention. Both buildings have been covered with a ventilated, wall-drying render, followed by a ventilated finish inside and out. ZÁÉV was also responsible for the reconstruction of the elements associated with the two buildings, including the renovation of the fence and the grassing and landscaping of the area.

Total renewal

On 29 December 2022, the contractor took over the site and on 15 November 2023, the buildings were inaugurated, housing the Festetics' horse museums. While the calf stable houses an exhibition on horse breeding, the gully stable houses an exhibition on the sport of horse racing.

"For me, the most amazing thing about this project is what it has become, what you see now. Of course, our work is only part of the rebuilding of the entire lighthouse, yet it is no exaggeration to say that the buildings we found were heaps of rubble. We were greeted by collapsed roofs and crumbling walls. It was a real rescue operation," the project manager summarised.