Draft:Borša Castle

== History ==

== History ==

The predecessor of the current castle was a medieval moated castle, protected by moats fed by water from the [[Bodrog|Bodrog River]]. The stone castle likely dates back to the early 13th century. While its exact appearance is unknown, it is known to have belonged to families such as the Perínyi and [[Polányi|Polónyi families]].

The predecessor of the current castle was a medieval moated castle, protected by moats fed by water from the [[Bodrog|Bodrog River]]. The stone castle likely dates back to the early 13th century. While its exact appearance is unknown, it is known to have belonged to families such as the Perínyi and [[Polányi|Polónyi families]].{{Cite web |title=Borša - www.pamiatkynaslovensku.sk - (borsa) |url=https://www.pamiatkynaslovensku.sk/borsa |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=www.pamiatkynaslovensku.sk}}

In 1570, a Renaissance castle was built, incorporating some of the castle's remains. Miklós Zeleméry Kamarás, from the area of ​​what would later become [[Hajdú County]], is credited as the builder. In 1602, the castle passed into the hands of the Lórantffy family, and in 1616 it became the property of the [[Rákóczi|Rákóczi family]]. Originally L-shaped, the castle now has an irregular U-shaped floor plan due to later additions of outbuildings. A bastion, possibly a remnant of the medieval keep, stood at the junction of the two older wings. Renaissance vaults still adorn the castle today. The old moats are partially preserved on the exterior, and the castle park, with the exception of a small section, is now built over by village houses.

In 1570, a Renaissance castle was built, incorporating some of the castle's remains. Miklós Zeleméry Kamarás, from the area of ​​what would later become [[Hajdú County]], is credited as the builder. In 1602, the castle passed into the hands of the Lórantffy family, and in 1616 it became the property of the [[Rákóczi|Rákóczi family]]. Originally L-shaped, the castle now has an irregular U-shaped floor plan due to later additions of outbuildings. A bastion, possibly a remnant of the medieval keep, stood at the junction of the two older wings. Renaissance vaults still adorn the castle today. The old moats are partially preserved on the exterior, and the castle park, with the exception of a small section, is now built over by village houses.

The castle is primarily known as the birthplace of the Hungarian national hero and [[Kuruc]] leader [[Francis II Rákóczi]], who was born here on March 27, 1676. However, he only stayed at the castle for a short time and grew up mainly at [[Palanok Castle|Munkács Castle]] (now Palanok Castle in Ukraine). A bust by J. Mayer, created in 1907, commemorates his birth. During the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1848|Hungarian Revolutions]], the castle suffered damage several times and was subsequently renovated on a smaller scale in the 18th and again in the 20th centuries. With the [[Treaty of Trianon]] in 1920, the town of Borsi (since then Borša), including the castle, became part of [[Czechoslovakia]]. Following the [[First Vienna Award]], Czechoslovakia was forced to cede the territory to Horthy's Hungary. During [[World War II]], the castle housed a small museum. After the war and the restoration of Czechoslovakia in 1945, the castle was used partly as a warehouse and partly as a primary school. However, due to a lack of renovation, it gradually fell into disrepair.

The castle is primarily known as the birthplace of the Hungarian national hero and [[Kuruc]] leader [[Francis II Rákóczi]], who was born here on March 27, 1676. However, he only stayed at the castle for a short time and grew up mainly at [[Palanok Castle|Munkács Castle]] (now Palanok Castle in Ukraine).{{Cite web |last=Štefanek |first=Jozef |date=2022-01-08 |title=kaštieľ Borša |url=https://www.hrady-zamky.sk/borsa/ |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=Hrady a zámky na Slovensku |language=sk}} A bust by J. Mayer, created in 1907, commemorates his birth. During the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1848|Hungarian Revolutions]], the castle suffered damage several times and was subsequently renovated on a smaller scale in the 18th and again in the 20th centuries. With the [[Treaty of Trianon]] in 1920, the town of Borsi (since then Borša), including the castle, became part of [[Czechoslovakia]]. Following the [[First Vienna Award]], Czechoslovakia was forced to cede the territory to Horthy's Hungary. During [[World War II]], the castle housed a small museum. After the war and the restoration of Czechoslovakia in 1945, the castle was used partly as a warehouse and partly as a primary school. However, due to a lack of renovation, it gradually fell into disrepair.{{Cite web |last=webex.digital |title=Kaštieľ {{!}} Borša {{!}} Oficiálna stránka |url=https://www.obecborsa.sk/kastiel |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=Borša |language=sk}}

In 1990, the property became the property of the municipality of [[Borša]], which has since been working to restore it. After a joint study by Slovak and Hungarian heritage preservation societies in 1998, a reconstruction began, but progress was slow due to a lack of funds. In the restored sections, the municipality operates a museum dedicated to the history of the castle and the Rákóczi family. In 2013, the then Slovak and Hungarian heads of state, [[Ivan Gašparovič]] and [[János Áder]], agreed to jointly support the renovation project. The extensive refurbishment began in 2018 and was completed after three years. The costs of €8.7 million were partly covered by EU regional funds, but mostly by the Hungarian state budget; the Slovak contribution was comparatively small. On June 19, 2021, the renovated castle was officially opened in a ceremony attended by Presidents [[Zuzana Čaputová]] and János Áder.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-19 |title=Čaputová a Áder otvorili Rákociho kaštieľ: Minulosť nás môže aj spájať |url=https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/591991-caputova-a-ader-otvorili-rakociho-kastiel-minulost-nas-moze-aj-spajat/ |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=Pravda.sk |language=sk-SK}}

In 1990, the property became the property of the municipality of [[Borša]], which has since been working to restore it. After a joint study by Slovak and Hungarian heritage preservation societies in 1998, a reconstruction began, but progress was slow due to a lack of funds. In the restored sections, the municipality operates a museum dedicated to the history of the castle and the Rákóczi family. In 2013, the then Slovak and Hungarian heads of state, [[Ivan Gašparovič]] and [[János Áder]], agreed to jointly support the renovation project. The extensive refurbishment began in 2018 and was completed after three years. The costs of €8.7 million were partly covered by EU regional funds, but mostly by the Hungarian state budget; the Slovak contribution was comparatively small. On June 19, 2021, the renovated castle was officially opened in a ceremony attended by Presidents [[Zuzana Čaputová]] and János Áder.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-19 |title=Čaputová a Áder otvorili Rákociho kaštieľ: Minulosť nás môže aj spájať |url=https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/591991-caputova-a-ader-otvorili-rakociho-kastiel-minulost-nas-moze-aj-spajat/ |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=Pravda.sk |language=sk-SK}}