Several memorial plaques have been placed in the castle so far, and there will certainly be a few new ones in the near future, as there is plenty to commemorate from the castle's rich history. The Széchenyi plaque you see contains all the information you need to know, but the bottom line is: István Széchenyi traveled by steamboat from Buda to Vác back in the day, and from there he visited Nógrád Castle on foot. He also recorded the journey in his diary. By the way, the plaque is already a copy; unfortunately, the original was damaged and had to be replaced.
The walls have stood empty and abandoned for three hundred years now, sometimes worn down by the ravages of time, sometimes chiseled away by the pickaxes, shovels, and chisels of the villagers, as it was an "ideal" source of building material for the houses of the village and the cellars of the castle hill. According to gossip, stones from the castle can even be found in the foundation of main road No. 2…
At the turn of the millennium, however, a turning point occurred in the life of the castle: the area around the gate and the New Bastion underwent conservation, later the northern connecting wall was built, as well as the defensive work closest to the gate, the twin of the Protection Bastion, the Round Bastion; the Protection Bastion received a roof, and the larger stump of the old tower received a buttress. Several excavations have taken place within the walls, and in every case, interesting and unparalleled finds were unearthed. These finds can be found in museums from Budapest through Szécsény to Salgótarján – mostly in warehouses, their exhibition is still waiting to happen.
In 1993, the Foundation for the Rescue of Nógrád Castle was established, whose main goal is to preserve the walls, organize events and direct public attention to the castle. Recently, the foundation received new momentum, and we now also maintain the castle hill; thanks to our work, there are the 5 historical overview boards next to the walkway, the energy-saving decorative lighting, and many other useful things – such as this audio guide. You can find out about our plans on social media on the Nógrád Castle page, and if you feel that we are worthy of your support, get in touch with us; there will surely be a currently running project in which you can help.
We hope you had a good time in the castle; thank you for visiting this historical treasure that means so much to us. Spread the word about your visit, and return as soon as possible!
With gratitude: the members of the Foundation for the Rescue of Nógrád Castle