Szerencs has a strong cultural and historical focus: the Reformed Church near the castle, the castle’s 16th-century predecessor and several permanent exhibitions offer different ways to explore the town’s history. During your stay, you can tailor your itinerary to your interests—from church architecture and building history to postcards and sugar production.
Church and Castle History
The Reformed Church near Szerencs Castle dates back to the 13th century. It stands on Romanesque foundations and features Gothic elements. Visitors can hear about the history of the church and congregation on request; advance registration is requested where possible.
The predecessor of Szerencs Castle was built in 1557–1558 under the direction of Ferenc Némethy. In 1558, Ferenc also had stones from the Benedictine abbey that stood there at the time used for the construction. Thus, both the construction period and the reused stones offer concrete clues to the castle’s origins.
Postcards and Sugar Production
The Zempléni Múzeum in Szerencs displays a permanent exhibition of its postcard collection. Other permanent exhibitions present the building history of Szerencs Castle. The museum therefore brings together different subjects: the postcard collection and the history of the castle’s construction.
A different perspective is offered by “Szerencs fehér aranya,” a permanent exhibition at the Szerencsi Turisztikai Központ. It opened on March 12, 2026, and commemorates both the technology of sugar production and the generations of people who worked there. Unlike the history of the castle and collections, this exhibition focuses on production technology and the workers.
The Municipal Bath and Current Planning
The Szerencs Municipal Bath opened in August 1910. It has been temporarily closed since September 1, 2026. If you are planning a visit, check its current operating status in advance. This keeps the historical opening date distinct from the current access situation.
More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén
The wider destination of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén offers other distinct highlights. The Baradla-Domica Cave System is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Caves of the Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst. The short Aggtelek Cave Tour is 1 kilometre long, takes 60 minutes and is rated easy. This gives you the option of pairing a specific nature excursion in the region with a stay focused mainly on local history, the church and exhibitions in Szerencs. Another opportunity to observe nature in the wider destination of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén is the Hucul herd. It can be visited year-round in the pastures of Gergés-lápa, about 1.5 kilometres north of Jósvafő. Check the latest information about the conditions for visiting the herd before you go.
The Tokaj Wine Region is also located in the wider destination of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén. Its climate, soil quality and slope exposure are suitable for growing grapes, and the wine region is legally protected as a designated wine-growing area. This is a distinct regional highlight alongside Szerencs’s cultural and historical attractions.
Discover more destinations: Bekecs, Mád, Golop, Legyesbénye, Mezőzombor, Rátka, Tállya
Return to the wider travel overview: Szerencsi.
