Located in the vicinity of the rivers Hernád, Tisza and Bodrog, Zemplén is made unique by its historical and culture-historical heritage, by the traditions of the region, by the treasures of the Zemplén grounds, and – last but not least – by its special and varied natural beauties.
No wonder that Boldogkőváralja is one of the brightest spots of the Zemplén landscape.
The settlement borrowed its name from the castle that stands on the Bodókő rock (originally it was called Bodókőváralja). The castle was built after the Mongol invasion, and functioned as the most important fortress of the Hernád-valley. It was first mentioned in 1282, by the name Castrum Boldua. Later it was taken over by Aba Amadé, who revolted against King Charles Robert, then the king took the castle away from him and donated it to the Drugeth family. This was the family who built the rest of the castle around the old tower. In the centuries to come, the castle was owned by several noble families.
The history of the castle and the history of the settlement have been closely intertwined. However, Boldogkőváralja is worth mentioning not only from a military viewpoint but also with regard to culture: this is where Mátyás Dévai Bíró, the “Hungarian Luther” and one of the prominent personalities of the reformation process, worked as a chaplain, and the poet Bálint Balassi also visited the settlement several times and wrote his poem Borivóknak való (For wine-drinkers) in the castle.
The castle no longer held any military importance in the 17th century. At the beginning of the century, Leopold II ordered the castle to be pulled down, however, it was restored later in neo-Gothic style.
Winding down from the castle either on the motorway or on the footpath, we arrive at Boldogkőváralja, which has a picturesque location. The 737-metre high spot, bearing the special name of Magoska, can be seen above the village. Inside the village you can find the Péchy-Zichy castle: the single-floor baroque castle with an attic was built in 1768, and its garden features numerous special plants and protected rarities.
It was also the Péchy family who built the Baroque church in 1768 with a huge tower and with a Moorish dome. The fine items of furnishing well present the wealth and the generosity of the landlord, who was able to simultaneously build a fancy castle and a church at the seat of his domain.
The other church of the village is Greek Catholic, built in 1766. This is where you can see the Slavic icons, which were rescued from the earlier wooden church that had been burned down.
A small, old and nicely refurbished house of the village gives home to a historical-landscape exhibition, presenting a blacksmith workshop, old work tools, weapons, documents, as well as protected plants and animals. On the Cserák hill you can find the cottage of Angyal Bandi, the famous outlaw. Standing outside the cottage, your imagination can take you into the world of tales and legends.
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