Tátika Castle sits on one of the hilltops of the Keszthely Mountains, a 30-minute walk away from Zalaszántó. The castle, which is located 412 metres above sea level, is the perfect hiking destination. Northeast from Zalaszántód, you can get here by following the road to Sümeg, where you have to turn right and follow the blue blaze.
According to historians, it was named after Tadenka or Tadeuka from the Tátika clan, who had his castle built before the Mongol invasion. The original building is long gone, and the ruins you see today date back to a later period. Over the years the castle was owned by the bishop of Veszprém and the Lackfi and Gersei Pethő families; the Festetics family got a hold of it after it was looted and burned down by a band of Turks. Following centuries of decay, archaeological excavations were started at the site in 2000 to save as much of the ruins as possible, and to make sure that, along with the panorama, tourists can admire the remains of the castle as well.
Tip: It’s worth to visit nearby attractions like the Stupa of Zalaszántó, which is open all year round, or the Kotsy Watermill, which is open from March to October.
