Lipizzan Stud Szilvásvárad

The Bukk Mountains rise above the Great Hungarian Plain, 25km north of the city of Eger and since 1951 is Szilvasvarad the home of the Hungarian Lipizzaner.

Back in 1888 Graf Pallavicini founded a private Lipizzaner stud there. It was due to Napoleon that the Lipizzaner found their home in Hungary. At the beginning of 1800 the Lipizzaner stock of Lipica in Trieste fled to Mezöhegyes from the oncoming threat of Napoleons’ troops. In 1815 a part of the stock returned to Lipizza, the remaining stock stayed in Mezöhegyes. There, however, after a few generations, deficiencies were noticed in the magnificent mountain horses. To keep breeding up to standard the Lipizzaner stock was moved 1874 to Fogaras in Transylvania, which had just been re-established.

After the Treaty of Trianon Transylvania was annexed to Rumania, the horses were therefore brought to Bábolna in 1918 until finally in 1951 their home was founded in Szilvasvarad. The mother mares and stallions stood in the stud, whilst the foals grew up until the age of three on a secluded farm in the Bukk Mountains. Breeding is done here under the old principles, the seven lines Conversion, Favor, Incitation, Maestros, Napolitano, Pluto and Siglavy and the Hungarian line Tulip an.

In the old stables of the castle are the five "stallions of the year". Adjacent to the stables there is also a small museum. The large carriage museum is also located on the grounds of the mares stall.

(27.01.2016)