A miraculous rescue and the story of the Gisela Chapel

It shares its walls with the latter, but if you turn the right corner, you can’t miss the medieval stones and the old wooden door. This small holy place is called the Gisela Chapel, but despite its name, it is said that the queen did not have it built.

The full story is that when the pagans attacked Veszprém castle in the turbulent times after the state was founded, only Queen Gisela was at home. However, as soon as the news of the trouble reached her husband, King Stephen, he immediately arrived under the castle. Since the flat parts were already occupied by the attackers, the king had to head for the steep cliff face on his horse. The queen waved a bright crucifix at her consort, indicating the only path he should follow. Stephen, meanwhile pursued by the pagan attackers, threw away his cloak, gold chain and any gold he had with him. This slowed down his greedy pursuers, enabling the king to meanwhile reach his wife in the castle. The fact that the king had escaped them greatly alarmed the pagans, who quickly headed away from Veszprém. The king built a chapel in honour of his wife on the spot from which Queen Gisela had waved to him. So the legend goes. Maybe it’s true, maybe not.

However, the chapel is indeed on the eastern side of the castle. If you go in, you can admire the over-a-thousand-year-old frescoes of saints on its walls and count the number of dragons carved on the pillars of the triumphal arch.

The visit of the Gizella Chapel is possible through a registered guided tours.

More information can be found here.