THE FESTETICS HERITAGE

The Festetics family played a prominent role in the political, economic, scientific, and cultural life of Hungary through several generations. This route, which visits several towns and joins together the intellectual and cultural heritage of the Festetics family, incorporates sights associated with the name of this family of counts and princes.

HYPPOLIT

On the life and alleged legend of Thiery Hyppolit

Hyppolit the footman was an actual person. It is the inspiration for the legendary black-and-white Hungarian film.

French-born Thiery Hyppolit is a scion of an old, wealthy family, a descendant of Thiery Francois, a member of the French Royal Guard. He was the first butler of the Festetics family. As head master of the yard, his task was to provide and serve the Festetics family and their prestigious army of guests. Among the family's guests in the 19th and early 20th centuries were many royal and noble families, heads of state and government. The gastronomy of the Festetics yard was world famous, as was the family's winery. Sometimes, on the day of the comical situations in the film, Festetics also appeared at the court, because Hyppolit was a strict, traditional master of the court, observing the etiquette of a lord, while III. György's wife, the Polish-born Countess Mária Haugwitz, lived according to modern social values ​​that were being renewed in the 1930s. With this statue, we would like to commemorate Thiery Híppolit and his work, as well as the high-quality gastronomy of old Keszthely.