The history of Zádorvár, as we have known it so far.
The so far known relics from the Zádorvár area (ceramics, cracked tools & bones) are originating from the prehistoric times. Nowadays, under the existing southern walls of the castle area, the excavations taking place in 2018, identified a large, unknown workshop site of the Neolithic age (7000-4500 B.C.).
Written sources mention the first stone building in the year 1374. At that time Benedek Himfy, as the local tax collector of Louis I, erected a building on the present area of the castle. Since Himfy was building on the territory of the Veszprém Capitulum, the chapter complained. Based on a compromise after a four-year lawsuit the Himfy family left the place.
The Vezsenyi family appears in the Balaton Uplands in 1382, where, among others, the settlement named Barnag was donated to them by Queen Marie d’Anjou, in recognition of their loyalty. The family enhanced their properties with these new estates, but they neither give up their possessions in the region of Szolnok.
In the royal warrant, dated 6th December 1384, Queen Mary gave permission to László Vezsenyi establishing a fortified residence, that is to build a castle. Thanks to the Vezsenyi family, by the year 1386, Zádorvár had took shape in its present form. As a result, the courtyard of the castle forms a nearly regular square of 55×60 meters. Inside the complex, the south side gave space to the living section area, joined by a chapel extending from the eastern wall, with an apse closing of a quarter arch. The tower gate was in the middle of the southern wall – the gate’s entrance was probably walled in after some time for static reasons – and in the southwest corner there was also a strong and high tower.
However, the Vezsenyi family built the castle not on their own land, but that of the Capitulum of Veszprém. The chapter objected to the construction and sought legal remedy. This is evidenced by the chapter’s 1386 report, that „… László, son of Miklós Vezsenyi captured the hill of „Zabad”, then hastily erected a stone castle …”
A long bargain and dispute began – during which the family tried to buy the property involved in the construction. In the meantime, the Himfy descendants also attacked the former agreement that was supposed to close their construction. The lawsuit was finally settled in favor of the Chapter of Veszprém, and in 1394 the chief prefect obliged the Vezsenyis to end the land debate.
Following the decision of the judge, the Vezsenyi family left Zádorvár by 1400 and built a new residence at the present area of Nagyvázsony, thus the castle of Nagyvázsony was born.
After the leaving of the Vezsenyi family the castle legally became uninhabitad, left to be „unowned” for centuries, but it is assumable that the building complex was in use.
In 1472, after the extinction of the Vezsenyis, the family’s estates in the Balaton Uplands were donated to Pál Kinizsi by King Matthias. This is probably why the castle was called Kinizsi Castle, despite the castle itself was never part of the Kinizsi lands. According to oral tradition, shortly after the death of King Matthias, Czech Hussite mercenaries also settled into the walls of Zádorvár, and their leader was a monk who had left the monastery of Tihany. Following the constant complaints of local serfs, the captain of Nagyvázsony castle put an end to their tyranny and robberies in the area – they put all the rogues to the death and executed their leader based on his confession.
Zádorvár was not classified as a fortress or border castle, so it had no military role. It is presumed that it had been continuously inhabited without permission. But since Zádorvár was not the property of the „actual inhabitants”, the condition of the buildings was constantly deteriorating.
Until the 1600s the castle has formed part of the chapteral estates. Following the settlement of lands with the Chapter of Veszprém, King Ferdinand III also took possession of the area giving place for Zádorvár. On 8th December 1649, the King donated this territory also – the buildings standing on it then called Pusztavár – to István Zichy, thus until 1945 Pusztavár / Zádorvár had been part of the Zichy estates. Zádorvár was not used either by the Zichy family, hence they did not pay attention to the preservation or improvement of the castle.
With no major battles destroying the castle, after 1394 there were no additional builds on it. The existing walls carry the characteristics of the years 1374 to 1394 and the construction period of the era, unchanged.
In 1958, the ruined Zádorvár was classified as a monument, and from 1991 it became the property of the Municipality of Pécsely. From March 2016, the Municipality of the Town of Pécsely gave it to the use of the Foundation for Historical Monuments, in order to ensure the conservation, exploration and not least, the establishing of a popular historical and tourist destination in a sound environment.