On 20 November 2025, the Göcseji Museum hosted the second presentation of
Dr. László Vándor’s latest volume, which summarises several decades of research,
published under the title
The Building Works of László Egervári – Gothic Ceramic (Terracotta) Architectural Elements in Hungary at the Turn of the 15th–16th Centuries
.
The first presentation of the book took place in October in Egervár, while the current event addressed the Zalaegerszeg audience interested in the region’s medieval past and the architectural heritage of Egervár.
The guests and the author were welcomed by Bálint Havasi, Director General of the Directorate of Zalaegerszeg Museums. In his address he highlighted that the newly presented volume is not only an important scholarly work but also the first publication in a new series, the
Zalai Múzeumi Monográfiák (Zala County Museum Monographs). The aim of the series is to present the results of researchers from Zala County, the region’s rich historical heritage, and the latest research findings in a clear yet academically rigorous form.
The book was presented by Dr. Irén Bilkei, historian, retired chief archivist and honorary director of the Zala County Archives of the Hungarian National Archives. In her lecture she not only outlined the structure and significance of the volume, but also introduced the audience—through an engaging style and
anecdotal highlights—to László Egervári and his era: the world of 15th-century Hungary and the reign of King Matthias.
The volume offers a detailed presentation of László Egervári’s life and building works, as well as the historical environment in which 15th-century Zala County developed. It explores the construction history of the Egervár castle, the structure and ornamentation of the Franciscan monastery, and the role of the local building workshop, which in this period employed
unique terracotta and moulded brick elements. The book also reveals how Egervár’s building projects were connected to the artistic culture of King Matthias’ court, and how architectural solutions emerged that today are regarded as some of the most valuable medieval heritage elements of Zala County.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is that it not only presents the Egervár building works but also evokes the broader historical context in which László Egervári’s career unfolded.
Dr. Irén Bilkei pointed out that the rise of this influential nobleman was closely linked to the policies of King Matthias and the major aristocratic families of Zala in the era.
The book presents the work of the castle and monastery builders in detail, and pays particular attention to those terracotta and moulded brick ornaments that represent the most distinctive elements of Egervár’s architectural heritage. It also draws parallels with similar architectural remains from the West Transdanubian region and the Austrian borderlands.
The book was published by the Directorate of Zalaegerszeg Museums, with the support of the National Cultural Fund of Hungary, the Municipality of Egervár, Atroplusz Ltd., the Zalaegerszeg Cultural Foundation, and City of County Rank of Zalaegerszeg.
The volume is available for purchase for 3000 HUF at the ticket office of the Göcseji Museum or online in the museum’s webshop.
