Storytelling Bus Stops - Rohonczy Mansion

The mansion in Neo-Classical style was built around 1827 by János Rohontzy (1775-1842), the well-known and vigorous vice county steward of the region, on the northwestern edge of the city along Pápai road. The 1857 cadastral map showed a layout similar to the current complex. The building with an inner courtyard was connected to a long side wing that extended backward and a perpendicular auxiliary building. Later, the property came into the possession of Duke Pál Esterházy of Kismarton and remained in the hands of his descendants until 1879. For a time, it was also used as a barracks. On 26th February 1886, Leopold Wessel, a cloth and blanket manufacturer, purchased the house for 4,600 forints. By September, he was advertising the sale of the 15-room property with auxiliary buildings. The city bought it in April 1887 for the purpose of establishing a poorhouse, although they initially wanted to lease it out. However, no tenant was found. In Veszprém, caring for the poor has a long history. Various religious denominations primarily supported the poor and beggars. However, their mobilisable financial resources were tied up in helping the victims of the massive fire on 4th September 1887, which destroyed 107 houses. The city leadership worked to erase the traces of the tragedy. The still-empty Rohontzy mansion was used to set up a soup kitchen where the victims received lunch and dinner, and it was later converted into a poorhouse that could accommodate 70-80 people.