Real places. You can visit them.
The novel is set at two real Hungarian places, about an hour from Budapest. They are quiet, old, and largely empty of tourists. If you read the book and want to walk the same ground the ghosts walk, here is where to go.
Vasad Castle (Vasadi Kastély)
The Haunted House. Where Ilona, István, and Zsuzsanna gather the ghosts.
The old castle of Vasad. It still stands today, though it is empty and crumbling. Long ago, noble families lived here — the Ráday, the Darvas, the Szilassy. They held feasts, told stories, and walked the gardens. Now the walls are silent.
But if you visit, you can still feel the history. In the book, Ilona runs it as the Haunted House, where the digital ghosts gather.
- Where
- Vasad, Hungary — about 40 km southeast of Budapest
- Open
- The grounds are open; the building is private
- Getting there
- Train from Budapest (Nyugati) to Monor, then local taxi or short drive
- Read
- Chapter 4 — The Ghosts of Vasad
Csévharaszti Puszta Church
Where Rozina and the old ghosts gather at midnight.
An old church in the wilderness — in Hungarian, Csévharaszti Puszta, "the wilderness of Csévharaszt." No one knows exactly how old it is. People have been coming here for a thousand years.
In the book, Rozina meets Bill here at midnight, and the old ghosts gather. If you ever visit Hungary, you can find it.
- Where
- About 2 km south of Csévharaszt, 7 km from Vasad
- Open
- Open ground — you can visit any time
- Getting there
- From Vasad, a short drive or walk through quiet country lanes
- Read
- The midnight chapters
How to reach Vasad.
- By air
- Fly into Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport, about 40 minutes away.
- By car
- Take the M4 motorway, turn off at Üllő, then follow Highway 4 until the Vasad sign — the village is about 3 km from the highway.
- By train & bus
- Train from Budapest Nyugati to Monor, then the bus from Monor station to Vasad, followed by a 15-minute walk.
Both places are private grounds adjacent to public paths. Please walk gently and leave nothing behind.