CAVE RÁKÓCZI (RÁKÓCZI PLIERS)

Tokaj's most famous tourist winery is a veritable institution of Hungarian heritage. Built in the early ^15th century, it has belonged to kings, princes and noblemen. Its main hall - 28 meters long, 10 wide and 5 high - hosted the election of King János Szapolyai in 1526. The rest of the complex is an impressive labyrinth of galleries carved out of volcanic rock, with walls covered in a layer of noble mold, forming a natural insulation. This unique microclimate once enabled optimal ageing of Tokaji Aszú, "the wine of kings, king of wines", famous throughout Europe since Louis XIV.

The cellar also served as a nerve center for the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine trade in the ^16th and ^17th centuries. Surmounted by a former manor house, it is located in the historic heart of the town. Today, it houses the tastings of the Hétszőlő estate, one of Tokaj's oldest crus, founded in 1502 from seven plots ("hétszőlő" means "seven vines"). The estate is still cultivated by traditional methods, using horse power. Although the Rákóczi cellar is no longer used for aging wine, it remains a must-see. To walk through its galleries is to follow in the footsteps of the kings and princes who once toasted here with a glass of Aszú in hand. The tour also offers a fascinating insight into Tokaj's medieval history and the central role played by winegrowing.