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Sights and historical towns throughout Hungary
Baja is a small town with 38 000 inhabitants in the South of Hungary, on the east
bank of the Danube. The Baroque Holy Trinity Column and the Town Hall with a neo-
Renaissance façade are worth of interest.
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Debrecen
Debrecen is Eastern Hungary's cultural center,
the second largest city in the country. It is a
school town with many colleges. It became a city
in the 14th century with the fusion of a few
villages. Markets renowned in Europe were
already organized here. It is worthwhile to take a
walk in the beautifully reconstructed center
(Kossuth tér, Aranybika Hotel, Kossuth statue,
Reformation Great Church, Memorial Garden,
College, Déri Museum). Visit to the ancient oak
forest which covers the lowland plain, the Great
Forest and its buildings. (Kossuth Lajos
University, Debrecen Medical University and
Clinics, Nagyerdei Thermal and Open-air Bath,
Nagyerdei Cultural Park. .
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Eger is one of the most wonderful Baroque towns
in Hungary with a glorious past and valuable
groups of monuments. The town is situated in the
North of Hungary. The "Valley of the Beautiful
Women" with several hundred-year-old cellars
and belonging to Eger, is part of the historic wine
-region. Eger is famous for production of red "Egri
Bikavér" (Bull's Blood of Eger) and of white "Egri
Leányka" (Maiden of Eger). In Eger was built the
second largest church in Hungary, the classicist
Cathedral. There are many ecclesiastical
buildings and palaces in Baroque and Rococo
styles. In Turkish times the medieval castle has
become a symbol of patriotism. Captain Dobó
heroically defended the fortified castle against the
vastly outnumbering Turkish army in 1552.
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Győr, "the town of rivers" or Arrabon, as the
Romans called it, is a nearly 1000-year-old
bishopric. It is famous for the battle which
Napoleon won in 1809 and for its schools and
industry. It has a nice downtown and beautifully
restored Baroque buildings. The ancient "heart"
of the town is the residence of the bishops and
the Cathedral at Káptalan Hill. The Gothic chapel,
the special ornaments and frescos of the old
Cathedral all make it worth visiting.
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 | | | Kecskemét (population 110 000)
has a very nice town centre with
many famous Art Nouveau
buildings. The outer parts of the
town have a traditional market
town atmosphere. In the Middle
Ages it was a flourishing market
town. Today is Kecskemét the
most important settlement of the
Great Plain between the river
Danube and Tisza. Large-scale fuit
production of the area is combined
with prosperiong food industry
(Kecskemét apricot brandy). | | |
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 Keszthely lies on the western end of Lake Balaton. It is noted for its agricultural university, for its nice town centre and for the vicinity of the famous nearby spa, Hévíz. The Festetics Mansion, a Baroque palace, near the town centre is one of the largest and most impressive mansions of Hungary. It can be visited along with its precious exhibited items, fine furniture and its famous Helikon Library. |
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 Kőszeg The small town lies on the Austrian border and during the Turkish period it was a fortress. The heroic defender, Mikós Jurisics defeated the Turkish army of Sultan Suleiman in 1532. The monuments of the town commemorate the victory over the Turks (Heroes' Gate) and the medieval period (the castle, the Town Hall). In Summer programs are held from the Kőszeg Theatre in the castle yard. |
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Ópusztaszer
Historical memorial place found in the
southeastern part of Hungary. According to the
historian Anonymus, prince Árpád held the first
national assembly here. The Árpád memorial
was prepared for the country's millenium
(1896). The National Historical Memorial
Garden was established in the 70's. A
rotunda was built and after its remodeling,
the famous circular painting of the Hungarian
conquest was placed here, painted by Feszty
Árpád and his partners. An open-air folk art
museum was also established here to depict
the buildings, shops, workshops characteristic
of the southern lowland plain.
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 Pécs Mysterious crypts from Roman times, cupolated Turkish djamis, a slim minaret, exquisite Zsolnay ceramics, Csontváry paintings, decorative Vasarely patterns, almond trees blooming early in spring, atmospheric restaurants and cafés - this is Pécs, the 2000-year-old town with the Mediterranean climate and atmosphere at the southern foot of the Mecsek Hills. It has been a bishop's seat since 1009. Pécs is today famous for its universities. |
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 | Sopron The town with subalpine climate lies near the Austrian border. Sopron (in the Roman Period: Scarbantia) was an important station of the Amber Road crossing Europe from north to south. The small town is the richest in monuments in all of Hungary. It was awarded the "Europa Nostra" prize in 1975. By the former town walls surrounded, the inner nucleus is very rich in historical monuments and valuable collections. The 61-meter-high Fire Tower is the symbol of Sopron and it offers a wonderful panoramic view. The vineyards of the Sopron region are famous for excellent red wine. |
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 Szeged at the junction of the rivers Tisza and Maros, is often called the "town of sunshine", the sun shines 2100 hours a year. After the great flood of the Tisza in 1879, a well-designed new town was built with international help in splendid, eclectic-Art Nouveau style.
A row of famous buildings can be found in the Dom Square (which is as big as Saint Mark's Square in Venice): the Bishop's Palace, the Theological College, university buildings, the Catholic Boarding House and the monumental Bishop's Cathedral also known as the Votive Church.
In summer the square before the church is the place for the famous Szegedi Open-Air Performances. Among the town's world-famous products of the food industry are the matchless Pick Salami and Szeged Paprika, providing wonderful, distinctive flavour to Hungarian foods. A great deal of paprika is used in the famous Szeged Fish soup, as well. |
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 Székesfehérvár, Alba Regia, established in 972 was the first Hungarian capital; it had previously been the country's main church for five centuries. Here 37 kings were crowned and 17 sovereigns buried.
The most important building in the country between the 11th and 16th centuries was Saint Stephen's Basilica: the king's throne, the symbol of his rule, was here. The basilica, used for coronations, was blown up by the Turks in 1612 and only the foundations can be seen today. In the medieval Ruin Garden a group of important monuments of the Hungarian history can be visited.
In the old town centre there are also many 18-19. century sights in Baroque style.
Today is Székesfehérvár the industrial centre of Transdanubia. |
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Vác, a small Baroque town, is situated at the Danube, north of Budapest. The first railway in Hungary, built 1846 operated between Pest and Vác. Impressive classicist and Baroque monuments attract tourists, and about 1000 years ago a bishopric was founded here. |
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 | Veszprém "The Town of Queens" - that's what this town is called. The country's first bishopric was established here because it was the duty of the Bishops of Veszprem to crown the Hungarian Queens.
Veszprém has many unique artifacts of Hungarian Church history: the country's oldest frescos can be found in the early-Gothic Gizella Chapel. We can also see the crypt of the Bishop's Cathedral which retains a precious relic of the first Hungarian Queen, Giselle of Bavaria.
Saint George's Chapel, built during the 9th and 10th centuries, must have been the first church in the country. The classicist Piarist grammar school, church and monastery was built in the 18th century.
From the old town opens a wonderful panorama on the nearby peaks of the Bakony Hills. |
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