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Country Guide: Hungary

Southern Transdanubia
The region, south of Lake Balaton, bordered by the Danube and our southern border river Drava, consists of virgin forests, wide open spaces and little valleys hidden between softly curved hills.

This is the southern section of Pannonia, the ancient Roman province, where UNESCO has declared the early Christian cemetery of Pécs to be a World Heritage site. The pleasant climate and clean fresh air encourage people to go hiking, horse-riding, and enjoy the region's rich natural beauty and historic memorials.

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Tiny villages nestled in the hills carefully guard their rich traditions. The towns offer a wide choice of architectural milestones and cultural programs to the visitor. The soft, full-bodied wines, rich in bouquet, essence and aroma can always be accompanied by something to eat: roast lamb, crispy roast pig, spiced sheep-cheese mixed with butter and tender young onion on rye bread.

Hungarian National Tourist Office
South Transdanubian Regional Marketing Office
7621 Pécs, Mária u 9.
Phone: 72-514-620, Fax: 72-310-067
E-mail: rmipecs@hungarytourism.hu, or ddrmi@hungarytourism.hu
Website: www.south-transdanubia.hu

Pécs
Pécs was called Sopianae in Roman times and was an important center of early Christendom. The Early Christian Cemetery, consisting of the triple and six-apsed chapels, the so-called Jar ornamented Tomb Chamber, and the Ancient Christian Mausoleum, with its wall paintings, was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 2000.

Pécs has many attractions. Domed Turkish mosques, a slim minaret, and a lot of well-preserved masterpieces of Muslim architecture can be found here. To continue the list, the town hosts the factory and Museum of the sophisticated Zsolnay ceramics, the fantastic paintings of Csontváry Kosztka Tivadar, and decorative patterns of Victor Vasarely.

Along the streets almond trees blossom in early spring, and the pleasant atmosphere of restaurants and coffee houses gives the feeling that you are in the Mediterranean. This 2000-year-old city at the southern foot of Mount Mecsek, has been a bishop's headquarters since 1009. Beautiful churches and a great number of Museums await visitors. The road to the top of the hill is surrounded by the steep streets and charming houses of old Pécs called "Tettye".

The panorama is stunning from the 1730 feet high Misina mountaintop. Hikers walking along the sign-posted tourist paths of the Mecsek's Park Forest enjoy tasting the famous local wines in the evening. In the bazaar, an antique fair is held on the first weekend of each month, a flee-market and a livestock fair on each weekend.

There are many cultural opportunities for visitors: performances of the National Theatre of Pécs, the Ballet of Pécs, the Bóbita Puppet Theatre for children and adults, and various other musical events, concerts and festivals.

Mecsek Mountain
The Mecsek Mountain is ideal for excursions and a popular area for lovers of rural tourism. The air is fresh in the high mountains, the protected flowers are colorful and the food is tasty in the villages around the highest point of the range, Mount Zengõ. The fantastic rock formations of Mount Jakab that display doll-like shapes, the Melegmányi valley with its series of waterfalls, the ancient horse-chestnut forest blooming in June, the European-chestnut orchard at Zengõvárkony, the arboretums of Kisújbánya and Püspökszentlászló, as well as the hiker's path among waterfalls of Óbánya Valley are favorite destinations for ramblers.

Orfû and Lake Pécsi
In the idyllic valley of Mecsek Mountain, around the Orfû lake, there are swimming pools, recreational camps, water sport services and fishing opportunities. Lake Pécsi is ideal for fishing. You can ride horses in the surrounding area. The 19th century water-mill museum is also worth a visit.

Abaliget
The region's only stalactite cave can be found in Abaliget. There are interesting rock and stalactite formations along the half-mile pathway and the cave is renowned for its climatic healing properties. The lake at the entrance of the cave is ideal for boating and fishing.

Pécsvárad
The Benedictine Abbey and Monastery in Pécsvárad was founded in 1000. Bishop Astrik, who brought home the Crown of King St. Stephen, a gift from the Pope in Rome, was the first abbot. He helped the King to establish church and state in 11th century Hungary. The Fortress of Pécsvárad, built in the 13th century upon the monastery, is one of the most important medieval monuments of Hungary. The old tower of the fortress is currently a hotel. The Fortress Museum is located in the 18th century castle. The near-by Lake Dombay is a lovely place to visit all year round.

Harkány
Harkány, less than 25 kilometres from the city of Pécs, has been an internationally renown healing location for the last 200 years. According to local legend, the devil ploughed up the Mount of Szársomlyó, and water full of sulphur broke out of the ground. This is the only water in the world that contains sulphide ions in gaseous form. Thermal water and mud treatment are offered in the tubs and pools of the Harkány medicinal and recreational pools where hydro- and electrotherapy treatment is given under trained medical supervision. The medicinal waters of Harkány are recommended as a drinking cure in the follow-up care for all kinds of rheumatism and stomach disorders. The open air swimming pool and bathing complex with water sport and children's pools has become a popular recreation spot for families.

Siklós
The fortress of Siklós, in the southernmost town of the country, is one of the best preserved medieval castles of Hungary. This fortress preserves priceless objects from every epoch of its history, beginning in 1294: windows of the Romanesque age, the most ornate balcony and a castle chapel from the 14-15th century Hungarian Gothic.

The castle, enlarged in the 18th century, houses the stonework exhibition and the Pécs Glove Manufacturing Museum. Every year, the popular International Symposium of Ceramics is held in the former Franciscan Monastery. Another famous place of pilgrimage is the twin-towered Baroque Franciscan church in the near-by village of Máriagyûd.

Villány-Siklós Wine Road
The Villány-Siklós Wine Road in this ancient wine country was the first such to be developed in Hungary. It connects-through eight towns and villages-the 18-miles of vineyards spread out over a vast area. The wine culture of this region can be studied in the Wine Museum. The October Red Wine Festival that is held once every two years introduces the popular Villány wines: Blue Port, Merlot, Kékfrankos and Cabernet.

You can study the fossilized remains of 240-million-year-old animals in the former lime mine, on the Church Hill of Villány. Szársomlyó with its interesting rock formations (at Nagyharsány, 3 miles from here) is a protected region of rare plants and animals that exist only here.

Mohács
Mohács, at the South-Danube gateway of the country, is the home of the spectacular Hungarian folk tradition of "Busó Halloween"- a merry carnival to bury the winter and welcome the spring with horrifying masks, designed to frighten the Ottoman Turks that occupied Hungary. The blackest day in Hungarian history, the battle in 1526 called the 'Mohács tragedy', when the young king Lajos II and about 20 thousand Hungarian soldiers were killed, took place here and led to 150 years of Turkish rule. The Byzantine-style memorial church of the battlefield was erected on the town's central square. In the Museum of Kanizsai Dorottya you can trace the history of the town and the Mohács battle. Another exhibition shows the arts and crafts of this multi-ethnic town.

Walking along the road leading to Sátorhely, you can see the historic memorial of Mohács on the Turkish Mound, a reminder of the lost battle. In the garden surrounded by 10,000 yew-trees, many painted tomb emblems and wooden headboards displaying men and horses show the location of the five mass graves that have been excavated.

Gemenc Forest
The wildlife protection park in Gemenc Forest is the most beautiful flood-plain forest in Hungary. This regional protection area characterized by fens and oxbow lakes, rich in islands, preserves the landscape that existed before the Danube was controlled.

Old willow trees, giant oaks and poplars, lilies-of-the-valley, grey herons, meadow eagles, black storks, tufted herons, various water fowls and deer blessed with the largest antlers in Hungary, populate the charming little islands. This protected region can only be visited via small boats or the narrow-gauge railway between Bárányfok and Pörböly.

Decs
Decs preserves the living folk art of the Sárköz region: the spectacularly colourful embroidery and other artisan traditions like weaving, lace-making, egg-painting, tassel making and threading of beads. The Sárköz Regional House in this tiny village displays beautiful items.

Szekszárd
The romantic Szekszárd, rich in folklore, is bordered by seven hills and is the meeting point of Mezõföld and Sárköz. This is the center of the famous red-wine growing region, too. The history of the town stretches back to the Copper and Bronze Ages. The 'Wosinsky Mór' County Museum has a pretty exhibition about local history and archaeology. The well-known Hungarian composer and pianist, Ferenc Liszt visited friends here. His bust and his piano, are displayed in the Ferenc Liszt memorial exhibition in the old county hall. Another memorial exhibition has been arranged to commemorate the famous son of the city, the great 20th century poet and translator, Mihály Babits.

The Baroque St. László church that stands in the medieval core of the city is thought to be the largest one-nave church in Europe. Nearby you can see the remnants of the Benedictine Abbey Church from the 11th century. The town's most popular events are the Whitsun Festival, the Wine Festival and the famed Folklore Festival of Danube.

Szenna
The museum village of Szenna, built in the very middle of this real village, was awarded the Europa Nostra Prize: it is an outdoor collection of medieval houses-keeping the old ways of construction-taken apart in numbered pieces at the place of origin and reconstructed in the museum. It's like a real village.

The painted panelled ceiling of Reformed church, built in 1787, is adorned with 117 unique flower ornaments. A multitude of protected plants and animals inhabit the richly wooded Zselic Regional Protection Area. You can explore its many nature trails.

Szigetvár
Szigetvár has been a symbol of self-sacrificing patriotism since the Turkish invasion of 1566. A lion statue, a memorial of the heroic battle led by Miklós Zrínyi against the overwhelming Turkish troops, stands on the original battlefield. The town and its outskirts are full of Turkish monuments: the Turkish House holds an exhibition showing the Ottoman era. The visible parts of the fortress, the mosque and a minaret, were also built by the Turks. Interestingly, the old turbe [tomb] built in Turbék-Puszta is currently a Baroque Roman Catholic church, and a holy pilgrimage point for Muslim Turks.

The historic and archaeological finds displayed in the 'Zrínyi Miklós Castle Museum', and the wall paintings of the St. Rocus Parish Church are worth seeing.

Dombóvár
The medicinal thermal bath of Dombóvár-Gunaras has healing properties suitable for patients suffering from arthritis and rheumatism. Visitors enjoy summer in the seven wonderful swimming pools with giant slides. Water cycling is also popular at the boating pond.

Kaposvár
Your walk in the town of Kaposvár passes a charming variety of buildings, representing almost every style of architecture. The neo-Romanesque and neo-Gothic Church of Our Lady was promoted to Cathedral status in the year 1993, when the city was given a bishop. The Hungarian Art Nouveau style is represented by the colorful glass windows of the Town Hall, the Zsolnay tiles of Hotel Erzsébet, the Dorottya House, where the Dorottya Ball opens the carnival, and the twin-turreted building of the Csiky Gergely Theatre.

In the beautiful classical building of the former County Hall you will find the Rippl-Rónai Museum where the history, ethnography, wildlife and environmental protection of the area are exhibited. Here can be found the only cinema museum in Hungary. The works of the best known Hungarian post-Impressionist painter Rippl-Rónai József are in his Memorial Museum. The Vaszary Gallery shows the works of contemporary Hungarian artists.

For 25 years, the Pannonia Equestrian Academy has been the national headquarters for training the country's horses and horsemen. The International Show-Jumping Competition in March and the World Show-Riding Cup in October take place here.

Medicinal waters feed into 13 pools of thermal and recreational baths. The outskirts of the city offer all-year opportunities for hikers, water sport enthusiasts and anglers at the Deseda Water Reservoir.