Budapest
www.budapestinfo.hu | www.budpocketguide.com | http://english.budapest.hu
Capital city of Hungary and the country’s principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial and transportation centre. With its almost two million inhabitants it is the biggest and most densely populated city in the country. One in every five Hungarian citizens lives in Budapest, and over half of the nation’s GDP is generated here. Half of the university students study in the capital, and the majority of professors teach here, too. The proportion of researchers working in Budapest is even higher.
The city itself lies on the banks of the Danube which divide it into 2 parts: Buda, dominated by hills and slopes, and the plain Pest.
Budapest is a city of diversity, where you can find the marks of different historical eras: to feel the Turkish atmosphere go and see the burial monument of Gül baba; then the rustic streets and monuments of the Castle district; you can witness the rapid transformation that took place during the 19th century by walking along the Andrássy út or the boulevards. If you are one for undisturbed calm, take a stroll in the villa quarters in Rózsadomb. The capital is rich in historical monuments; there are countless architectural treasures, such as the Parliament or the Opera House, the Szent István Basilica and the Buda Castle.
Besides, there are numerous sites and various events to see: more than 200 museums and 40 theatres; festivals throughout the year; around 80 thermal springs and spas. The list is endless…
Debrecen
www.debrecen.hu
Debrecen is the second largest city in Hungary after Budapest with a population of 200,000. It is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain region and the capital of Hajdú-Bihar county. The city has preserved its ancient mercantile character and has a rich cultural life, too.
The symbol of Debrecen is the Great Church, built in classicist style, which is unique in the country. A flower carnival takes place in the city every year on 20 August.
Debrecen is home to the University of Debrecen, whose main building is a widely recognized work of architecture. The university has many departments and is a major research facility in Europe.
Debrecen also makes an ideal starting point for excursions to the Hortobágy National Park, or to the nearby cosy villages such as Jászberény or Mezőkövesd.
How to get there from Budapest:
By car: Take the M3 motorway towards Miskolc then take highway M35 to Debrecen. The distance is approximately 230 kms.
By train: The journey time by Intercity train from Budapest Nyugati Railway Station is 3 hours.
Dunaújváros
Dunaújváros (formerly known as Dunapentele and Sztálinváros) is an industrial city in Fejér County, Central Hungary. The city is best known for its steelworks, which is the largest in the country.
Dunaújváros is located in the Transdanubian part of the Great Hungarian Plain, 70 kilometres (43 miles) south from Budapest up on the river Danube. Highway 6, Motorways M6, M8 and the electrified Budapest-Pusztaszabolcs-Dunaújváros-Paks railway line also cross the city.
The city replaced the village of Dunapentele (“Pantaleon up on the Danube”), named after Saint Pantaleon. The construction of the new industrial city started in 1949 and was renamed Sztálinváros (“Stalin City”) in 1951. After the Hungarian revolution of 1956 the new government renamed the city to the neutral Dunaújváros in 1961, which means „New City up on the Danube”.
Eger
Situated at the intersection of the spectacular Bükk Mountains and the Great Plains and surrounded by picturesque vineyards, Eger, the seat of Heves County and the centre of the Eger Archdiocese is one of the most famous and frequented towns of Hungary. The intricate network of underground cellars ferment and preserve the world famous wines of Eger.
Eger, with its population of 60,000 is a favoured tourist attraction as annually hundreds of thousands of foreign and domestic visitors enjoy its spectacular Baroque monuments and historic buildings, get acquainted with the Castle recalling the days of Hungary’s heroic resistance to the advance of the Ottoman Empire, delight in the sight of the Minaret built during the Turkish Conquest, benefit from the therapeutic effects of the Eger Open-Air Bath and relish the taste of the Eger wines.
The engaging panorama and atmosphere of the historic city centre can be partially attributed to the efforts of the outstanding prelates and supporters of the arts traditionally making their home in the city of Eger. Bishop Károly Eszterházy, whose commitment to municipal development lead to Eger’s present status as a cultural, intellectual and tourism centre of the North-eastern Hungarian Region deserves special mention. Furthermore, its famous schools providing traditionally high quality instruction made Eger an important educational centre as well.
Due to its educational profile the Eszterhazy Karoly College is both professionally and culturally integrated into the life of the city. While it operates as an intellectual base, by hosting various scholarly conferences along with scientific and cultural events and offering post-graduate programs or continuative educational programs for the professionals of the region, the College actively contributes to the improvement of the cultural life of the citizens of the city and the region.
Gödöllő
Gödöllő is a town situated in Pest county 30 km Northeast of Budapest. It lies on the banks of Rákos stream, in the valley of Gödöllő downs. The city is surrounded by downs all around and yet it is an open place as two other open downs join the main downs with their green slopes: Öreghegy (Old Hill), 302 m, and Gudrahegy (Gudra Hill), 251 m.
Gödöllő lies in a clean, green and panoramic area surrounded by forests. Due to its natural gifts and the favorable geographical position Gödöllő is one of the most attractive settlements among those surrounding Budapest, the capital of Hungary. The forests in Gödöllő’s downs have always offered kings and governors excellent grounds for wild game hunting. The town is surrounded by about a hundred square kilometers of forest land, a quarter of which is under Gödöllő’s surveillance and administration: pine makes up 10%, acacia 25% and oak accounts for 60% of this area. No air pollutant industrial plants can be found in the town or its surroundings. Gödöllő’s air is cleaner than the Hungarian average. Green public ground per capita is more than 40 square meters. The administrative territory under the town’s jurisdiction makes up 62 square kilometers, of which 16 square kilometres is the built-up area. The Elizabeth Park (1898) and the Arboretum (Meadows of Archduke Joseph) (1902) are nature reserves where the visitor can find a rich variety of rare tree and shrub species.
The Palace is one of the most important, largest monuments of Hungarian Palace architecture. Its builder, Count Antal Grassalkovich I (1694–1771) was a typical figure of the regrouping Hungarian aristocracy of the 18th century. He was a Royal Septemvir, president of the Hungarian Chamber, and confidant of Empress Maria Theresa (1740–1780). The construction began around 1733, under the direction of András Mayerhoffer (1690–1771) a Salzburg builder.
Győr
Győr is located in the northwestern part of Hungary, close to the Slovakian and the Austrian border. The capital of Győr-Moson-Sopron county lies on one of the important roads of Central Europe, halfway between Budapest and Vienna.
The area has been inhabited since the ancient times. The first large settlement, named Arrabona by its inhabitants the Celts, dates back to the 5th century BC. Győr has an enchanting centre and beautiful Baroque buildings. The oldest part of the city is Káptalan Hill at the confluence of the Danube, Rába and Rábca rivers. Today Győr is one of the most important administrative and cultural centres of Hungary. The city is also a university town and a popular tourist destination.
The nerby Benedictine Arch abbey of Pannonhalma is well worth visiting.
How to get there from Budapest
By car: Take the M1 motorway. Győr is 125 km from Budapest
By train: The journey takes one and a half hour by Intercity train from Budapest Keleti Railway Station.
source: www.studyinhungary.hu
Miskolc
Miskolc is a city in North-East Hungary, mainly with heavy industrial background. With a population close to 190,000 Miskolc is the third largest city of Hungary. It is also the capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county and the regional centre of the Northern Hungary region.
Miskolc is not a historical city, in the nineteenth century it was an important commercial centre due to its geographical location. Later, with the industrialization of the country, the city became an industrial centre thanks to the nearby coal and ore mines.
From Miskolc the famous Tokaj wine region is within at easy reach, or you can take nice excursions to nearby towns like Eger, Sárospatak or the beautiful Szilvásvárad. The World Heritage site, Aggtelek lies also near.
The University of Miskolc is among the newer ones, it was founded in 1949. University Town is located to the southwest of the city, on the road to Miskolctapolca. The university was built on the American campus model and it is surrounded by a large park and sports facilities.
How to get there from Budapest
By car: Take the M3 motorway, then follow highway M30. The distance is approximately 180 kms.
By train: The journey takes approximately 2 hours by Intercity train from Budapest Keleti Railway Station.
Pécs
Pécs is located in the south-west of the country. It is the administrative and economic centre of Baranya county. The area has been inhabited since ancient times, with the oldest archaeological findings being 6000 years old.
The city lies on the southern slopes of Mecsek hills, and has a moderate, almost Mediterranean climate. When Western Hungary was a province of the Roman Empire, the Romans founded several wine-producing colonies here.
Pécs has a rich cultural life, a wide variety of galleries and museums as well as numerous historical buildings such as the Basilica of Pécs, an eleventh century Christian monument. Several Turkish monuments dating from the Ottoman Empire (16th-17th century) give the city a cross-cultural character.
The city of Pécs was selected as European Capital of Culture for 2010.
The surrounding countryside is also well worth discovering: the Villány wine region, the Harkány spa, the Lake Orfű, and the historical fortress of Siklós are all famous tourist attractions.
The University of Pécs was founded in 1367, it is the oldest university in Hungary, and is among the first European universities. It has 10 faculties offering wide range of training programmes that cover nearly every possible area of study.
How to get there from Budapest
By car: Follow M6 motorway then highway M60. The distance is approximately 230 kms.
By train: The journey takes approximately 3 hours by Intercity train from Budapest Déli Railway Station.
Sopron
Sopron is situated near the western borders of Hungary, at the foot of the Alps, 60 km from Vienna and 220 km from Budapest. It is one of the oldest jewelboxes of the country. Sopron merges past and present in itself. It creates a bridge between Hungary and its western neighbours, opening a gate for foreign guests visiting Hungary, as it is symbolized by the coat of arms of the city.
The inhabitants of the city are famed for their hospitality and loyalty to their hometown. This is also symbolized by the ‘Gate of Faith’, which can be found on the southern side of the Firewatch Tower, the symbol of the city, and which was made in memory of the referendum of 1921.
The City Hall was built in 1896, in the year of the Hungarian Millennium. Opposite it, the Storno House is one of the most well-known buildings of the city, thanks to its highly interesting collection. Even King Matthias stayed overnight between these walls. The Goat Church provided a venue for coronations and parliamentary sessions. The Holy Trinity Statue is a masterpiece of the Hungarian Baroque, while the neo-Gothic Ursuline Church is one of the most impressive architectural monuments of the past century. Várkerület was built along the former moat, its inner row of houses following the line of the castle wall. A gem of Várkerület is the Maria Statue.
The curative and refreshing air of the natural environment, the hiking routes of the wooded hillsides, the view towers, the mountain springs, and the proximity of Lake Fertő make Sopron one of the most beautiful and most pleasant holiday resorts of Hungary. The Löverek, the hilly area south of the city, is the most fascinating and most distinguished area of the city. It offers calm forests with spruces, oaks and chestnuts, lilies of the valley and cyclamens, hiking paths and lookout towers.
Another attraction of the historic town of Sopron is the excellent wines of the region, so the city is becoming increasingly popular among those who would like to satisfy their thirst with noble wines.
http://www.sopron.hu/Sopron/portal/english
Szeged
Szeged is the fourth largest city of Hungary. With a population of 175,000, it is the regional centre of South-Eastern Hungary and the capital of the county of Csongrád. Szeged and its area have been inhabited since ancient times. The name Szeged was first mentioned in 1183, in a document of King Béla III.
The city’s most impressive monument is the cathedral in the centre. Every summer the square in front of it transforms to a huge open air theatre for the Szeged Open-Air Festival.
Szeged is the sunniest city in the country; it has the highest level of annual sunshine. The warm weather makes you feel like taking excursions to Kecskemét, to the Kiskunság National Park or to the National Historical Memorial Park of Ópusztaszer.
The University of Szeged was founded in Kolozsvár (now in Romania) in 1872 and was moved to Szeged in 1921. At present it consists of 12 faculties where you can study almost everything from art to business or health sciences.
How to get there from Budapest
By car: Take the M5 motorway. The distance is approximately 170 kms.
By train: The journey takes approximately 2 and a half hour by Intercity train from Budapest Nyugati Railway Station.
