Sights of Eger. The most important and interesting sights of Eger are photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, sites.
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Eger was nicknamed the "City of Baroque" because it was the heyday of this style in architecture that became the period of Eger's revival from the ashes after more than 90 years of Turkish occupation. Accordingly, here you can see numerous Baroque churches and residential buildings, beautiful with the same pretentious baroque beauty and an abundance of decor both outside and inside. The Minorite Basilica alone looks like it hardly fits into the code of this order of poor monks. The Franciscan Church also deserves every attention. And the Fazola gate of incredibly detailed cast-iron forging is able to impress even those who are not by hearsay familiar with the gratings of the Summer Garden and Versailles.
Eger thrives on two main areas of income: tourism and wine. And they intersect at the Istvan Wine Museum, which occupies a 250-meter wine cellar.
There are also many museums and exhibitions in Eger, and all of them are so diverse that everyone will find something to their liking here. For example, in the lyceum, which never became a university, as it was planned during its construction, you can see ancient astronomical instruments and one of the three camera obscura in the world, created in the 18th century. In the museum of weapons, the oldest (and most interesting) exhibits date back to 1848. The exhibition "Marcipania" will amaze not only lovers of sweets to the very heart: such incredible things are presented here, up to copies of Van Gogh's paintings, that no one will ever say that they have been made. they are just sweets. The Church Museum is hiding in the former stables of the Archbishop's Palace; in the building of the old fire station - the Firefighting Museum, which is very fond of children; the amazing interior of the Orthodox Serbian Church of St. Nicholas is also a museum exposition in itself. But the city also has the Museum of the Hungarian Carriage, the City Under the City Museum, the Pharmacopoeia Museum (and this is not to mention the museums in the castle).
Eger thrives on two main areas of income: tourism and wine. And they intersect at the Istvan Wine Museum, which occupies a 250-meter wine cellar. Moreover, this cellar is just a tiny outgrowth of a giant underground system that stretches for more than 120 kilometers under Eger. During a tour of the museum, visitors get to know the 22 wine regions of Hungary and, of course, taste.
As for the vicinity of Eger, the first attraction in them is undoubtedly the Bükk National Park, the third largest in the country. The park was founded in 1976 and 97% of its territory is covered with forest. Accordingly, the flora and fauna are the richest here. Mouflons and boars, wild cats and deer, lynxes and wolves are found here as often as a huge number of birds. The park has picturesque lakes, well-marked hiking trails, including a section of the National Blue Trail, a UNESCO-protected traditional village and even "Hungarian Pompeii" - an archeology enthusiast's dream.
In May 2015, I took part in an excursion from Budapest to the city of Eger, located in the north of Hungary. Its name, according to the most common version, comes from the alder tree. Eger is located in the area of the Matra and Bükk mountain ranges, teeming with beautiful oak and beech forests and favorable for vineyards. By the way, in the Matra massif there is the highest peak of Hungary - Mount Kekesh with a height of 1014 (sometimes called the number 1015) meters. On the road from Budapest to Eger, it can be seen at some distance.
The population of Eger is about 56 thousand people, which is a lot by the standards of Hungary (where about a fifth of the country's inhabitants live in the capital). Eger is famous for its Dpamatic history, the fact that it is one of the four Hungarian cities belonging to the Union of European Baroque Cities, and the production of bull's blood wine. And not far from Eger there are many balneological resorts, one of which I also visited on this excursion.
Eger
Basilica of Eger and Lyceum
The first sight of Eger I saw is the Basilica of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, St. Michael and the Immaculate Conception. Built in 1831-1836.
The Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Eger is one of fifteen Hungarian churches that bear the honorary status of a minor basilica (there is only one great basilica - this is, of course, St. Peter's Basilica in Rome). This large architectural monument in the neoclassical style is one of the three largest temples in the country along with and. Moreover, all three were built according to the designs of one architect - Jozsef Hilda. It is interesting that in terms of all of them are not in the form of a Latin, but of a Greek (that is, equilateral) cross. 
On the pediment is an inscription in Latin Venite adoremus Dominum (“Come, let us worship the Lord”). At the top there are figures of Faith, Hope and Love and two archangels. Closer to the temple - sculptures of the apostles Peter (left) and Paul (right). And in the foreground are sculptures of the Holy Kings of Hungary: Istvan (under him Hungary adopted Christianity) and Laszlo I.
Interiors of the Basilica: 
Opposite the Basilica is the main building of the Eger Lyceum: 
It was founded in the 18th century by a local bishop and is one of the oldest schools in Hungary. It is interesting that the Habsburgs who ruled the Holy Roman Empire opposed the development of the lyceum (as well as the education of Hungary in general) and did not allow it to be given the status of a university. In honor of the founder, the Lyceum bears the name of Bishop Karoi Esterhazy.
Streets of Eger
The historic center of Eger acquired its appearance mainly in the 18th century in a characteristic Baroque style. There are many small streets lined with colorful houses (I had to photograph only the upper parts of the houses, as many people with umbrellas crowded below): 
The respectful attitude towards King Istvan the Holy (who founded the bishopric in Eger and built the first Cathedral) is demonstrated, for example, in the form of decorating a drinking spring: 
The coat of arms of their educational institution reminds of the Jesuits: 
The main square of Eger is the square of Istvan Dobo, the hero of the defense of the fortress in the 16th century (discussed below). On the square there is a beautiful church of St. Anthony of Padua (belongs to the order of the Minorites): 
The green building next to it, I assume, is the city magistrate (it shows the coat of arms of Eger): 
And in the center of the square there is a monument to the heroic captain Dobo. Behind there is a view of the Eger Fortress: 
Near the church of the Minorites there is an interesting sculptural composition that depicts the battle of a Hungarian cavalryman with two Turkish horsemen: 
Eger Fortress
Eger Fortress, located in the city center on the Fortress Hill, is famous for its heroic defense against the Turks. Below, near the walls of the fortress, there is a nice sculpture of an old bard (unfortunately, I don't remember his name), who was the first to celebrate the feat of the defenders of the fortress: 
The fortress acquired its modern form at the beginning of the 16th century. 
In 1552, the Turkish army of about 40 thousand people (there are also much larger estimates) laid siege to the fortress, in which about 2 thousand (including women and children) defenders took refuge, led by the brave captain Istvan Dobo. 
Despite the great superiority in numbers, the Turks were unable to take the fortress and were forced to retreat after a five-week siege, suffering heavy losses. By the way, 44 years later, the Turks easily took this fortress, protected by mercenaries - they simply accepted money from the Turks and left. 
But in 1552 the women fought bravely against the Turks, which is illustrated by the bas-relief in the fortress: 
The Hungarian writer Geza Gardonyi wrote the novel The Stars of Eger about the defense of the Eger Fortress. I draw your attention to the curious feature that the Hungarians first write their surname, and then their first name. 
In 1968, the work was filmed; the color film has Russian dubbing. Gardogny is buried in the fortress. The inscription CSAK A TESTE at the bottom of the cross means “Body only”; it means that only the body of the writer is buried here, and his soul is with the heroes and people of Hungary. 
The fortress houses a museum with many interesting exhibits. For example, an outlandish Hungarian costume: 
I especially liked the miniatures: 
Dressed in costumes of the 16th-17th centuries, the employees of the serf museum add a special flavor to: 
And it is not surprising that many guests want to be photographed next to these heroes. Especially, of course, children and women: 
It is convenient to admire Eger from the fortress: 
A tall, thin tower is visible on the right side of the next image. It is the northernmost historical minaret (early 17th century) in the territory that once belonged to the Turks, and one of three surviving in Hungary. The adjacent mosque was destroyed in 1841; they did not destroy the minaret, they only crowned it with a cross as a sign of the victory of Christianity over Islam in Hungary. 
Eger bovine blood and other wines
After exploring the streets and the Eger Fortress, the group enjoyed an excellent meal at the White Deer restaurant: 
You could taste several wines (including, for example, the rather famous "Girl of Eger" - dry white). It's high time to tell a little about the wine "Eger bull blood" (by the way, in the title it is necessary to use the word "Eger", since there is "bull blood" produced in other places).
Eger bovine blood is a blended red wine made in the Eger wine region of Hungary, in which none of the types of wine used dominate. Eger bovine blood is prepared for about 130-150 years. Today's bull's blood consists of a mixture of local wines such as kekfrankos (blue franc wine - the name was born at a time when Napoleonic soldiers passed through Hungary and bought wine, and the locals asked for payment in francs for some reason, only blue), Portuguese, Cadarka, and of the international varieties - Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and, more recently, Pinot Noir and Shiraz in different proportions.
The name of the wine "Eger bovine blood" is registered in the EU as an appellation of origin. The type of its manufacture is regulated by the rules and controlled. The name may only be used by winemakers in the Eger wine region.
According to the Eger legend, the name "bull's blood" was born in the era of the struggle against the Turks. When, during the siege of the Eger Fortress, its commandant Istvan Dobo ordered to give his soldiers wine to strengthen their fighting spirit, the Turks saw how the Hungarian soldiers received fresh strength thanks to this drink, and decided that their opponents were drinking bull's blood. The legend cannot be true, because in Hungary before the Turkish yoke, only white wine was produced. Kadarka and the technology of red wine production in general were spread much later by the rats (as the Hungarians call the Serbs with a tinge of ridicule), who fled from the Turks to Hungary. Written sources, letters and travel notes do not mention the name "bull's blood" until the middle of the 19th century.
There are many small wine-making businesses in the vicinity of Eger. On the outskirts of the city, you can visit a huge number of small shops and find something suitable for your taste and wallet. 
Egerszalok
After Eger, it was time to visit the town of Egerszalok. More precisely, two objects.
First, I got to know the village (2 thousand inhabitants), which, in fact, is called Egerszalok. This place name comes from the ancient Hungarian tribe Salok. The village is quite old. In the 13th century, it was devastated by the Mongols; then it recovered, and after the invasion of the Turks in 1551, only 17 families remained there. To restore the population, immigrants from Germany were invited, and by the middle of the 18th century they mixed with the Hungarians, and the Hungarian language again became dominant. Viticulture in Egerszalok was first mentioned in 1249. 
I liked the idea of decorating power line poles with flower pots: 
And nearby is the second notable object - the resort: 
The place is truly peaceful: 
The main feature of the resort is the thermal waters, to which the baths are confined: 
The thermal spring was formed here in 1961 when drilling land for oil. An underground source of water with a temperature of 68 ° has formed a salt mound on the surface, which is called Sodomb. From there, the water flows down to the baths. 
This is a unique phenomenon in Europe; its counterparts are found in Turkish Pamukkale and Yosemite National Park in the United States.
I will conclude my little story about the pleasant place of Egerszalok with a "blooming" photograph: 
Eger is an old Hungarian resort town. It is famous for its healing thermal baths, beautiful architecture, heroic history, and unique types of wine. We will tell you about what is interesting to see in Eger, where to taste high-quality local wine, how to see the city from above, about useful Turkish baths and a unique place - Hungarian Pamukkale.
On the way home, we decided to visit ancient Eger and pamper ourselves with relaxation in the thermal baths. This article is a continuation of the report on our European trip. We were here a few days earlier:
Eger is very convenient for travelers. The city is located 140 km from Budapest and 210 km from the Ukrainian border town of Beregovo. There is a beautiful nature here, in the distance the forest-covered mountain ranges of Bükk and Matra rise. And the name of the city is also “natural”, in translation it means “alder”.
How to get to Eger
By car it is convenient to call here on the way to Hungary (or vice versa), because it is located only 25 km from the M 3 highway leading from Ukraine to Budapest. This can be clearly seen on the map:
For travelers by car, our article will be useful. Read:
By train or bus: The best option is to take a direct train to Eger from Budapest. The journey takes about 2 hours and the ticket costs about 10 euros. Schedule - at the office. site. There are also buses to the city.
Our today's road route looks like this: Budapest - Egerszalok - Eger.
Egerszalok health resort.
Our path passes through the small village of Egerszalok. It is only 10 km from Eger. Why is it interesting? Here is the only large salt hill in Europe, the same as in Turkish Pamukkale and American Yellowstone National Park. There are only three such natural attractions on the planet. Egerszalok - called Hungarian Pamukkale... This is a famous thermal spa.
We did not plan to visit the baths here. I wanted to see an unusual salt hill. We turned off the road to the right into the parking lot. But some cars were just parked on the side of the road.
From the parking we go up to the path that leads to the salt hill - the hallmark of Egerszalok. Nearby - hotel Saliris Resort Spa Hotel, with him - thermal baths. The nature around is stunning - a picturesque valley and mountains Bükk and Matra covered with dense forests.
And this is a miracle of nature! Egerszalok salt hill. Due to the unique thermal water, which is rich in minerals, a “salt cap” has formed on the surface. A healing spring gushes from a depth of 400 m and for years has been washing up such a frozen waterfall. Steam rises above it and the smell of sulfur is felt. The water in the spring is hot, about 65 degrees.
And this is already the work of man. These are the artificial salt laces that adorn the hill.
There are two thermal springs in Egerszalok. The first "Virgin Mary" was found by chance in 1961, when they were looking for oil, and the second, named after the patron saint of the sources of St. Wendel, was discovered only 26 years later. The water in them is medicinal, it is considered one of the most useful in the world in the category of sulfuric waters.
A hotel was built near the springs foundSaliris Resort Spa Hotel . The name translates as “salt rainbow”.
The hotel has created a large modern SPA - complex. It includes 17 indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna world, jacuzzi, children's slides and pools. The price of the room includes the use of this complex, except for the saunas. If the purpose of the trip is health improvement, treatment, water relaxation in nature, then this is the place for you))) The hotel often holds promotions with discounts and special offers. Good half board - buffet meals here. You can book a room using this link: Saliris Resort Spa Hotel.
Many vacationers stay at pensions Egerszalok and visit the SPA - complex for a fee. But you need to take into account that you will have to walk or drive up to the baths, because the hotel is located on the outskirts of Egerszalok.
See the special offers of hotels in Egerszalok with great discounts here:
For visitors to the baths working hours slightly shorter than for hotel guests: 10-00 - 20-00. Price for all day: adults - 4500 pounds (15 euros) on weekdays, and on weekends, holidays and high season 5500 pounds (20 euros), children -3000 pounds (10 euros) on weekdays, on other days - 4000 pounds (14 euros). There is family tickets. To swim in the complex 3 hours the adult needs to pay £ 2100 / £ 3100, and the child - £ 1100 / £ 1600. Evening ticket after 5 pm: 2,000 pounds - adult and 1,000 pounds - children. Saunas cost £ 1,500.
For lovers of peace and solitude, there is a separate old beach and pools "Nostalgia", preserved from the 1980s.
Eger. Valley of Beauties.
The Eger wine region is famous far beyond Hungary. Winemaking has been practiced here since the XIV century. The location of the city at the foot of the Bükk mountain range creates a unique climate favorable for the cultivation of different varieties of grapes and the production of quality wine. The most famous local wine - "Eger Bovine Blood", in Hungarian - Egri Bikaver. There are vineyards along the road, and there are many private wine cellars in the villages.
The famous landmark of Eger - Valley of Beauties. It is a lowland on the outskirts of the city with about 200 wine cellars. We decided to stop by here before visiting the baths and other attractions of the historic center of Eger.
On the way to the valley, we were guided by road signs. They are only in Hungarian. We noticed that in Hungary, English is not very good (except for the main tourist places of Budapest). They mostly use German. So it was in Eger. If you hadn't written the name of the Valley of Beauties in Hungarian in a notebook Szépasszony - Völgy, then we would have passed by. Nearby there is a large parking lot. Cost £ 150 / hour. Stock up on coins, you need to pay at the parking meter.
The wine cellars are located closely to each other in a large circle, in the center of which is a green park. In fact, these are large long caves, carved out of the local rock for a long time. It is cold in deep cellars, the constant temperature here is about 12-15 degrees. The noble mold promotes the maturation of the wine.
In the Valley of Beauties, it smells nice of wine)) A red tourist train carries guests around the neighborhood (for a fee, of course). When we arrived, there were few visitors. We know that “package” tourists are brought here for tasting and shopping in whole buses, but they haven’t been there yet. After all, the first half of the day. Probably, by the evening everything “comes to life” here: wine is pouring, Hungarian “czardas” sounds. In the meantime - the lull of the day. 
At the entrance to the Valley of Beauties there is a fountain with a sculpture of a girl. She crushes the grapes with her feet, but contrary to expectations, not wine, but water flows from the taps of the stone "barrel"))).
Where does this name come from - the Valley of Beauties. There are several versions. In ancient times, local winemakers worshiped here the goddess of beauty, the Hungarian prototype of Venus or Aphrodite. One of the cellars was owned by a charming woman. A beautiful lady lived in some mansion in the valley. And one more original version - after a few glasses of wine in this valley, all women "by default" become beauties.
In the Valley of Beauties, various types of wines from local grape varieties are produced, stored and sold. Eger wines, grown on the sunny slopes of the Bükk mountains, have their own special taste and aroma. The most famous local red wine “ Egri Bikaver “, or “Eger Bovine Blood”. In the first half of July, a festival is held in Eger in his honor. They have the right to give such a name to wine only here. In the European Union “ Egri Bikaver " officially registered and assigned to the Eger region. Even the rules for the cultivation of grapes and the production of wine have been adopted, which preserve the quality and “name” of the drink. Wine “Eger Bovine Blood” is made from at least 3 (classic) or 5 (more expensive) grape varieties. Must be aged for 2 years and only sold in bottles.
For the first time in 1846 the Hungarian poet gave an unusual name to the red wine “Bull's Blood”. But they say that this local dark red wine was called that way back in the Middle Ages. One legend tells that during the siege of the Eger fortress by the Ottoman army, its defenders drank a lot of wine to relieve fatigue. This made their beards and clothes red. The defensive heroes looked terrifying. The Turks could not take the impregnable fortress in any way and thought that the Hungarian soldiers were drinking bull's blood. The Ottomans believed that it was this bloody drink that gave witchcraft strength and courage. And according to another legend, one Eger girl was seized by the Ottomans to take to the sultan's harem. She promised the guards to bring magical bull's blood, and instead she gave the Turkish guards red wine to drink and fled.
Dry white wine is considered the most popular among white types of wines. "Egri leanyka", or “The Girl from Eger”. We tried it, the wine is really tasty and aromatic. By the way, the light Hungarian drink “Frech” based on this wine perfectly refreshes in the summer heat. It is simple to prepare: 2 parts of mineral water and 1 part of wine are poured into a glass with ice.
It is interesting to enter the cellars, some have been turned into entire museums of Eger winemaking, while others attract guests with an unusual interior.
There are many ethno - restaurants called "chardy".
In one of the cellars, Lena tasted and bought a bottle of Eger Bull's Blood wine. We paid by card. We drank wine upon arrival in Ukraine. We liked this thick, slightly tart, aromatic and tasty red wine. 
What I would like to say about the Valley of Beauties, it is worth coming here in the evening without children and in a good company, when there is more than one drinker in the group)). Lena alone was uncomfortable with wine tasting, and I was driving and could not keep her company))).
If you are primarily interested in gastronomic and wine tourism, then it makes sense to rent a hotel here. During the day, you can explore the historic center of Eger, swim in the baths (go by car or on foot - walk a little over half an hour one way), and spend the evening in the wine cellars. You can book a hotel or guesthouse near the Valley of Beauties using this link: hotels in the Valley of Beauties - cost of living from 20 euros.
Where to stay in Eger.
In Eger we have booked a two-room apartment - Centrum Vendeghaz. They are located on the second floor of an old building in the very heart of the Old Town, just a few steps from the central historical square of Eger - Istvan Dobo Square. From here it takes 5 minutes to walk to the thermal baths.
The apartments overlook a quiet courtyard. There is free parking. To park the car, we had to drive along the central pedestrian street. The owner of the apartment Laszlo greeted us kindly at his grocery store on the ground floor, showed us the apartment and a place for a car.
The house we stayed in. We got the keys at the store, the entrance / exit to the courtyard can be seen on the right in the photo.
Rooms are small, cozy, clean and modern.
The only caveat is a shared kitchen with guests from the neighboring, second apartments. But this was not a problem for us, we did not plan to cook in the kitchen. Although there is everything for this - enough dishes, tea, coffee, several types of sugar, salt, breakfast cereals.
Next to the kitchen there is a dining area with tables for two apartments, a large refrigerator. Our table is closer to the window.
You can book hotels in Eger by following these links:
- Eger hotels- from 30 euros
- Eger apartments- from 22 euros
See the special offers of Eger hotels with promotions and great discounts in this form:
Eger Thermal Baths.
We have a rule: when we come to Hungary, be sure to visit the thermal baths. Otherwise, the trip will not be "credited")). Read about the baths of Hungary in our articles:
Hungary is a famous European resort. Hungarians say that a healing spring will come out of the ground, even if you just stick a stick into it. For more interesting information about the country, read here:
Eger is a popular spa resort. We planned to visit Eger Thermal Baths – Eger Thermalfurdo. While we were settling in, nature presented us with a “wet” surprise - a heavy downpour. We waited out the rain in the apartment. When it calmed down a little, we went to the bathhouse. We decided that we would go to the indoor pools. I didn't want to change my plans because of the weather. We immediately felt that Eger was a resort town. Adults and children, wrapped in towels, walked towards us from the beach.
Even a tourist train waits lonely for the rain.
The Eger Thermal Baths are a large wellness center . Open all year round and has an old Turkish bath "Torok Furdo", indoor pool, beach Strandfurdo with indoor and outdoor thermal, swimming and children's pools. There are also several large water slides - the favorite water entertainment of our children. (There are only small children's slides in the Egerszalok Baths, so we chose the beach in Eger).
At the ticket office of the baths there is a standard price plate. Klapka György 26.
We bought a family ticket for the whole day for 6000 forints (about 20 euros). We got bracelets.
The changing cabins are located to the right of the entrance. The beach area is beautiful, well-groomed. Lots of greenery, flowers, fountains with sculptures.
Not far from the entrance - Turkish bath "Torok Furdo"... It is over 500 years old. The Ottoman vizier built a bathhouse on unique healing springs when he seized the Eger land. The building of the old bathhouse was rebuilt many times, but it retained its oriental flavor. The water here is of two types - radon and sulphurous. Next to the Turkish bath there are thermal pools with different temperatures. The entrance to the inside of the bath is paid separately.
Opposite the Turkish bath is the original fountain. Water gushes from the jugs.
You go down the steps, get under the stream of water and get an excellent water massage.
The rain is drizzling. The beach lawns and sun loungers were empty.
Large children's pool with small slides.
Opposite there are large water slides. Because of the rain, they were closed, although it was these slides that were the reason for our choice of the Eger beach, and not the Egerszalok baths. The children were a little upset.
Nice pool for toddlers.
In a gated complex with a swimming pool, there are crowds of tourists. Adults and children hid from the weather. But here it was noisy, cramped, hot. All sunbeds are occupied.
In an outdoor pool associated with a gated complex, the situation is the same.
Nearby there is an outdoor thermal pool with underwater massage, jacuzzi and waterfalls. Older vacationers have “accumulated” here. Children under 14 years old are not recommended to visit the pools with medicinal water.
The healing water can be drunk. For this, such “vases” with taps are installed.
Over time, the weather improved, the rain stopped, the sun came out. We swam in the thermal pools next to the Turkish bath, the children in the adjacent swimming pool. There were few people here. We rested with pleasure.
Sights of Eger.
I really like small European cities, especially their historical part. Eger has his own unique flavor. It is a very elegant city. The luxurious buildings and temples of the center have been well preserved from the past centuries. During the Second World War, the city was almost not damaged, so it seems that you are in the 18-19 centuries. Eger is even called “the city of the Hungarian Baroque”. Many palaces, houses and churches were erected during the reign of the Habsburgs.
Franciscan Church also called the “church of friends”. It was the only Christian order that rallied and remained in the city captured by the Turkish army in 1596. For this, after the liberation of Eger, the city authorities awarded the Franciscan monks and allocated land to them. In 1755, a large temple with two towers was erected from the stones of the destroyed mosque. It is located on the street. Kossuth Lajos 14.
Inside the church, there is luxury and tranquility.
Eger is an ancient city. A fortified settlement of Germanic tribes existed here several thousand years ago. Later, the Slavs came to these lands. And in the X century, during the Hungarian "migration of peoples" they were captured. Decades later, on the high Fortress Hill, the First King of Hungary, Stephen Saint, erected a large beautiful temple and founded a bishopric, and craftsmen's houses were built around. This is how the city of Eger was born. King Stephen is revered throughout Hungary. One of the Eger sources is named after him.
In the XIII Art. construction continued on the Fortress Hill. Eger was at the crossroads of trade routes and needed protection from enemies. After the city was destroyed by the Mongol Tatars, a powerful Fortress was built on the orders of the bishop. She is praised in many Hungarian legends, thanks to the heroism and bravery of her defenders during the attack of the Ottoman army. In the fall of 1552, an 80,000-strong Turkish army laid siege to Eger. The garrison of the fortress, led by Captain Istvan Dobo, defended for 1.5 months and did not surrender the city. The Ottomans retreated with heavy losses. The garrison of the fortress then numbered only 2 !!! thousands of people. They withstood and won a victory over the enemy army of many thousands.
Ancient towers and stone walls Eger Fortress clearly visible from the central square, named after the hero of Hungary, Captain Istvan Dobo - Dobó István tér.
In the center of the square - Monument to Istvan Dobo and the soldiers of the Eger Fortress garrison.
Eger's main square features beautiful elegant buildings. Looks majestic Church of St. Anthony of Padua. It is also called the Church of the Minorites. Built in 1773. Every day at 11-00, 15-00 and 18-00 the melody of bells on the towers of the temple sounds over the city.
The Church of St. Anthony of Padua is considered one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Hungary. The vaults of the temple are decorated with magnificent 17th century frescoes.
To the right of the church is the exquisite Eger City Hall. It was built in 1755. At first it was a dwelling house, and from the 19th century it began to belong to the city.
And in these cozy houses on Istvan Dobo Square there are cafes and restaurants. The atmosphere in the city center is calm, sincere, and truly resort-like.
Came out to the gate Archbishop's Palace... This is a whole complex of luxurious buildings, chapels, gardens. Their construction began in the 15th century. Since 1740, the palace became the seat of the head of the Eger ecclesiastical district and houses the Museum of Church Treasures of the Archdiocese. Among the jewels and masterpieces of religious art, a special place is occupied by the mantle in which Empress Maria Theresa was crowned to the throne of Hungary. 
There are many restaurants along the street. We were interested in this sign near one cafe. What kind of “beast” is this ?! Need to try! We have already said that English is tight in Hungary. We went into a cafe and tried to explain to the waitress what we want (after all, it’s difficult to read the name of the dish in Hungarian))). She understood us only when we showed the sign.
it Gezgombots(sort of like they say) - a traditional Hungarian sweet. Such a sweet bun !!! dough with sweet !!! stuffing inside, served with sweet !!! sauce and sprinkled with a choice of poppy seeds or nuts. Even for us, sweet tooth, it was sooooo sweet. It's good that we ordered one for two. Barely ate, I had to "dilute" with excellent Eger dry wine))).
At the corner of the Archbishop's Palace, from the side of Esterhazy Square, there is a “fence of love”, or a wall of castles. In Eger, we did not see traditional bridges of love over the river, but a fence with locks in a place prayed for centuries - the episcopal palace - is an original idea.
We slowly came to the Eszterházy tér square. The main cathedral of the Eger Basilica rises above it, or Basilica of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, St. Michael and the Immaculate Conception. Erected in 1836, it is one of the three largest churches in Hungary. The first place is occupied by the Basilica of St. Adalbert in Esztergom. Read about her here:
The second largest is the Eger Basilica, the third is the Basilica of St. Stephen in Budapest.
The temple is stunningly beautiful and majestic. We went up the stairs. Along the edges there are statues of the apostles Peter and Paul, Saints Stephen and Laszlo.
Near the entrance - information for tourists with the opening hours of the Basilica, as well as the schedule of masses for the parishioners of the temple. Organ concerts are held every day from May to October. The instrument was made in the 19th century by the famous organ master Ludwig Musser.
We didn't make it to 18-00. But it turned out to be for the best. At 18-30, a solemn mass began in the Basilica. For ethical reasons, they were not photographed. Just believe that the inside of the Basilica is no less majestic and beautiful than the outside. We sat down on a wooden bench and listened to prayer. The organ sounded, music filled the temple. And although they did not understand a single word in Hungarian, they felt peace and positive energy. These were some of the most vivid emotions during my visit to Eger.
Opposite the main entrance of the Basilica is Esterhazy Karoli College. Count Esterhazy founded a university here in the 18th century. The building is now a pedagogical institute, as well as the Museum of Astronomy and the Diocese Library, which contains valuable manuscripts and an original letter from Mozart, the only one in the country. 
The balcony of the Basilica overlooks the Baroque city of Eger. Quiet, cozy, lovely.
On the right, at the foot of the Basilica steps, is the original museum. “Var” is Hungarian for “city”. Name museum - "City under the city"... In 2007 he received the Hungarian Architectural Wonder award. A visit to the museum is a 50-minute guided walk through medieval dungeons. They arose in 1687 after the liberation of Eger from the Ottomans. Bishop Gyorgy Fenesi did not want to return to his partially destroyed former residence on the Fortress Hill. He bought the land in the city and built himself a new Archbishop's Palace.
The material for the construction was volcanic tuff stone. It was mined nearby on the slopes of the hill. While the palace was built in the neighboring mountain, whole underground passages about 4 km long were formed, with halls and rooms.
In the dungeons, the bishop kept wine - a tax that he received from the Hungarian lands from the city of Hatvan to the city of Mukachevo. In particularly successful years, 11-12 million liters of wine were collected in the cellars. The dungeons were abandoned after World War II and only recently restored and given over to a museum.
We did not have time to get here, but we will share information with you)). Entry only with a guide every half hour or hour, depending on the season. Working hours: 9-00 - 18-00 - April-September, 10-00 - 16-00 October - December. Price: adult -1000 pounds, children - 500 pounds. The temperature in the dungeons is +12 degrees, so in summer it is better to take warm clothes with you.
Near the entrance to the museum there is an old wine press.
Following the signs, we headed towards the heart of the city and its pride - the Eger Fortress.
We crossed the bridge to the Old Town at the foot of the fortress. Below is a river with the same name Eger. There were times when the waters of this river flooded the entire city during floods and floods. “Eger” means “alder” in Hungarian. Perhaps the city and the river were named so because many of these trees grew along the banks.
We went out to a small beautiful Végvári vitézek tere. In memory of the heroism of the Hungarian soldiers and the victory over the Turkish army, a monument was erected in Eger. Horseman - Hungarian fighting two Ottoman soldiers. At first, the sculpture stood near the city hall on Istvan Dobo Square. Now she was carried to the bank of the river. There are many steps on the embankment at the foot of the monument. Residents and guests of the city sit and rest on them. It's peaceful and quiet here.
We go to the fortress. It's nice to “get lost” in such quiet streets.
Here she is - famous Eger Fortress- the pride of Hungary and the main attraction of the city. Powerful walls are witnesses of heroic events. On this site in the 10th century, the bishopric was built by the King of Hungary, Stephen the Holy, and the city of Eger was founded. In the 13th century, a citadel, a cathedral and a new episcopal palace were built. Here the garrison under the command of Captain Istvan Dobo in 1552 withstood a 5-week siege and won a victory over the Ottoman army, outnumbered 40 times.
These walls also knew defeat. In 1596, the Eger citadel was nevertheless captured by the Turks, the city for 91 years was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Austrian troops blew up part of the fortress walls in 1701 when they suppressed the Hungarian uprising led by Ferenc Rákóczi. We wrote about him and his heroic mother Ilona Zrina in this article:
Now in the Eger Fortress there are historical museums, art galleries, a wax museum, a lapidarium, a torture museum, casemates, and thematic exhibitions. Hungarian national hero Istvan Dobo is buried in the Hall of Heroes of the citadel.
Entrance cost Eger Fortress with permanent exhibitions 1800 ft - adult, 800 ft. - children. Family tickets are available. Additional museums and temporary exhibitions are paid separately. We arrived after six in the evening. All museums have already been closed. Therefore, they paid only for the entrance to the fortress: Ft 800 - adult, Ft 400 - children.
Working hours Eger Fortress: Expositions, exhibitions, museums are generally open daily from 10-00 to 18-00 in the summer, from November to March - from 10-00 to 16-00, closed Monday. The castle gates are open in the summer from 8-00 to 22-00, from November to March from 8-00 to 18-00.
Near the ticket offices there is a table with information.
We go to the fortress. On the way we turned onto benches and admired the city. 
From the walls of the fortress you can see Eger at a glance. A beautiful ancient city with stunning views! It's worth climbing here for them. 
Єgera rises above the Old Town Minaret of Ketuda... It has been preserved since the 17th century. In 1596 (44 years after the defeat of the Turks from the garrison of Istvan Dobo), the Ottoman troops nevertheless captured the fortress and the city. The Turkish authorities ruled in Eger for 91 years. During this time, Christian churches were destroyed or rebuilt in mosques, Turkish baths were erected on healing springs. After the liberation of the city from Ottoman rule, it was decided to leave the minaret of Ketuda and a cross was erected at its top as a sign of victory. It is considered the northernmost minaret that existed in the Ottoman Empire.
It is interesting that in our Kamenets-Podolsk there is also a minaret topped with a cross. Read about it here:
There is an observation deck on the balcony of the Ketuda Minaret. The whole city is visible from it. There are 93 steps of a narrow staircase leading to the balcony. Opening hours: 10-00 - 17-00. November - March closed. Ticket price: 300F. Minaret address: Knézich Károly st.
Not far from the Minaret - there is an interesting Marzipan Museum. Open from 10-00 to 18-00. Address: Harangöntő street 4. 
We walked along the ancient walls.
Casemates.
Hungary honors the heroes who defended the Eger Fortress.
The book "Stars of Eger" was written about the national hero of Hungary, Captain Istvan Dobo and the heroic defense of the Eger citadel. Its author, Hungarian writer Geza Gardoni, like the hero of his novel, is buried in the fortress.
The old Bishop's Palace (1470) now houses the Museum of Istvan Dobo and the Defense of the Fortress, an art gallery, exhibitions, a wine cellar and a restaurant.
Based on the novel by Geza Gardoni, a film was made about the feat of the garrison of the Eger Citadel. In the fortress there is an opportunity to see the history of the defense of the fortress. 
In honor of the commandant Istvan Dobo and the heroes-defenders of the citadel, a festival is held every autumn in Eger - a reconstruction of historical events.
We return to the city.
On the central square of Dobo there is an original fountain. It beats from under the ground either in jets or in such water vapor. Fun and fresh in the summer heat for children and adults)))
And we chose a restaurant on the main square and tasted Hungarian guyash with Eger wine. Delicious, but homemade is much tastier)))
We liked Eger. It is a wonderful city for tourism and recreation. Here you can perfectly combine business with pleasure: relaxation and wellness in thermal baths, acquaintance with ancient sights and magnificent architecture of the “Hungarian Baroque”, visiting museums and exhibitions, tasting national Hungarian cuisine and unique varieties of Eger wine.
And we are returning home. Ahead of us was Ukraine.
Eger
Eger is one of the most beautiful cities in Hungary, the brightest example of a baroque city in Europe. Wonderful architecture, thermal springs and great wines are what makes a trip to Eger worthwhile.
The city is located about 130 kilometers northeast of Budapest. The settlement on the site of Eger has existed since ancient times. During the early Middle Ages, the region was inhabited by Germanic tribes, who were replaced by the Avars. After the defeat of the latter, the vicinity of Eger was settled by the Slavs. In the 10th century, the city began to belong to the Hungarians. Istvan the Saint founded a bishopric in Eger.
The first cathedral of the city was built on the Castle Hill, where the Eger Fortress is currently located. The city grew and developed around the cathedral and continued to be one of the most important religious centers in the country. In the XIII century, a powerful fortress was built on the Fortress Hill.
The peak of the city's development fell on the XIV-XVI centuries. During the reign of Matthias Corvinus (1458-1490), many beautiful buildings were built in Eger, viticulture and winemaking developed intensively in the vicinity of Eger.
During the Turkish invasion of Hungary in 1552, the Eger Fortress was besieged. The heroism of the defenders of the fortress under the command of Captain Istvan Dobo, who managed to withstand the many times superior enemy forces (there were less than 2,000 defenders, more than 80,000 in the Turkish army), became one of the most glorious moments in the history of Hungary.
In 1596, the Turks attacked Eger again and, this time, managed to capture the city, which was under their rule until 1687. The Turks turned Christian churches into mosques, rebuilt the fortress, and built baths and minarets in the city. In 1687, the Turks were expelled from the city, which, like the whole of Hungary, came under the rule of the Habsburgs.
Eger again experienced a period of rapid development, many baroque palaces and temples were built. The Eger bishops were the actual masters of the city and contributed to its prosperity.
In 1836, a grandiose basilica was built in Eger, which at that time became the largest church in the country. The power of the bishops (and since 1804 the archbishops) came to an end after the reforms of the 50s of the XIX century. The city gradually began to lose its significance, the Budapest - Miskolc railway line passed away from Eger.
During the Second World War, Eger, unlike many other Hungarian cities, suffered little, which contributed to the preservation of the city's architectural masterpieces and its transformation into one of the main tourist centers of the country.
In the medieval city of Eger, located between the mountains of Buk and Matra, tourists go to rest, heal and cultural impressions. Eger is included in most sightseeing tours in Hungary, people come here from Budapest (128 km) on day trips.
Eger Fortress Egervar is a must see. The visit to the fortress will take a lot of time, but it will be worth it. Firstly, there is one of the most popular museums in Hungary - the Museum of Dobo Istvan, the hero of Eger, the commandant of the fortress, who in 1552 led the defense against two hundred thousand Turkish troops and managed to defend his city. The Turks took possession of Eger only after many years, for about a century. The museum is located on the territory of the restored Gothic episcopal palace of the 15th century. And in order to completely plunge into the secrets of the Middle Ages, you need to visit the casemates. The system of underground corridors under the fortress is well preserved (in 1552 it served as a strategic defense against the Turks), but only a few are allowed to tourists.
In the lapidary, you begin to imagine what was here hundreds of years ago, the blood runs cold in your veins from the exhibits of the torture museum.
The works of Hungarian and foreign artists of the heyday of the Baroque in the orange building of the Eger Art Gallery will help you to recover.
To complete the historical picture, you can visit the wax museum and, after passing through the territory of the fortress, find yourself at the grave of Geza Gardonya, the author of the book "The Stars of Eger", known all over the world and translated not only into European languages, but also into many exotic ones. A film of the same name was even made based on this book.
The fact that the Turks nevertheless captured Eger (this happened in 1596) is reminiscent of the thin forty-meter needle of the minaret. Several centuries ago, there were many more such towers in Eger. The minaret is the northernmost Turkish monument preserved in Hungary. A narrow staircase of 96 steps leads to the balcony. It offers an impressive view of the city.
As in any self-respecting city center, there are a lot of shops and restaurants on Dobo Istvan Square. In the middle of it, a statue of Dobo Istvan looks down on idle tourists, and his associates, more precisely, their monuments, are located opposite the city administration. But the most mesmerizing sight on the central square is the Minorite Church of Padua St. Anthony. Here is the baroque as it is. Széchenyi Street, lined with beautiful old houses, leads to the Archbishop's Palace, which still houses the Archbishopric of Eger. There is also a museum of the history of the Eger Church. And finally, on Esterhazy Square, the majestic Eger Cathedral, the second largest in Hungary, appears. The only cathedral in the city built in the neoclassical style contains a huge organ, which has no analogues in Hungary.
In summer, visitors enjoy unique organ concerts. Here on the square one cannot miss the pride of Eger - the Lyceum, the main building of the Karoi Esterhazy Institute. The Lyceum houses a huge Diocesan library with more than 140 thousand books. And in the same Lyceum, oddly enough, the museum of astronomy is located. Tourists love to come here and look at the instruments used by astronomers back in the 18th century. The so-called camera obscura, or "Eye of Eger", in the Lyceum tower at a height of 53 m is especially delightful. With its help, the image of the city is projected onto a white stand. And from the balcony of the tower, tourists will be able to see the whole city at a glance (if they master another 370 steps after the minaret). But not only sightseeing tours and visits to museums can be done in Eger. In a unique archery dash, robingudas compete in accuracy, shooting from a bow; in the mint, those who wish are allowed to mint a coin with their own hands.
However, the most popular activity is, of course, wine tasting in the famous old wine cellars of the "Valley of the Beautiful Lady". Here the grapes are grown, from which the world famous "Bull's Blood" ("Bikaver") wine and other best Hungarian wines are made. And yet, the main thing for which, as a rule, numerous tourists go to Eger is thermal waters... Eger's healing baths have their own history.
The first mention of them dates back to 1448. They were located next to the Elizabeth Bridge and were called Balneum Carthusiensium, which indicates that these baths were built by monks of the Carthusian order. In the 17th century, the Turks built their own baths, the main of which is still in great demand and is a monument in itself. Next to the main Turkish bath in a beautiful park, there is a thermal complex of six pools. The water from the Eger springs contains calcium bicarbonate, magnesium, and it also emits radon. Doctors recommend the balneological complex in Eger to those who suffer from rheumatism, atherosclerosis, asthma, chronic bronchitis, infertility, disorders of the musculoskeletal system, lack of calcium in the skeletal system, stomach diseases, as well as those who have had heart surgery. Local thermal springs have been popular since the Middle Ages. During the Turkish rule, the Turkish baths were built in Eger.
Today it houses a balneological center. The healing properties of local water are associated with the presence of radon in it, which reduces inflammatory processes, activates regenerative processes in cells, and also increases the production of endorphins by the body. Indications for visiting the Turkish Bath are inflammation and degenerative changes in the joints, pain in the spine, diseases of the musculoskeletal system caused by metabolic problems (arthritis, osteoporosis), recreation (restoration of reduced motor ability caused by illness, age or lack of movement). Procedures (complex physiotherapy, electrotherapy, remedial gymnastics and therapeutic massage) are carried out according to the doctor's prescription. Near the Turkish bath there are swimming pools that feed the surrounding thermal springs. The beach-bathing complex has 7 pools with medicinal, thermal water, a children's pool, indoor and outdoor pools with various effects - a jacuzzi, a "pearl" bed, underwater massage, a waterfall, a water fortress. The pools are surrounded by rare tropical plants.
Useful information for tourists about Eger in Hungary - geographical location, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.
Eger is a city in northern Hungary, located on the southern slopes of the Bükk and Matra mountain ranges, 130 km north-east of Budapest. The city is known for its fortress, historic buildings (including the northernmost Turkish minaret), and the production of Hungarian red wine.
Eger is called the center of Hungarian Baroque architecture. One of the most important sights of the city is the medieval fortress towering over its central quarter, which in the 16th century withstood the assault and siege of more than 100,000 Turkish army. Now the fortress houses the Hero Istvan Dobo Fortress Museum, a mint and an art gallery. And in the fortress underground there is a lapidarium, a prison museum and a wax museum.
The classicist cathedral is the second largest in Hungary. The organ of the cathedral is the largest in the country. During the summer, concerts of classical and church organ music are held here every day.
The Lyceum building was built in the late Baroque style. On the second floor there is a huge library (over 130 thousand volumes). Here you can see the first book printed in Hungary (1473). The tower of the library houses the country's first astronomical museum, the Špekula Observatory.
Eger Orthodox Church was built by Serbs in the 17th century. Her special pride is a very beautiful gilded iconostasis.
Eger is also famous for its healing thermal waters; numerous guests from Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland and other European countries come here every year.
The healing properties of local water are associated with the presence of radon in it, which reduces inflammatory processes, activates regenerative processes in cells, and also increases the production of endorphins by the body.
The indications for treatment in the Eger health centers are inflammation and degenerative changes in the joints, pain in the spine, diseases of the musculoskeletal system caused by metabolic problems (arthritis, osteoporosis), recreation (restoration of reduced motor ability caused by illness, age or lack of movement). The applied procedures: complex physiotherapy, electrotherapy, remedial gymnastics and therapeutic massage.
The beach-bathing complex has 7 pools with medicinal, thermal water, a children's pool, indoor and outdoor pools with various effects - a jacuzzi, a "pearl" bed, underwater massage, a waterfall, a water fortress. The pools are surrounded by rare tropical plants.
