I was planning to go to Eger on my own for a long time, and a new trip to Hungary gave me a chance to do it. Going on an excursion, I was able to see the fortress, cathedral and other sights of Eger. To find out more about the city - read the Eger trip report

Eger, by and large, is very small: its population barely exceeds 50 thousand people, and by this indicator it hangs out at the end of the twenty largest Hungarian settlements. However, despite its modest size, the city is considered one of the most important in the country, and its historical and cultural significance can hardly be overestimated.

First, I must say a few words about Eger's story. Its foundation is attributed to Saint Stephen, who ruled at the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries as the first Christian ruler of Hungary. The monarch created a bishopric in the northeastern part of his state, and the new city immediately became a religious center. It also quickly turned into a center of trade: the location on the border of the hilly and flat parts of Hungary allowed residents to profit from intermediary services. In addition, the townspeople quickly established wine production, and starting in the 11th century, Eger wines began to spread throughout Europe.

The invasion of the hordes of Mongol-Tatars on the lands of Eastern Europe ended for Eger in about the same way as for many other cities - with plunder and burning. Only a few decades later, the local population managed to recover from the pogrom. But by the XIV century, the city again reached a high level of prosperity, its size increased significantly. At about the same time, the Eger Fortress was built, which subsequently played an exceptional role in the life of Hungary.

Here we touch upon another reason for the extraordinary importance of the city for the Hungarians: the confrontation between their country and the Ottoman Empire lasted more than one century, and although the Turks still managed to conquer significant territories, they got their successes at a high price. The defense of Eger was a striking example of the heroic resistance of the Hungarian troops to the invaders. In 1552, a handful of soldiers under the command of Captain Istvan Dobo for a month and a half held the defense against twenty times superior enemy forces and forced him to retreat. The Turks more than once stormed the castle of Eger, continuously fired at it from one and a half hundred cannons, but they could not conquer the citadel. Therefore, secondly, the city is considered a symbol of Hungary's military glory, and it is not surprising that Geza Gardoni's novel "The Stars of Eger", which tells about the events of the siege, has become a national bestseller.

What the famous Hungarian writer did not mention was the fact of the capture of the city by the Turks in 1596. This time, the garrison was by no means headed by Istvan Dobo, and the army chose to safely surrender the Eger fortress to the enemy. The invaders turned the booty into the capital of the next vilayet, turned churches into mosques, built many houses of oriental architecture. Interestingly, the city became the northernmost point of the Ottoman Empire.

The European counter-offensive that began towards the end of the 17th century, as is known, culminated in the liberation of Budapest in 1687, and a year later it was Eger's turn. Then it turned out that over several decades of rule, the aliens managed to bring the city literally to the handle, as, in fact, happens with those quarters of Europe in which the Turks and Arabs predominate. It took over 40 years to repair the damage done to Eger by the occupation. But it is not in vain that there is a proverb that there is a silver lining: the place of destroyed and dilapidated buildings was taken by new ones, maintained in the Baroque style, and since then the city has been considered one of the main pearls of Hungary.

To be honest, as we drove through the suburbs of Eger, no hints of its "pearliness" were somehow observed. Proofs that we won't be bored came later, when we floated around the neighborhoods immediately adjacent to the historical core. While I was trying to find a place where you can leave the car in Eger for free, the majestic Basilica of St. Janos sailed past us, and here everything fell into place - in a figurative sense. And for a long time we could not get up in a straight line to the right place: when I drove up to the Agria Park shopping mall, I found that a fee was charged for its underground parking. Money was also demanded in the surrounding streets. Free parking in Eger was found a little later and a little to the west, on Hatvanasezred street. There, in contrast to the highways lying to the east, the cars were literally jammed - obviously, the Hungarians are not willing to pay for the right to leave the car closer to the center. Standing in one row with them, we breathed a sigh of relief and went to see the sights of Eger.

True, it was not possible to get down to business right away: if you set yourself the goal of walking 800 meters, separating us from the main basilica, then such a distance can be covered in some 7-8 minutes. It took us more than half an hour to get there, because on the way there was the same shopping center “Agria Park”, as it turned out, the best place for shopping in Eger. So, we went there, sort of, to the toilet - girls can't hold out more than two hours without this business - and then we had to "look a little here", "well, take a clean look over there," and as a result, a lot of time wasted no matter what. The only useful thing was buying water and ice cream, and even then not here, but in the SPAR store, located closer to the center, on Barkoczy Street, that is, where the Eger bus station is located.

We immediately used our purchases, settling down in the park next door. At the same time, we saw a pretentious monument to Hungarian soldiers, decorated with a huge standard. The map of Hungary, carved on a pedestal, also looked huge: it clearly demonstrated what huge pieces of land were seized by the country's closest neighbors during the division of the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

After cooling off with ice cream, it was still time to explore the main attractions of Eger, and the first sign was the Basilica of St. Janos. Once upon a time in its place stood a modest Christian temple, turned into a mosque after the capture of the city by the Turks. Having driven out the infidels, the Christians rededicated the building back and, possibly, a monument of medieval architecture, would have stood for a long time, if not the ambitions of the local bishop, who wished to build a huge basilica next to his residence. In accordance with the plan, the order for the development of the project was received by the famous architect József Hild, who leaned towards the design of the building in the neoclassical style. Construction lasted from 1831 to 1836, and as a result, Eger received the second largest temple in the country, occupying an area of ​​almost an entire football field. The main decorations of the basilica are two towers about 50 meters high and an impressive multi-column facade in antique style. It is worth noting that although the building was put into operation, finishing work was carried out under its roof for more than a hundred years, and the last strokes on the ceiling painting were applied by Hungarian artists after the end of the Second World War.

After assessing the dimensions of the whopper, filming its luxurious interiors, and marveling at the size of the statues of the apostles standing in front of it, we turned our eyes to another sight of Eger, literally opposite. The Lyceum complex was ordered to be founded in 1756 by Archbishop Karoy Esterhazy, who dreamed of founding a university. He spared no expense and invited the prominent architect Jacob Fellner to supervise the work, assisted by the equally famous Vienna architect Mathias Görl. It took 20 years to complete the huge building, but in the end it turned out that all efforts were in vain: the authorities did not give permission to create a university in Eger. I had to adapt the finished complex for the needs of the local lyceum, hence the name of the building.

After looking at the exterior of the Lyceum, do not forget to look inside it to see the extremely lush interiors. The most valuable corners are the ceiling frescoes of the library and the high-ceilinged banquet hall, on both sides of which there are balconies designed for scientific debates: such a reasonable division allowed to avoid hand-to-hand fights between the participants in the dispute.

In general, the baroque style goes well with this sight of Eger, which not only looks great, but also sets the tone for walking through the central quarters of the city. The main square is located a couple of hundred meters from the Lyceum, you can get to it and then get to the fortress along the curving Bajcsy-Zsilinszky street, starting to the left of the central facade. But I recommend that you first stroll along the nicest Szechenyi Istvan to enjoy the ensemble of the pedestrian zone and see a couple of other noteworthy objects.

At first, almost near the Lyceum, the stroller will come across the archbishop's palace of Eger. The existence of the magnificent residence of the spiritual rulers is known from the documents of the 15th century, but the then complex of buildings was destroyed by the Turks during the occupation of the city. After the liberation, a new ensemble had to be erected, which the Italian architect Giovanni Carlone did. During the first quarter of the 18th century, he built a large palace surrounded by a garden.

After about two decades, the new Archbishop of Eger wished to live on a larger scale. By his order, the builders expanded the residence and added a second floor to it, as well as changed the internal layout. But this was not the end: closer to the middle of the 19th century, the next owner started another alteration, so that instead of a baroque look, the ensemble received a neoclassical one.

It is possible that after some time, one of the church hierarchs would have ordered to transform the historical monument again, but the communists who came to power over Hungary secularized the property. The palace of the archbishops of Eger was turned into a museum of religious art, which it is today. It contains many masterpieces, including richly decorated objects of worship - reliquaries, monstrosities, bowls and other goodies.

Its neighbor looks no worse than the palace, standing a hundred meters further the Cistercian church of Eger. They began to build it soon after the liberation of the city from the Turks on the site of a demolished mosque. For a number of reasons, it was not possible to quickly finish the building ordered by the Jesuits, in fact, the bulk of the work took the period from 1730 to 1743. Then the adherents of Ignatius Loyola invested heavily in the decoration of the temple, which became a wonderful example of the Hungarian Rococo style. But they could not enjoy the pearl of architecture for a long time: the workers finally left the church in 1772, and a year later Emperor Joseph II banned the Jesuit order and confiscated all of his own. So the church fell into the hands of the Cistercian brothers, by whose name it was called.

I will boast that, paying tribute to the pleasant appearance of the surrounding houses, I did not forget to study the area for various usefulness, and noted for myself that Szechenyi Street is good not only for architecture: there were several very promising restaurants and a couple of exchange offices with a favorable rate on it. Then I found a few more catering outlets near Dobo Square and found an exchange office with suitable conditions there, so if anyone is thinking about where to change currency in Eger, I recommend walking through the central quarters.

Having got hold of another pack of forints instead of the one that had rapidly lost weight during our stay in Budapest, we began to confer whether it was worth throwing a feast for the whole world right now, or first we should see the remaining sights of Eger. Of course, I wanted to eat it, but even more I wanted to go up to the fortress before dark. So we walked along Katona Istvan Street towards Dobo Square, making only one stop along the way on the city embankment - it looked too picturesque. Well, then the largest square in Eger, decorated with a monument to the heroic captain Dobo, opened up before us.

In addition to the monument, there was something to see in the city center: to the left of it there is the local city hall, which looks more like a theater, and a spectacular Minorite church. It was built in 1758-1767 for the needs of the Franciscan order. A native of Germany, Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, known for his work in Prague, chose the Baroque style for decorating the temple and did not lose. Although different craftsmen supervised the process during the construction of the building, they embodied the original idea exactly, and even the facade turned out as planned, convex, and not flat, as usual.

As it turned out right there, the inside of the church dedicated to St. Anthony looks even more gorgeous than the outside. It took over a quarter of a century to create the interiors, but the craftsmen definitely didn't waste their time. Especially the painter Johann Kracker, a native of Vienna, who moved to work in Eger, did his best. The ceiling frescoes of the church painted by him, depicting episodes of the life of St. Anthony, can only be called a masterpiece. Confirmation of the artist's merits is the fact that he was buried in a church crypt.

From Dobo Square, the fortress walls and towers are perfectly visible, and, photographing the beautiful buildings, I kept trying to finish all the work as soon as possible in order to rush to the most famous sight of Eger. The hike, however, turned out to be somewhat longer, because the road to the citadel goes uphill. As a result, my joy declared that she was tired, wanted to spit on these stones and military equipment, and in general it would be better to sit at the entrance on a bench, bask in the sun. I had to go inside alone ...

Eger Fortress from the first steps forces itself to respect: its bastions made of stone are more than solid. But they are just a partially restored copy of their former power ...

The first city citadel was built during the reign of the legendary Arpads and failed to protect the local population from the attack of the Mongols. Instead of the fortifications destroyed by the hordes of Batu, the authorities of Eger built new, more durable and reliable ones. The city lived under their protection throughout the Middle Ages, until it became clear how destructive the artillery fire was for the walls of ancient castles in Europe. The widespread use of firearms forced the Hungarian rulers to work on improving the defense of Eger on the eve of the Turkish invasion. The perestroika ended very on time: less than a few years later, the Turkish army approached the fresh walls. Well, I already talked about the feat of the garrison led by Captain Dobo, so I'll move on to the consequences of the siege. When, at the end of the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire nevertheless took possession of the citadel, its representatives took care of additional strengthening of the bastions. The Eger fortress, however, a century later could not withstand the onslaught of the Austrian troops and surrendered to the mercy of the victor. It would seem that the truth triumphed, but that was not the case: reasonably fearing a counter-offensive by the Turks, the Austrians decided to deprive the enemy of an important stronghold and blew up all the fortifications. For the next 150 years, Eger Castle lay in ruins, until Hungarian patriots showed interest in it. A series of renovations has brought back the proper look of part of the old stronghold; several museums have been opened inside the ring of walls, including one dedicated to the brave Captain Dobo.

Note that apart from the expositions inside the fortress, there is nothing interesting, except that the cannons can be examined and the panorama of the city can be gazed at. Some of the buildings are in ruins, only a couple of already restored buildings look beautiful. Personally, I expected great impressions from sightseeing of Eger, vaunted everywhere - no matter what guide to Hungary you take, everywhere only oh and oh. I do not know…

From the height of the fortress walls, the minaret of Ketuda was clearly visible, the only remaining reminder of the era of occupation. Several mosques were built almost immediately after the capture of Eger as part of a program of forcible oturization, which the Christians took their revenge to demolish. The minaret of Ketuda, undoubtedly, would have suffered a common fate if it had not been for the miracle included in the legend: if you believe the legends, even four hundred oxen pulling the harness could not bring down the tower, although the Hungarians managed to make out the mosque of the same name by stones. Subsequently, the tall structure was included in the sights of Eger, allowing tourists to climb to its observation deck. And those who can climb 97 narrow, steep steps will be rewarded with panoramic views of the city. The very ones, by the way, which you can contemplate from the fortress with much less labor costs ...

What you can see in Eger is the museum of the writer Gesa Gardoni, located at the rear of the castle, to the east of it. The famous master of the pen has lived in the city for almost half of his 59-year term. Apparently, the move inspired him so much that just 4 years after this event, the novel "The Stars of Eger" appeared, which brought Gardoni worldwide fame. Another famous work, The Invisible Man, was also written in the Eger house, which takes place in ancient times. The Eger Guide claimed that the setting of the historic building was reproduced as it was a hundred years ago, when Gardoni's novels appeared. But we did not go to see the museum, as we were already tired and experienced an acute feeling of hunger. Fortunately, I already knew where you can have an inexpensive and tasty meal in Eger and, having reunited, we set off along the already familiar path to Szechenyi Street. I will not deny that I chose to ignore a couple of quite decent restaurants in the Dobó square area, considering their prices high, although it would be very pleasant to sit at their tables on the street and admire the chic views of Eger. We had to dine without species pictures, but inexpensive, satisfying and tasty. That is, at first our choice fell on one establishment, but since its waiters were in no hurry to appear in the hall, we, after waiting a bit, crossed the road and took a table on the veranda of the Geriotto establishment at 13 Szechenyi Istvan. The meal consisted of soup, meat with garnish and dessert; including mineral water, the entire dinner for two cost 6,500 forints. It is worth noting not only the high level of cuisine, but also the stylish atmosphere of the restaurant, as well as impeccable service. It remains to reproach that the menu was only in Hungarian, German, Italian and English - in the place where we settled down at first, the dishes of Hungarian cuisine also had signatures in Russian.

Having finished lunch already at dusk, we wandered around the streets a little more, not wanting to part with the town. Not that we were very, very attracted by the sights of Eger, just a wonderful atmosphere was felt, and the surrounding architecture played its role - it is not for nothing that the city is known as the capital of the Hungarian Baroque.

A shopping trip helped us survive the departure: at some point, my mistress remembered that, they say, I promised her time to “calmly look at the assortment” of Agria Park, where we had already spent God knows how much immediately after arrival. The second call turned out to be even longer: it took more than an hour to "look quietly". It's good that I also spent part of this time productively, studying a good selection of summer jackets. In short, shopping in Eger has been collectively recognized by us as worthy.

All the way back to Budapest I had to drive in the dark, but I did not feel any shyness about this. The quality of Hungarian roads is above average, the chances of flying into deep pits or potholes are scanty, and although there is no lighting on secondary roads, the trip was not at all tiring. Of course, it would be great to go all the way by train, as I had planned on my first trip to Hungary, but then it took more money for the voyage, and we would not have been able to fulfill everything planned for the day. Even in the evening city it would not work out for a walk, because the very last train to the capital leaves at about half past seven, and later it will not be possible to get from Eger to Budapest on your own, except perhaps by a night train.

Since the first pancake did not become lumpy, contrary to the common proverb, we returned home in high spirits, anticipating how tomorrow we will go to watch the bend of the Danube. Suppose I have already seen Szentendre and Esztergom, but the trip to Vac promised to please me with fresh impressions.

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 located in a picturesque valley located between the two famous mountains Bükk and Matra. The preserved medieval layout, many monuments of Baroque architecture make this city surprisingly attractive for foreign visitors. Eger's name comes from the word "gerfa", which means "alder" in Hungarian.

Settlements on the territory of modern Eger existed in ancient times. For many centuries, various Germanic tribes, Avars, Slavs and Hungarians lived here. Today, it is the latter that make up the majority of the city's population (more than 92%), 1% are each one of Germans, Romanians and Roma. The remaining residents belong to other nationalities.

Eger is considered the center of the Catholic Archdiocese and the majority of the population belongs to the Catholic Church. Also, Orthodox, Jews and Protestants live in the city. Hungarian is recognized as the official language.

Today Eger is a renowned spa resort. In addition, it has gained worldwide fame as a winemaking center producing the famous bull's blood wine. It is interesting that, among other things, the garment, footwear and tobacco industries are well developed in the city.

The Eger resort area is perfect for families with children, young people and the elderly.

Climate and weather

Eger's climate is moderately continental. The winter period is usually quite warm. The average daily temperature at this time is approximately -3 ° C. Summer in Eger is quite hot, during the day the thermometer can rise to +35 ° С, and at night the air cools down to +20 ° С. A feature of the local climatic conditions are moderately warm springs and autumn with a small amount of atmospheric precipitation, the average annual indicators do not exceed 600 millimeters.

Most foreign tourists visit this amazing resort between May and September. Optimal values ​​of air temperature and the absence of heavy rains allow you to fully enjoy your vacation.

Nature

Eger attracts numerous tourists from all over the world not only for its unique thermal springs, but also for the amazing beauty of nature around the city. Located in a picturesque valley between the two majestic mountains Matra and Bükk, it amazes with its landscapes. It is not for nothing that many consider Eger to be one of the most beautiful cities not only in Hungary, but throughout Central Europe.

sights

Eger is called a wonderful gem of the Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassicism. The small town is famous for its exquisite palaces and cathedrals. Being here is definitely worth seeing Church of St. Anthony of Padua, better known as the Minorite Church, which is located in the central square. Built at the end of the 18th century, this cathedral is considered one of the most beautiful in Hungary.

Deserves special attention Eger Fortress, erected in the XIII century. The old episcopal palace is located on its territory. Today it houses Istvan Dobo Museum, a large art gallery and a mint. And in the underground casemates of the palace there are wax museum and lapidarium.

Also in Eger is the second largest temple in Hungary - Basilica or Cathedral... Built in the 1830s in the neoclassical style, this temple houses the largest organ in the country. In summer, concerts of church and classical music are regularly held here.

Striking with its majesty Turkish minaret, erected at the beginning of the 17th century. This is one of the three minarets that have survived in Hungary, an interesting feature of this structure is given by the fact that the minaret is the northernmost historical structure in the territory that once belonged to the Turks. Today, at its top, there is an observation deck, from where a stunning view of the beautiful Eger opens.

Nutrition

As in any tourist center, Eger has a huge number of small but very cozy restaurants and cafes. The most visited establishments among foreign tourists are Demir Hikmet, Fehérszarvas Vadásztanya Étterem and Forst-Ház Restaurant & Cafe... The main dishes in the menu of each restaurant are the famous Hungarian "goulash", "paprikash" and "perkelt". In addition, the local chefs prepare amazingly fried pork ribs, cabbage rolls and pancakes with various fillings.

In Eger, there are several coffee houses that offer their customers delicious desserts and pastries. Many foreigners claim that Hungarian pastries are no worse than the famous Viennese sweets, and some masterpieces even surpass them by an order of magnitude.

The favorite drink of the locals is undoubtedly coffee. Foreigners prefer to enjoy the excellent Eger wines, the most favorite of which is "Bull's Blood". Also, not a single feast in the city is complete without excellent Hungarian soft drinks. Marka Szoda and Traubi Szoda.

The cost of food in Eger restaurants is about 20-30 €. In small street cafes you can have a hearty lunch for only 5-7 €.

Accommodation

Hospitable Eger has a huge number of excellent hotels and hotels that fully meet all world requirements. The most popular hotels among foreigners are Hunguest Flóra, Ködmön Wellness

Korona, Eger-Park Hotel and Hotel Villa Volgu... All of them offer fairly spacious and comfortable rooms, which have the necessary set of furniture and equipment required by the guest. The compulsory package includes air conditioners, separate bathrooms, cable or satellite TV, as well as the Internet. The cost of living in such hotels ranges from 80 to 140 €, depending on the location of the hotel.

Many tourists prefer to stay in hotels with thermal springs. As a rule, prices for accommodation in such establishments are slightly higher compared to other hotels. However, usually the room rates already include free use of swimming pools and baths with thermal waters, as well as baths, saunas, gyms, fitness clubs and other health establishments.

Entertainment and recreation

Usually foreign tourists come to Eger to soak up the warm thermal waters. Many experts recommend visiting the stunning Turkish baths, which are a kind of "monument" of the culture of the era of Turkish rule in Hungary. The main pool is covered with a huge dome, which allows tourists to come here all year round.

The magnificent Eger is known for its fascinating excursions through the picturesque mountains located near the city. In addition, Mount Bükk is famous for its wonderful ski resort.

Eger hosts wonderful festivals and celebrations every year. The historical tournament held in the last week of July has already become a tradition. Frontier Fortress Fun". Impressive knightly lists are organized on the territory of the ancient Aegean fortress. At this time, numerous guests of the festival are entertained by eminent Hungarian artists.

Many foreigners prefer to visit the unique valley of winemakers, which the locals call “ Valley of beauties". Here you can observe the wonderful Hungarian traditions observed during various celebrations. Magyar weddings, fun in honor of the grape harvest, goulash parties and other quite interesting holidays are especially impressive. During such celebrations, live gypsy music is played in the valley, guests are treated to Hungarian cuisine and, of course, wonderful Eger wines are poured into the river.

On the second Friday of July, the national wine festival "Bull's Blood" is held in Eger. On this day, crowds of people gather in the streets of the city in anticipation of tasting red wines.

Young people who prefer to spend all their free time in noisy nightclubs can have a great rest in the entertainment establishments of Eger, of which there are a great many.

Purchases

In Eger, there is a great opportunity to purchase a rather unusual memorable souvenir. On the main street Széchenyi there is a huge number of shops and stores that offer their customers a wide range of products.

The most purchased goods by foreigners are Hungarian crystal, porcelain and ceramics which depict the symbols of Eger and Hungary. Textiles, national clothes, antiques, antiques and jewelry are also popular. The unique marzipan figurines different shapes and sizes. No tourist left the country without a great Hungarian wine or spices.

The largest shopping center is located in the center of Eger Agria Plaza, the doors of which are open to customers around the clock. Hypermarkets are located on the outskirts of the city Lidl and Tesco... Their working day lasts from 10:00 to 18:00.

All payments for purchases are carried out only in Hungarian forint. Foreign currency can be exchanged at state exchange offices located in the city center.

Transport

Eger's transport system is represented by road and rail. However, only rare tourists use it, despite the huge number of routes - all the main attractions of Eger are concentrated in a small area in the city center, which will not be difficult to move along on foot. Public transport ticket prices are quite low. One trip by city bus will cost about 0.55 €. For lovers of a high level of comfort, we recommend that you contact the taxi drivers who will happily take you along the streets of Eger, and on top of that, they will also conduct a short excursion. However, the cost of such a trip exceeds 10 €.

It is worth noting that Eger has an excellent intercity bus service. This type of transport is especially popular among the local population due to its cheap cost. Ticket prices are no more than 15 €.

Eger is connected by rail with the capital of Hungary, Budapest, and Miskolc. There are two types of trains: regular passenger trains and express trains. The journey on a passenger train takes 2.5 hours, a ticket for this type of transport costs about 10 €. Traveling on express trains will take much less time (no more than 1.5 hours), the ticket price is slightly higher - just over 15 €.

Connection

On the city streets of Eger, there are numerous payphones, from which you can make a call not only within the city or country, but even call abroad. Such machines operate on coins or T-Com plastic cards. The cost of a long distance call is approximately 0.6 € per minute. Communication with loved ones living abroad will cost 0.8 € for each minute of connection. It should be noted that similar machines are also installed in large hotels and shopping centers.

Cellular communication in Eger is provided by several local operators at once. By the way, they all perfectly support the roaming of large world companies, including Russian ones. For a foreign guest who has arrived for a rather long time, the best option would be not to connect to roaming, but to buy a local SIM card. The cost of mobile calls in the city is only 0.15 € per minute. In addition, the companies T-Mobile, Vodafone and Telenor offer their customers to use the mobile Internet service, the payment for which will not exceed 15 € per month.

On the central city streets there are Internet cafes, which make it possible to combine business with pleasure. Here you can not only spend time at the computer, studying the latest news on the World Wide Web, but also have a delicious lunch. The cost of one hour of work on the Internet is approximately 1 €. In large hotels and inns, Wi-Fi service is provided. Typically, these amenities are provided completely free of charge to hotel customers.

Security

Many people call Eger the safest city in Hungary, and they are absolutely right. It has the lowest crime rate in the country. At the same time, almost all offenses are committed mainly against local residents. True, foreign citizens still need extra care in crowded places. Sometimes there are dexterous pickpockets and cunning scammers who immediately notice the gullible tourist.

The sanitary conditions in Eger deserve the highest praise, apart from the quality of the tap water - it is not as good as we would like. Experts recommend boiling it before drinking. Fruits and vegetables purchased in stores, especially in the summer, should be thoroughly rinsed and rinsed with boiling water.

Business climate

The main sectors of the Eger economy are winemaking and tourism. Many foreign businessmen decide to invest their money in the development of these particular areas. It is worth noting that Hungary has adopted a number of legislative acts regulating the relationship of joint ventures. In addition, the interest on tax payments was significantly reduced, this did not go unnoticed by businessmen.

Real estate

Real estate in Eger is becoming more and more popular every year. Picturesque nature, mild climate, unique thermal springs - all this attracts buyers' attention to the housing market in Eger. It should be noted that the average cost of apartments here is somewhat lower than in the capital and other large cities of the country. To buy a home in a residential area of ​​Eger, the buyer will have to prepare about 1000-1500 € per square meter. As you get closer to the historic center, house prices rise significantly. So for a small apartment in the central area of ​​the city, the owners will ask for about 210,000 €. Recently, the demand for country cottages has also grown. Usually they are purchased by foreign businessmen to organize a small hotel or hostel in them. The cost of a small cottage with an area of ​​about 120 square meters is approximately 150,000 €.

Today, the rental housing market is of particular interest to foreigners. The prices for renting apartments in Eger are quite attractive. So, for a month of living in a one-room apartment in the city center, you will have to pay only 200-300 €.

Hungarians really do not like to hear criticism in their address, especially in relation to family, work, health, etc.

The best place to buy expensive jewelry is in government stores. There you can safely ask the sellers to draw up the appropriate documents for exporting the product abroad. It is worth noting that such documentary confirmation of the fact of purchase is also required for purchased antiques and antiques.

When buying amazing wines and spices as souvenirs, it is worth remembering that, in accordance with Hungarian law, only 1 liter of alcoholic beverages is allowed duty-free, but spices can be exported without any restrictions.

The city of Eger (Hungarian Eger, German Erlau) is located in the north of Hungary, at the foot of the southern mountain slopes of Bükk and Matra. It serves as the administrative center of the Heves county and is famous for its castle, which has witnessed several battles between the Turkish and Hungarian armies.

The city was founded in the 10th century by the first Hungarian king, St. Stefan.

For some time, Eger was occupied by Turkish troops, in memory of these times, a Turkish bath and a Muslim minaret remained in the city. Today the town is home to about 55 thousand inhabitants.

Eger Hungary holidays

Eger takes the honorable 11th place in the list of popular tourist centers in Hungary. Every year about 300 thousand tourists come here, mostly they devote their time to health and recreation in the Eger baths, get acquainted with the historical past of the town, travel around its environs.

Most often in Eger you can meet Ukrainians, Poles, Russians, Italians, who enjoy thermal baths, a water park, a Turkish bath (it is more than 400 years old!) And excursions to Eger Castle.

In the vicinity of the city, Germans, Austrians and Swiss like to travel, they come to the baths and to taste local red and white wines. Recently, tourists from Turkey have also been striving to Eger to see with their own eyes the history of the Ottoman Empire in the local lands.

They say that Eger wines are very similar in taste to French Burgundy wines. Recently, Eger has increasingly attracted the public as a highly reputable wine region. The best conditions for the ripening of local vines - Egri Leina, Egerszolati Olashrizling, Debrzi Herslevel (white) and Egri Bikavere (Eger bovine blood) - are created in the Nagy-Egged highlands, the premium wines of the Grand Superior are made from grapes grown in the Gran terroir zone. -Kru in the vicinity of Eger.

The best time to relax in Eger is spring, summer, early autumn. In winter, it is not crowded and quiet - ideal conditions for a secluded leisurely rest.

Eger Baths

The healing thermal water at the spa, with a temperature of 31ºC, contains the highest concentration of radon in Hungary. The baths were opened to the public in 1932, and now it is a large thermal park within walking distance of the city center, which includes 7 swimming pools, sports fields, water slides and direct access to the Turkish bath.

Open air bath(English Eger Open Air Bath) - the largest thermal aqua complex in Eger, located on 5 hectares, including seven swimming pools, is a great place to spend a whole day on vacation with the whole family. The bathhouse includes a thermal pool with sulfur, in which the temperature is maintained at 37 ° C, three therapeutic pools with radon, a half-open recreational water pool for adults and the same one for children.

Prices: adults - 1900 forints (6 euros).

Swimming pool Bitskey Aladár- an Olympic swimming pool of appropriate Olympic dimensions. Eger's water polo teams are preparing for the water polo competition here, so don't miss a moment to meet one of the Olympic champions.

Turkish baths- they were restored several times over 400 years, but they managed to preserve the identity of the construction of the building, erected by order of Pasha Arnaut in the sixteenth century. The building itself is very remarkable from an architectural point of view. Its arches are covered with beautiful Zsolnay ceramics, which have preserved the authenticity of those distant times.

Here you can order a hammam, massage procedures, and other spa treatments. In Turkish baths, visitors find a very successful combination of the healing properties of thermal water and the historical breath of time.

Book a hotel in Eger, Hungary

Baths in the vicinity of Eger

1. Cave Bath in Miskolctapolca(Miskolctapolca) - huge natural thermal baths and pools hidden underground in the vicinity of Eger.

2. Spa Egerszalok(Egerszálok Spa) - its dazzling white salt mound is the most impressive of the thermal baths in Hungary, very similar to the thermal springs of Pamukkale in Turkey. Unfortunately, free access is now limited, you can get to the Egerszalok baths by staying at the spa hotel next to it.

3. Thermal valley of Demian- The healing thermal water of the spring rises from a depth of 690 meters, it helps to heal from rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases of the joints and musculoskeletal system.

4. Baths of Jory(Zsóry Baths), Mezőkövesd - the local thermal waters were discovered in the 1930s at the estate of Count ory. Geologists were looking for oil, but the drilling rig got into a layer of hot water. The Baths of Mezökövesd are located near Eger.

5. Büksek Therapeutic Baths(Bükkszék)

The Büksek Thermal Bath boasts a very long water slide, four pools, the bath water is alkaline, contains chlorides and bromides, helps in rehabilitation after injuries, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal tissues (rheumatoid arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis) ), with infertility.

6. Baths Bogach

The thermal water of the village of Bogács is not only intended for bathing, it is excellent for the healing of rheumatic, joint, musculoskeletal diseases. Water from the thermal springs of Bogach is used to treat gynecological diseases, prostatitis, ophthalmological diseases, liver diseases and gastritis.

Inhalation of hydrogen carbonate vapors is useful for the treatment and prevention of all types of bronchitis, and the calcium contained in water has an anti-inflammatory effect in osteoporosis. Some types of skin diseases, for example, chronic eczema, are also treated in Rich.

The local thermal water can also be used for drinking, which is prescribed for chronic gastritis, constipation, bile stasis and liver diseases. It is also an effective remedy for dental and oral hygiene.

Eger attractions

The turbulent history of the city is captured on many buildings and monuments that have survived in ancient times. Several Turkish-Hungarian cuttings swept along the streets of Eger, these lands were under occupation, people fought for their freedom, returned the Christian religion and local traditions, learned to live free again, without oppression.

The historical past of the city is found at every step, it cannot be hidden or bypassed, it is everywhere ...

1. The historic center of Eger - it is quite well preserved. As the best examples of the buildings of those times, in the central square of the city, one can see architecture in the style of classicism, baroque, tsopf.

2. Citadel - Eger fortress, dating back to the XIII century, with completed fortifications of the XVI century. On the territory of the fortress there is an old bishop's palace (built in 1470). Within the walls of the palace today there is a museum of Istvan Dobo, the head of the citadel's defense, and an art gallery. Also, on the territory of the fortress, Istvan Dobo and the writer Geza Gardoni found their last refuge.

The viewing platforms of the citadel offer a beautiful landscape view of the city of Eger.

3. University of Applied Sciences named after Karoi Esterhazy - a higher educational institution was founded in 1774. In 1989, in honor of the founder of the university, it was named after Bishop Karoi Esterhazy.

4. Eger Basilica of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, St. Michael and the Immaculate Conception

It was built in 1831 - 1836, the building is made in the neoclassical style, the author of the project is the architect Jozsef Hild. Today the basilica is the second largest church in Hungary. On the first is the Basilica in Esztergom, built twenty years later, in 1856.

5. Lyceum (17651785, architect J. Fellner) - one of the oldest schools in Hungary. The building of the lyceum is located opposite the basilica. You should definitely visit this place to see the magnificent library of the educational institution and admire the old interiors.

6. Archbishop's Palace (15th century) - it should be viewed to the north of the basilica. Currently, there is a museum of religious art here.

7. Church of St. Anthony of Padua

This temple is also called the Minorite Church. The shrine is located in the central square of the city, named after Istvan Dobo. The church was erected in 1773. Both the building and the property of the temple belong to the Minorite Franciscan order. The temple is considered one of the most beautiful Baroque buildings in Hungary.

8. Church of the Cistercians

Also built in the Baroque style. Dated to 1743. You can see it on the main pedestrian street of the city, Szechenyi Street.

9. Serbian Orthodox Church

People come here to see the unsurpassed gilded iconostasis, painted back in 1791. Tsenkov is located in the northern part of Eger.

10. Turkish minaret (early 17th century) - this is the northernmost historical minaret of the Ottomans, it is one of the three preserved in Hungary. The minaret used to be part of the mosque, but it was destroyed in 1841. As a sign of Hungary's deliverance from Islam, the minaret was crowned with a Christian cross. Climbing the minaret along a very narrow staircase, you can admire the city from the observation deck.

11. House of the Regional Council - the building was built in 1751 - 1755, the author of the project is the architect M. Gerl.

12. The Egri Road Museum - opened in May 2015. The exposition of the museum includes the first permanent collection in Hungary dedicated to the Beatles ensemble.

Budapest Eger how to get

Eger is located 130 km north-east of Budapest.

By train

The easiest way to get to Eger from Budapest is by bus or train; a railway line from the Budapest-Miskolc highway leads to the city. Eger's main train station is 1.5 km from the center.

Intercity trains of the MÁV train from Budapest run regularly, departing from the Keleti railway station (Keleti Pályudvar), which can be reached by the city metro lines M2 and M4.

The direct train from Budapest to Eger departs at 07.00, 09.00, 11.00, 13.00, 15.00, 17.00. The trip takes about an hour and a half.

Intercity trains that run through Füzesabony station will be a more convenient mode of transport. Get off at Füzesabony station and change to the local train, which leaves in 20 minutes.

As for ticket prices, at the time of writing this page the price is 2520 forints (8 euros) - one way, 3950 forints (12.7 euros) - round trip. The easiest way is to find out the price for the desired date of travel and book a ticket in advance using the services of the official website of the carrier - the railway company MÁV.

By bus

Agria Volán buses run regularly from Budapest and neighboring cities to Eger. Travel time by bus from Budapest is 2-2.5 hours. The Eger city bus station is located near the basilica.

From Budapest, buses leave every 30 minutes, departing from a stop near the Puskás Ferenc Stadion, which is easily accessible via the M2 metro line (marked in red on Budapest metro maps).

The ticket price is 2900 forints (9.3 euros), children under 6 years old - free, children over - 50% of the cost. You can buy a ticket at the ticket office at the bus stop or from the bus driver.

Good advice from the Traveler's Assistant: in Hungary it is not always possible to take the seat indicated on your ticket. To prevent this from happening, come to the bus in advance and take a seat quickly, otherwise you will have to travel with less comfort.

You can get around the city of Eger by bus line 12, it stops at the railway station, the bus station, and in the center of Eger.

The development of the city was rapid, because it was at a crossroads and was a center for believers throughout the country, which contributed to prosperity, which peaked in the XIV-XVI centuries. During the reign of King Matthias Corvinus - from 1458 to 1490 - Eger grew and was built up with new beautiful buildings, and the wine industry and viticulture began to develop successfully in the vicinity of the city.

Unfortunately, the stage of the city's prosperity in 1552 was interrupted by the Turkish invasion - all Eger's forces were thrown into confrontation with the enemy. It should be noted that the moment of the defense of the Eger Fortress testifies to the feat of the Hungarian people and deserves to become one of the bravest deeds of warriors of all time. After all, only 2 thousand Hungarians fought against the Turkish army of 80 thousand, who, despite the overwhelming minority, managed to win this battle and prevent the Turks from taking over the territory of Eger. The confrontation lasted 33 days and took a lot of strength from the Hungarian people. However, the Turks did not forget this defeat to the Hungarians and already in 1596 made a second attempt to capture the city, this time crowned with success for the attackers. The Turkish conquerors made their own adjustments to the architecture and culture of Eger, erecting many minarets, Turkish baths and rebuilding Christian temples into Muslim mosques on the streets of the city. They also completed the Eger Fortress in their own way. In the second half of the 17th century, the city finally managed to get rid of its invaders. At that time, the whole country came under the rule of the Habsburgs. Prosperity returned to Eger, the construction of new temples and baroque palaces began, which the city is proud of today. In 1836, a magnificent Basilica was built in Eger, which became the religious center of Hungary.

It should be noted that during World War II, the city was fabulously lucky - Eger did not actually suffer from the invaders, unlike its brothers - other cities in Hungary, so the sights of Eger are perfectly preserved and give tourists the opportunity to fully enjoy the historical values.

How to get to Eger

If you prefer to travel by air, please note that the closest airport to Eger is in Budapest. From the capital of Hungary, you can get to Eger by rail and bus. Frequent flights, the presence of a direct railway line from the capital guarantees a comfortable and quick transfer to the oasis of wine and thermal springs. The price of a train ticket from Budapest to Eger is about 2,000 forints (about $ 9). The composition resembles an express train, however, without tables familiar to many, but with comfortable bathrooms. Travelers often use the services of taxis or small, comfortable buses that comfortably take tourists to Eger. The price for such services when traveling with a guided interpreter in the amount of 3 people in a taxi is 9900 forints (or $ 45) or without a guide for a group of 6-8 people - 6600 forints (about $ 30). Whichever mode of transport you use, the journey will take 2-2.5 hours.

It is worth noting that a flight through Budapest has its own "charms" - rarely a tourist refuses to take a tour of the capital, even if he is passing through the city. Often, many travelers start their trip to Hungary from Budapest.

Eger landmarks

As you can see, the city has a rich history, which is why tourist excursions to Eger are especially fascinating. It is always interesting, beautiful and tasty here!

The center of historical events and city tours is the Eger Fortress, which dates back to the 13th century. The extensions made by the Turks in the 16th century did not spoil the overall grandeur of the historical site. On the territory of the fortress, you can visit the Bishop's Palace, in which the Museum of Istvan Dobo, the commander of the very 2 thousand heroes who defended the city from the attack of the Turkish invaders in 1552, is now settled. By the way, you have the opportunity to visit the grave of this famous captain, who is buried right in the fortress. The body of the writer Gesa Gardoni, who wrote a delightful novel about the events in the Eger Fortress, also rests here.

The complex includes an amazing art gallery, where canvases by Austrian and Dutch artists of the 16th-17th centuries, as well as masterpieces of German and Austrian artists of the 19th century, flaunt.

When you are in the fortress, be sure to take a tour of the underground kingdom - the local labyrinths are unique and demonstrate the defensive power of the building.

A separate block of the complex is the so-called "prison exposition", which contains instruments of torture and executions that were used in antiquity.

Another interesting place in the fortress is the Mint. In addition to the exhibits, you can watch the work of the minter, who gives birth to coins right before your eyes. For a fee, you will be taught this skill, and you will get the opportunity to become the author of a unique coin that you will take with you as a souvenir.

An archery shooting gallery and a wine cellar function in the Eger Fortress. It is better to head to the first one before the start of the local wine tasting. Shooting an old bow is very entertaining. Then you can move on to the gastronomic part - a visit to the wine kingdom. In the cellar, you can taste a variety of wines and even take part in the filling of the heady nectar.

In summer, the fortress often hosts colorful knightly tournaments and folk craft fairs, thanks to which you can become owners of colorful Hungarian souvenirs.

The address of the Eger Fortress: Hungary, Eger, Vár 1, 3300. If we talk about the distance from the railway station, then it can be reached on foot in 10 minutes.

Opening hours of the historic complex: from May to August - from 8 am to 8 pm; from November to February - from 8 am to 5 pm; September and April - from 8 am to 7 pm; and October and March - from 8 am to 6 pm.

And now about one of Eger's important values ​​- wine. The pride of Hungarian winemakers - the Valley of Beauties, consisting of a great variety of wine cellars (more than 200) is located a 20-minute walk from the historic city center. There is the possibility of tasting wines made from local grapes. The most famous wine in this area is "Bull's Blood" - a red wine with a rich, colorful taste.

The origin of the name of this historic wine "reserve" and the famous drink, as well as the biography of the wine valley, are mysterious. According to one of the national legends, the name of the wine came from the time of the defense of the Eger fortress from the Turkish attack. Allegedly, the leader of the soldiers, Istvan Dobo, gave his soldiers wine to drink, which gave them courage and led to victory. The Turks, seeing the red beards of the defending Hungarians, thought that the latter had drunk bull's blood, and therefore, became violently strong and brave, so they decided to retreat from the fortress.

Another interesting story telling that one of the fathers of the girls who entered the sultan's harem during the capture of the city by the Turks gave his daughter a bottle of wine and told her to treat the Sultan, calling the drink bull's blood (Muslims are forbidden to drink alcohol) ... The plan succeeded: the sultan got drunk, and the girl fled from captivity without losing her honor.

As for the name of the valley, the legends about it are also fascinating. According to one of them, the origin of the name of the historical place is associated with the goddess Venus - a female deity, who at one time was worshiped by the inhabitants of the city. Another story says that the first owner of the Valley of Beauties was incredibly pretty, that's why the place got that name. And the most humorous version is this: local men loved this place very much and after a few glasses of wine they became good-natured and sweet, which in turn provoked the settlement of dissolute girls nearby who loved to spend time with cheerful men. The secret of the success of all, without exception, local girls is that when the gentleman “took on the chest” well, then any woman seems beautiful to him, therefore local beauties have always considered themselves the most delightful.

In the Valley of Beauties, you can not only taste wine, but also meet all the dishes of the national cuisine - the owners of the cellars, as a rule, have their own restaurants where they conduct tastings, treat them with Hungarian dishes and sell wine.

Valley address: 3300, Eger, Disznófő sor 1.

Admission is free, the approximate price of lunch or dinner in local restaurants is 2200-6600 forints (10-30 dollars).

Once the main religious center of Hungary, built in 1831 by an architectural nugget - Jozsef Hild. The main building style is neoclassicism. Today it is the second largest temple in the country. The highlight of the Basilica is the functioning organ - the largest in Hungary. If you are traveling during the warmer months, you can attend a concert of organ music.

The address of the Basilica is 3300 Eger, Telekessy utca 6.

The doors of the temple are open - from 9 am to 12 pm, and then from 4 to 6 pm.

The building comes from the 17th century. True, the Hungarians decorated the minaret with a cross as a sign of victory, but the entire architecture of the building has been preserved. 93 steps lead to the observation deck along a narrow staircase, overcoming which you will be amazed at the opening view of the city.

Minaret address: 3300 Eger, Knézicn Károly utca 1.

Visiting time - from round 10 to 6 pm from April to October

Not far from the Minaret there is the world famous Marzipan Museum. Here you can admire a variety of sugar figurines and monuments, and buy gifts for your family from the local souvenir shop. There is also a pastry shop, where you will be treated to delicious drinks and sweet treats. The museum has several rooms located on two floors, in which you can find very curious creations, such as the full-length figure of Michael Jackson, the map of Hungary, the Eger Fortress and other masterpieces made from sugar.

Coordinates: 3300 Eger, Harangöntő utca 4.

The museum is open: daily - from 9.00 to 18.00.

The cost of entering the "sugar oasis": adults - 600 forints (about $ 2.5), retirees and students - 300 forints (a little less than $ 1.5), children - free.

Other attractions

In addition to the listed colorful sights, Eger itself is a solid historical find. The city center is a mosaic of beautiful Baroque buildings, harmoniously decorated with ornate wrought iron balconies. The central square of Eger is Istvan Dob Square - the national hero of Hungary. There you can also find the Temple of St. Anthony of Padua, better known as the "Church of the Minorites". According to some tourists, this is the most beautiful temple in the country.

The main pedestrian street in Eger is Széchenyi Street. Be sure to pay attention to the local Lyceum - one of the first schools in the country, and to the Museum of Astronomy, which stores astronomical instruments from the 18th century. The Archbishop's Palace, located near the Basilica, is a museum filled with religious art. Among other things, you will be amazed that Eger is actually buried in greenery and flowers - there are a great many of them, and they all delight tourists with their shapes and colorful shades. There are flowerbeds everywhere - in parks, hotels, swimming pools, restaurants, homes, and even shopping malls. Hungarians love flowers and spare no effort in caring for them.

Treatment in Eger

With the help of local mineral springs, rheumatic diseases, post-traumatic conditions and diseases of the musculoskeletal system are effectively treated. The balneological center of Eger is located in the building of the Turkish bath, built in the 17th century. Water in local pools comes from the ground, through the stones. The average temperature of the thermal springs is +31 degrees Celsius. The unique composition of water with an abundance of radon, which helps the body to overcome inflammatory processes and increases the level of endorphin in the blood, promotes rapid recovery and early rehabilitation after injuries. The complex is located in the picturesque Eger Park and consists of 6 therapeutic pools. All sorts of special effects, for example, underwater massage, pearl baths, jacuzzi, fountains and waterfalls, provide a special pleasure while swimming. The Eger Balneological Center is surrounded by tropical plants and the kindness of the staff.

In Eger, tourists have no problems with accommodation. The abundance of offers from cozy hotels and hospitable locals will amaze you with an extravaganza of choice. The city is famous for small, but homely comfortable hotels, where accommodation ranges from 11,000 to 33,000 forints (from 50 to 150 dollars) per room per day, depending on the class of the institution and the range of services.

If you want to stay in the heart of Eger, then pay attention to the Senator-Haz Hotel, which is located at 3300 Eger, Dobo ter 11. This is a wonderful old building, erected in the 18th century, filled with antiques and imbued with the spirit of history. The average price per room is 16,000 forints (which is just over $ 70). The hotel is small - only 18 rooms, but everything here is decorous, beautiful and homely. Breakfast is included in the price. Meanwhile, almost all hotels in Hungary provide breakfast included in the room price. Travelers should be warned about another feature of settling in Hungary - there is a so-called "tourist tax" in the amount of one and a half dollars per day, and this amount will be charged from you from above when paying for accommodation.

Of the good options for accommodation, you can consider the following hotels:

1. Three-star "Szent Janos" (address - Szent János utca 3) at a price per room - 65 dollars or 14,000 forints.

2. Three-star "Arany Trófea Hotel (address - Széchenyi u. 41 / b), with a cost per room - 12500 forints or 57 dollars.

3. Three-star "Varkapu Panzio" (address - Kossuth Lajos u.21) with an average price of $ 50 per room (about 11,000 forints).

4. Four-star "Palazzo Wellness Villa" (address - Türk Frigyes Utca 29) with the price of accommodation - $ 98 per room, which is equal to 21,500 forints.

5. Four-star "Ködmön Wellness" (address - Szépasszonyvölgy) at a cost of living - 19,600 forints (approximately $ 89).

6. Four-star "Imola Platán" (address - Csákány utca 7) at an average price for a room 136 dollars or 30,000 forints.

For tourists on a budget, there are many options for renting private apartments at a price:
luxury apartment - about $ 100 per day or 22,000 forints;
middle class apartment - about 13,000 forints (or 60 dollars) per day of stay;
a room with a shared bathroom - around $ 30, which equals 6,600 forints.

Wherever you live, you will be welcomed warmly and cordially everywhere, provided with everything you need (even in private apartments they will provide you with towels, maps and the like), and will help you to understand local traditions and tourist routes.

Eger keeps a rich cultural heritage and rightfully earned fame as one of the most visited tourist cities in Hungary.