Chapron is a city in Hungary. Sopron: attractions and interesting places (with photos). Franz Liszt Cultural Center

Sopron

- a small town with a subalpine climate, located near the Austrian border, lying in a ring of Leverek covered with coniferous forests and vineyards famous for good wines.

The panorama of Sopron is incredibly beautiful, especially if you admire it from a high hill, on top of which there is a cozy hotel in the forest park. The city is also famous for its clean air. No wonder there is a sanatorium within the city limits pulmonary profile.

There is a national park near Sopron Ferto-Hansag, most of which lies in Austria. There is a wonderful recreation area on Lake Fertő, the third largest lake in Central Europe. The surrounding area of the lake is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. The waters of the lake are very salty, and the beaches and swimming areas make up an excellent resort area.
In summer you can go sailing on the lake, ride a bike on the path that goes around the lake, and in winter you can go ice skating. A few kilometers from Sopron is the famous Hungarian Balfe thermal resort.

Sopron is famous not only for the wealth of its architectural monuments and museums, but also for being one of the oldest wine-growing regions in Hungary. The city is surrounded on all sides by gentle hills adjacent to Lake Fertö. Reflecting in the waters of the lake, the sun's rays intensify their effect, which contributes to better ripening of the grapes. Due to the cooler climate and limestone soil, the region's red wines are rich in acids, especially tannin. The history of Sopron winemaking goes back to the era of the Celts, who appreciated the local climatic conditions and began to cultivate vineyards here.

In the Middle Ages, the fame of Sopron wines spread far beyond the borders of the Hungarian state: many European monarchs and representatives of the highest clergy ordered them to their tables. The most famous variety of wine produced in the region is kekfankos. It has a rich dark red color and a rich bouquet. Of the white varieties, the most characteristic is zöld veltelini, and piros veltelini, made from an early ripening grape variety, is considered a real exclusive. Today, on approximately 1,800 hectares, grapes, mostly blue, are grown.

Sopron is one of the richest Hungarian cities in architectural monuments, awarded the Europa Nostra Prize in 1975.

Brief history of the city of Sopron

A settlement on the site of the city has existed since ancient times. The city was founded by the Romans in the 1st century. n. e., as a Roman settlement, the city of Scarbantia, through which the famous Amber Route passed: merchants brought amber mined on the Baltic shores to the countries of Southern Europe.

The city retained its importance until the collapse of the empire. The Hungarians, who came to these lands as a result of the Great Migration of Peoples, erected a castle and fortress walls on the site of Scarbantia (9-11 centuries). The first mention of the name Sopron was recorded in 1153. The city received its Hungarian name from the castle manager named Suprun.

In the 13th century, Sopron received the status of a free royal city. Since Sopron was located not far from Vienna, it managed to avoid both the devastating raids (by the Huns - starting from the 4th century and the Tatars from the 13th century) and the Turkish yoke (16-17th centuries).

Surely the residents of the town were responsible and loving citizens. After all, the status of a free royal city, which Sopron was awarded in the 13th century, is not given just like that. The city was actively deteriorating, acquiring individual, unique features... The year 1529 was one of the black pages in the life of the Sopron people. Soldiers of the Turkish army filled the streets and thoroughly plundered the city. This is the sad result of the battle between Royal Hungary and Sultan Suleiman I. The country was occupied and torn apart. But Sopron was lucky. It became part of the East Hungarian Kingdom - a small fragment of the former great Hungary under the protection of the Habsburgs. There was no Turkish domination here, and the city managed to preserve its traditional architectural appearance. True, the fire of 1676 fundamentally corrected it. It took decades of hard work to recreate what was lost.

Thanks to the interweaving of various historical events in Sopron, city buildings of various architectural styles create an interesting combination: the Roman forum and the fortress wall from the Middle Ages, Gothic houses of local residents, the Synagogue, palaces of the 19th century. By the beginning of the twentieth century, Sopron was an international city within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Here, in addition to the Hungarians, lived Germans (due to the proximity of Austria), Croats who fled here during the Turkish occupation. The city also had a significant Jewish population. And they began to divide Hungary again. The victorious countries in the First World War determined the fate of Western Hungary, which included Sopron, according to the Treaties of Saint-Germain and Trianon. The lands went to Austria. Given the proximity of its borders and the significant percentage of the German population, this decision seemed more than logical. However, at the entrance to Sopron, Austrian border guards and police met resistance from Hungarian snipers. The city did not want to recognize the new homeland... Uncertainty persisted for a month and something had to be decided. Italy acted as a mediator. At tripartite negotiations, it was decided to hold a referendum in Sopron, which took place from December 14 to 16, 1921.
According to its results, more than half of the residents wanted to remain part of Hungary!

After this, Sopron received the unofficial status of “the most loyal city”, and the Latin inscription “Civitas Fidelissima”, which means “The most loyal citizens”, appeared on its coat of arms.

During the Second World War, the city suffered greatly, and almost the entire large Jewish population of the city was exterminated in death camps. The Soviet army liberated Sopron on April 1, 1945. During the socialist period, several industrial enterprises were built in the city. On August 19, 1989, the so-called European Picnic took place on the Austro-Hungarian border near Sopron. With the consent of both countries, the border gate on the old Bratislava road between the villages of Sankt Margarethen and Sopronköhida was opened symbolically for three hours. At the same place, Austrian Foreign Minister Alois Mock and his Hungarian counterpart Gyula Horn jointly cut the border fence on June 27, 1989 to highlight the dismantling of protective structures begun by Hungary on May 2, 1989. More than 600 GDR citizens used this brief opening of the Iron Curtain to flee through Austria to the Federal Republic of Germany. The Hungarian border guards did not interfere with them, although according to the agreement between the GDR and Hungary, they should not have allowed them into the West.

Today, the European Picnic appears to be one of the important events that led to the completion of the history of the GDR and the end of the Cold War, the fall of the Iron Curtain and the unification of the two German states.

Sights of the city of Sopron

The fire tower is known as one of the symbols of Sopron. This tower was built on the remains of an ancient Roman foundation and, starting from the 13th century, served as the northern gate to the city. In the old days, fire guards played a very important role in the life of the city. In addition to their main function - to monitor fire safety - they also warned residents about approaching troops or trade convoys. In addition, they were invited as musicians to all kinds of events - weddings, funerals, festivals. Ironically, in 1676 the tower itself suffered a fire. As a result of subsequent reconstruction, it acquired its current Baroque appearance.
The main square of the Old Town - Fő tér - is surrounded by ancient houses, each of which is a valuable architectural monument.

Let's note one of the oldest, most valuable and most beautiful houses in Sopron in the Baroque style. It is easy to distinguish it from other buildings that surround the square in a dense ring by its eye-pleasing yellow color and original corner balcony. Today this house is usually called the “Shtorno house”, after the surname of its last owners. In 1875, the building was purchased by Ferenc Storno, the head of a large family of immigrants from Italy, which owned it until 1984.
Now it is a museum, the basis of the exhibition of which is a rich collection of medieval furniture, weapons, household utensils, and ancient paintings. It was started by Ferenc Storno, who was not a professional art critic and did not have any special knowledge, but thanks to his energy, passion and at his own expense, he restored a large number of frescoes in churches in the Western Transdanubia region. Later, his sons and grandsons took the matter of replenishing the collection into their own hands. The people of Sopron, and not only them, remember the Shtorno family with gratitude. But at the same time, they do not forget that the house at number 8 on Futer Square had two more owners until 1875.

Famous Hungarian noble families Haberleiter and Festetics. Moreover, at the time when the first family owned the house, Matthias I himself, better known as Matthias Corvinus (Raven), stayed there before the storming of Vienna, from December 1482 to February of the following year, 1483. One of the most revered Hungarian kings. A significant figure for the country, who annexed many lands to Hungary, including Austria. And, by the way, it was he, Matthias Corwin, who established diplomatic relations with Russia.
The building is also famous for the fact that concerts were performed here twice - in 1840 and 1881. Franz Liszt. The great composer Franz Liszt was born on October 22, 1811 in Hungary, in the town of Doborjan (Austrian name Riding) near Sopron. His father, Georg Adam List, served as an official in the administration of Prince Esterhazy. The Esterhazy princes encouraged art. Until the age of 14, Georg Adam played cello in the prince's orchestra, led by Joseph Haydn.
Another interesting building on the Main Square is the General's House. It originally belonged to Dr. K. Latzkner, who donated the house to the general in 1681. Today, the house houses an exhibition of contemporary sculpture.

A valuable architectural monument is the House of Fabricius. The building's hall is a unique example of the Gothic style; in addition, the elegant loggia in the courtyard, as well as the Gothic and Baroque cellars, are noteworthy. The owners of the building have always been wealthy citizens or merchants; it received its name in honor of the mayor and member of the city magistrate Endre Fabricius, who belonged to him at the beginning of the 19th century. When Franz Liszt gave concerts in Sopron, the outstanding Hungarian poet Sandor Petőfi, with whom Fabricius had warm friendly relations and who at that time was at the front, having escaped from a military barracks, lived in this house. Today, the House of Fabricius houses a museum, the decoration and furniture of which reflect the tastes of the burgher class of the 17th–18th centuries.
However, the greatest interest is the medieval basement of the building, where the Roman lapidarium was located. Here you can see the ruins of buildings left over from the time of Scarbancia - the ruins of temples and baths, statues, funeral urns and sarcophagi...

The Gothic house "Gambrinus", built at the beginning of the 15th century by order of King Zsigmond, is famous for the fact that it housed the city hall.

One of the most visited museums in Sopron is the City History Museum, also located on the Main Square. Its exhibition is dedicated to the history of Sopron in the 17th–18th centuries. There is also a separate exhibition of archaeological finds from the area around Sopron - from the Celtic, Roman and Hungarian periods.

Like many other European cities, Sopron's Central Square is decorated with a statue of the Holy Trinity. According to one of the widespread versions, it was installed at the expense of Sopron native Janos Jacob Levenburg in memory of his wife who died during the plague epidemic. Sopron is also famous for its ancient churches and temples.

In the southern part of the Central Square stands a Benedictine church, which is also popularly called the Church of the Goat. The temple is famous for the fact that Hungarian rulers were crowned there three times. The interior decoration of the church is distinguished by its beauty - frescoes and ornaments, lancet windows and a unique Christian pulpit, which is of great value.

Another significant temple of the city is the Church of St. Michael, located outside the Old Town. The statue of the Virgin Mary located inside the temple is a masterpiece of wooden sculpture. Around the central part of the city there is a system of streets and squares - Sopron downtown. Its narrow winding streets, the medieval atmosphere of cozy courtyards, the walls of the old city that you encounter at every step, and intricately decorated balconies will take you back to bygone eras.

Despite the fact that Sopron is called an open-air museum, it still has its own museum street. Located in the downtown area, Church Street is distinguished by the fact that there are museums with valuable collections one after another. The Benedictine monastery houses the Kaptalan Hall, an architectural monument of the 13th century. Its magnificent decoration, statues and wall paintings are unsurpassed examples of medieval art.

House number 12, which once belonged to the Sopron priest, now belongs to the State Evangelical Museum. In house No. 5 you can see interesting examples of ancient clothing and coins. The Franz Liszt Museum is located on Church Street. The exhibition contains exhibits on the history of the city, ethnography, as well as works of fine art.

For many centuries, Sopron's downtown area was home to artisans, merchants and winemakers. Streets such as Balfi, Fövényverem or Halász have retained their unique atmosphere to this day. On Bécsi Street there is the only bakery museum in the country. This building can be recognized by the lions decorating its façade, resting one paw on pretzels (a delicacy typical of Central Europe - a dry dumpling sprinkled with salt). From 1686 to 1970 the house belonged to the baker's family. After this, the City Council decided to open a museum here, while preserving the original furnishings left over from the previous owners. In the right wing there is a working bakery, where you can observe the bread making process. In addition, the museum has a confectionery workshop and a bread shop where the freshest baked goods are sold.

Useful information for tourists about Sopron in Hungary - geographical location, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.

Sopron is a small town with a subalpine climate, located near the Austrian border, lying in a ring of Leverek covered with coniferous forests and vineyards famous for good wines. Sopron is the richest Hungarian city in architectural monuments, awarded the Europa Nostra Prize in 1975.

A settlement on the site of the city has existed since ancient times. In the Roman period, there was a city of Scarbantia, lying on the Amber Trade Route, which connected the Baltic states and southern Europe. The first mention of the name Sopron was recorded in 1153. In the 13th century, Sopron received the status of a free royal city. During the Turkish invasion of Hungary in the 16th century, the city was sacked by the Turkish army in 1529, but the Turks were unable to establish control over Sopron.

During the Second World War, the city suffered greatly, and almost the entire large Jewish population of the city was exterminated in death camps. On August 19, 1989, the so-called European Picnic took place on the Austro-Hungarian border near Sopron. By mutual agreement, the border between the countries was opened for three hours, which was used by more than 600 citizens of the GDR who left for the West. The Sopron European Picnic became one of the symbols of the fall of the Iron Curtain.

The symbol of Sopron is the Fire Tower, previously used for its intended purpose by the fire watchman, and now there is a museum. The sculptural group on the facade of the tower has a symbolic meaning for the townspeople - it recalls the time when, in a referendum on the redistribution of borders after the First World War, the inhabitants of Sopron decided to leave the city in Hungary.

The central square is surrounded by ancient houses, most of which are architectural monuments. The most notable are the "House of Storno" (now a museum), the "House of the General" (museum of modern sculpture) and the "House of Gambrinus". In the center of the square stands the plague column or the Holy Trinity column (1680, Baroque).

The Dominican Church was built in the Gothic style at the end of the 13th century, but was rebuilt several times later. The modern appearance of the church already has more Baroque features than Gothic ones.

Being an open-air museum, Sopron itself contains many interesting museums inside its buildings: a pharmacy museum, a bakery museum, a mining and forestry museum, museums of the history of the Evangelical and Catholic churches, and a number of art galleries. And in the wine cellars you can taste the famous Sopron wine “Pinot Franc”.

Near Sopron lies the Fertö-Hanschag National Park, most of which lies in Austria. There is a wonderful recreation area on Lake Fertő, the third largest lake in Central Europe. The surrounding area of the lake is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. The waters of the lake are very salty, and the beaches and swimming areas make up an excellent resort area. In summer the lake offers sailing, cycling on the path around the lake and ice skating in winter.

Sopron * Sopron * Odenburg

People have liked this place for a long time. Sopron was founded by the Romans in the 1st century under the name Scarbantia. In those days, the Amber Route passed here (from the Baltic states to southern Europe). After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the city was completely destroyed and rebuilt again after the arrival of the Hungarians. The Magyars who came to these places during the Great Migration (11th century) built a castle and fortress walls here in the 9th-11th centuries. The Hungarian name Sopron, the city received the name of one of the owners of the castle (the first manager of the castle named Suprun). The first mention of the name Sopron occurs in 1153. In the 13th century the city received the status of a free royal city. The city is actively deteriorating, acquiring individual, unique features. In the 16th century, the Turkish invasion of Hungary began and Sopron was sacked by the Turkish army under the leadership of Suleiman I in 1529. The city was plundered, but they could not gain a foothold here. It became part of the Eastern Hungarian Kingdom - a small part of the once great Hungary under the protection of the Habsburgs. There was no Turkish domination here, and the city managed to preserve the traditional architectural appearance and European way of life. Sopron became a place of refuge for numerous refugees from the surrounding lands, which found themselves under Turkish rule. A fire in 1676 destroyed many ancient buildings, after which its restoration began. The city acquired its current appearance over the next few decades. This is precisely what explains that many buildings from the 16th and subsequent centuries have been preserved here. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Sopron was a multinational city within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In addition to the Hungarians, Germans, Croats, and a significant Jewish diaspora lived here. At the end of the First World War, the state of Austria-Hungary collapsed and the division of territories between countries began. Sopron was supposed to go to Austria, but it was decided to hold a referendum on this issue. In December 1921, local residents voted for their city to belong to Hungary. During World War II, the city suffered greatly, almost all of its large Jewish population died in death camps. Sopron was liberated by the Soviet army on April 1, 1945. It was in Sopron that the “European Picnic” took place on August 19, 1989, when the border from the “socialist camp” to the “capitalist world” was opened for 3 hours, which was used by several hundred citizens of Hungary and Germany.

2016

I must say that the feeling of a trip to the small Hungarian town of Sopron is somewhat strange. No, I liked everything, and even very much. I was just surprised by some of the nuances. Sopron is located not far from Vienna, which is why I decided to visit this town. Ticket costs about 15 €, which is quite a lot for an hour and a half trip. It turned out to be very difficult to figure out the route. Nothing is written anywhere, and I didn’t ask the cashier for details. At first, for 40-50 minutes, the train goes almost empty and practically without stops in the southern direction. At the station in the town of Wiener Neustadt you need to make a transfer (trains always connect and wait for passengers to transfer). The train will head in a south-easterly direction, somewhere in the south of Austria, but Hungary will be several kilometers in its path. And here is the town of Sopron.

At the Sopron train station, I decided to immediately find out the return schedule to Vienna, and also buy a ticket for the return trip - what if I was late? I found the schedule and realized that trains run quite often, so I don’t have to worry. But I couldn’t buy a ticket - at the ticket office they told me that they do not sell tickets for Austrian trains, you will have to buy a ticket on the trip, from the conductor. Well, okay! For some reason, I didn’t even think about the fact that I had absolutely no cash (except for 5 €), I relied on a credit card. But that will all happen later. And now I have started a trip to Hungary.

The first impressions turned out to be “strange”. I didn’t like the town at all and I even thought that I shouldn’t have come here. Of course, after Austria, Hungary looks much less presentable. But moving further, I began to notice that everything around was becoming much more interesting than in the area of the railway station. I was moving along King Matthias Street ( Matyás király). Intuitively, I chose the most direct route to the historical center of the city. The first thing that greeted me was Szechenyi Square (Széchenyi tér) and the Church of St. Jude (Szent Júdás Tádé-templom) on the corner.

I decided to look into the church and was somewhat surprised. For some reason, I did not imagine that the Hungarians were so devout - it was Saturday and I ended up at the service. There were very few people in the city, but there were a lot of them in the church. As far as the free space in the church allowed me, I tried to squeeze through and take at least a few photographs of the church - I liked it. One can also feel the long-term connection between the two countries - Austria and Hungary, as well as the close territorial proximity. The design style of temples in Austria and Hungary is quite similar.

I decided to explore Szechenyi Square. Everything is very simple, and at the same time amazingly cute. Somewhat special architecture (some unusual styles of architecture) - one would like to call them “a jumble of various elements.” But this is my personal judgment. There is a lot of greenery on the square and there is a statue - I already learned at home that it is a monument to István Széchenyi Szobor - a Hungarian politician and writer. Hungarians believe that he made a fairly serious contribution to the development of Hungarian statehood.

In the neighboring Sándor Petöfi Square (Petőfi tér), the numerous low buildings that surround its perimeter immediately catch the eye. I have no doubt that local officials, rulers, and mayors lived and worked here. After pompous buildings with many floors and an abundance of decorations, local houses look simple and organic. They simply give the eye a rest.

The central building on the square of the same name is the Sandor Petőfi Theater (Petőfi Színház). The building is very original in its architecture and decoration. There is a beautiful fountain on the square in front of the theater. I have no doubt that most local holidays are held on this square. And the locals love to relax here. In front of the theater there is a statue of Sandor Petofi, I learned that he is a Hungarian poet, a revolutionary democrat (in 1848-1849).

I really like visiting towns of a “format” similar to Sopron - it is small, there is no internal fear that you will not have time to see everything, to visit everywhere. A couple of hours is enough to visit such towns. But the impressions you get are unforgettable. It is difficult to see and remember tall buildings with complex architecture (as in Vienna, Milan, Stockholm). Everything is simpler here - buildings of 1-2-3 floors that stretch along crooked streets. Go ahead, don't strain yourself, take a look...

In a very small area of Ogabon ( Ógabona tér), more like a crossroads, noticed the original fountain. I haven’t seen its name anywhere, but most likely it’s something related to wine production. Local winemaking dates back to the times of the Celts; wine from Sopron was very popular in Europe; many monarchs, nobles and clergy had a special passion for it. Most likely, this is one of the modern compositions. But it lifts the mood wonderfully - it creates a “typically Hungarian” flavor. Probably, on hot days it’s nice to spend time here in the shade of the trees, next to the water...

The historic city center (which may once have been surrounded by a fortress wall) appears as an oval on the map. A typical medieval city, which subsequently expanded. I understood that the center was right there, nearby. But I decided to take a little walk to the side first. And I was right. It was interesting to look at this one- or two-story city, but the decoration of its facades is not inferior to some large cities. I came across some kind of closed church that wasn’t even on the map. There was no one to ask about it (there were almost no people), and I had obvious problems with the Hungarian language - I learned it poorly at school... And then it turned out that this was the Church of St. John the Baptist (Keresztelő Szent János-templom).

I never ceased to be amazed at the beauty of the local houses. And this was not some ostentatious tourist village “in the old style”. The most ordinary life was going on here. Unfortunately, there was not much time to properly examine the sculptures, patterns, stucco moldings and similar decorations of the facades.

Mikhail Street ( Szent Mihály) led me straight to the rather interesting church of the same name - St. Michael (Szent Mihály főangyal templom). Its beautiful location on a hill made it even more majestic. What happened is unclear, but suddenly such a strong headwind blew that it was simply impossible to move forward. In the same way, a family of tourists from Germany, who happened to be nearby, was forced to stop. Due to the strong wind, I only had a glimpse of the beautiful park located around the temple.

A Sunday service was going on in the church itself at that time. It was not possible to carefully examine everything, but we managed to form a general impression. Quite a large and beautiful temple, clearly not built by the standards of a small town.

Already almost at the central square, I noticed a small temple - the Church of the Holy Spirit. The outside design is completely simple, there are no people around, but everything is open - you can freely go in and look around. I liked the architecture, something in the style of the Town Hall in Tallinn.

Inside, everything was ready for the upcoming service. The interior design surprised me - there were a lot of interesting elements: a beautiful altar, triptychs, stucco moldings, and so on. If we could turn on the lights inside, it would be almost like in the churches of Italy.

The square where I found myself is called the Castle ( Varkerület). I expected everything, anything, but not such beauty. There was a certain feeling of unreality, like a set for the filming of some movie. I had to study all the details. I noticed the dome of the Church of St. George (Szent György templom), and closer the Mary’s Column (Mária-oszlop) - the Plague Column traditional for the countries of this region - these were built by kings as promises for ridding the city of the plague.

And in the other direction I noticed one of the most beautiful buildings in the city - the Fire Tower (Tűztorony). In my opinion, it looks more like the tower of some medieval castle or the bell tower of an ancient church. Naturally, I planned to see the tower closer, but for now I became interested in the houses. They house numerous tourist facilities, shops, restaurants and offices of various companies.

Despite the fact that most of the trees had not yet covered with leaves, trees began to bloom near some modern (with religious overtones) monument - it was very beautiful. It's probably very crowded here in the evening - it's a wonderful place. Where to go for a walk if not here?

I noticed that there are practically no repeating buildings in the square. Although they are small, they are unique. One element is common only here - semicircular gates in houses - this is a local feature. What is original and practical, I guess...

And then I went deeper into the historical center, it seemed to me that the streets repeated its general outlines - also twisted. It is such a pleasure to walk and look at completely different buildings. Here I have already come across buildings that are hundreds of years old (as I assessed by eye). They are distinguished not only by their ancient architecture, but also by some “highlights”. The buildings in the center date back to the 16th-18th centuries...

It turned out that there are simply a huge number of museums in Sopron, especially in terms of the number of inhabitants. But I was much more interested in the buildings where these museums were located. Here, for example, is the Mining Museum. This is a former mansion Princes of Esterhazy. Cupids, an old family coat of arms, a niche in the Virgin Mary with a baby in her arms... And the rich blue color of the facade itself attracts increased attention to it.

And here in front of me, in line of sight, is the fire tower. This means that I’m about to go out onto Fő tér - the central square of the city (that’s how it’s translated from Hungarian). It is immediately clear that the most beautiful buildings in the city are located here. Even small houses look like palaces - very stylish. Almost everywhere, the first floors (and part of the territory nearby) are occupied by food establishments. Surely it gets crowded here in the evening.

In the center of the square there is another column - this is the statue of the Holy Trinity or the next Plague Column, which was built in 1860. She was erected by a local resident of Levenburg in honor of his wife, Eva, who died due to the outbreak of the plague epidemic. Behind it is a government office (Soproni Okmányiroda). One would like to say that “it looks like the real thing.” It’s clear, it’s real, just in a slightly smaller format. Nearby is one of Sopron's museums (Soproni Múzeum - Storno Gyűjtemény). Flowering trees look absolutely stunning, especially against the bright blue sky.

On the same square stands a beautiful temple. I tried to translate the name Nagyboldogasszony-templom - it turned out to be “Church of the Big Happy Woman”. On another map the church is called Kecsketemplom, which means "Church of the Goat". Strange! More officially the church is called Benedictine. It turned out to be not an easy place - the coronation of three Hungarian kings took place here.

The outside is beautiful, but the inside is absolutely wonderful. There are not only ancient frescoes, mosaic windows, and an originally decorated pulpit. I looked closely and noticed a lot of “antique elements” - some elements of old decor, bas-reliefs, fragments of frescoes, columns, etc.

The City Hall (Városháza) looks very majestic, especially in comparison with the rather small buildings located around it. Judging by the architecture, the building was built relatively recently (1896). I couldn’t help but notice that the appearance of the building showed clear “Austrian” architectural features.

And at the exit from the square I can finally see the Fire Tower or Tower (Tűztorony) in all details. Surprisingly, its first mentions date back to the 11th century. I think that it performed quite important functions for the city: monitoring fires in the city and the approach of enemy troops. There are two hundred steps leading up along a rather steep spiral staircase - if you have the strength, you should definitely visit the top. From a 60-meter height, the city will literally “lie in the palm of your hand” - a beautiful sight, probably... At its base there is the Fidelity Gate - they appeared in 1921, after a referendum at which it was decided that Sopron belonged to Hungary.

Through the Gate of Fidelity I left the Main Square and found myself in the Ancient Roman Forum. I couldn't find detailed information about him anywhere. Besides that The Forum of Scarbantia (the ancient Roman name of the city) was located near the current Main Square.

And then begins the Scarbanthia Archaeological Park ( Scarbantia Regészeti Park). This is the information I came across in this area: “In the Middle Ages, the Northern Gate (in the Fire Tower) protected Sopron from invasion. The winding street was built in the 14th century, but it was constantly rebuilt until the 17th century. Two bridges crossed the moat that spanned the city center There were wooden gardens on the bridges.

During the construction of the new Town Hall between 1893 and 1895, the houses on the even side of the street were destroyed. During excavations in the 1960s, remains of a medieval fortification system were discovered. The remains of the city wall are now visible behind the row of houses on the right side. In the deeper zone, the former bridge pillars are still visible...” It must be said that the city walls are quite well preserved and give an idea of Sopron’s past.

However, an even better idea of the historical core of Sopron is given by the model installed for tourists. Here you can clearly see what the city was like in the Middle Ages. A roughly similar picture, only in reality, can be seen if you visit the Fire Tower.

I would not have had time to visit the Church of St. George (Szent György templom) - there was not much time left. I learned that it began to be built in 1380, at the end of the 17th century it burned down and they immediately began to restore it. The bell tower was built almost at the end of the 19th century. I continued to admire the architecture of the buildings, moving along the Castle street ( Varkerület). From time to time I tried to look into the courtyards or streets stretching somewhere deep into the neighborhoods - it turned out to be very interesting to get off the main streets of the city.

As a result of one of these “excursions” into the neighborhoods, a visit to Orsol Square (Orsolya ter). In addition to the beautiful Church of the Immaculate Conception (Szeplőtelen Fogantatás Templom), I was able to see a whole complex of educational institutions (Gimnázium, Általános Iskola, Óvoda és Kollégium) located in a beautiful old building. I had the feeling that for some time I plunged into the medieval life of Sopron. Later I learned that the church was formerly called the Ursula Church.

For a few minutes I stopped by the local supermarket, which (despite it being Sunday) was open. It was difficult to understand whether it was profitable to shop here or not. Only at the last moment did I notice an advertisement on which was written the ratio of local forints to the euro. I decided to buy a couple of delicious buns and a pack of juice to have a little snack on the way back to Vienna. I didn’t want to say goodbye to Sopron at all.

On the way back I still had to solve the problem of buying a ticket. When the conductor approached, I offered him a credit card. He tried to fit it into a special hole on his tablet computer, but it turned off completely. The conductor only said “Kaput!”, returned my card and gestured that I could go without worrying about a ticket. Saved 15 €! This further enhanced my already positive impressions of the trip.

Initially, József Esterházy built a hunting castle with 20 rooms and two main halls. But this did not suit the ambitions of his son Miklos. Being the richest nobleman in Hungary, he decided to create a palace, not like the splendor of Versailles. For this, the best Italian artists and architects were invited and huge amounts of money were spent.

The hunting castle was rebuilt and significantly expanded due to side extensions, giving the façade a semicircular shape. In front of the palace there was a magnificent fountain with sculptures of a dolphin and cherubs.

In total, the palace has 126 rooms, each of which has an original design and does not repeat one another.

On the ground floor there is the most beautiful room of the palace - the Reception Hall, made in Italian style. Its floor is paved with marble tiles, the ceiling is painted with mythological scenes and dancing angels. The music room delights with its gilded walls.

The ceiling of the main hall is decorated with a huge fresco depicting Apollo on a chariot and allegorical figures of Day and Night. The fresco has an amazing feature: no matter where you look at it in the hall, it seems that the chariot is moving straight towards you.

In addition to the main building, the museum complex included an opera house, a puppet theater, the Orange House, a music house, as well as French and English parks.

Esterhazy Palace

Esterházy is nicknamed the “Hungarian Versailles”, as it is the largest and most beautiful palace of Hungary from the Baroque era.

The palace has 126 rooms. The Banquet Hall is especially beautiful; its ceiling is decorated with an image of Apollo in a chariot. Decorated with the letter "E", indicating the surname of the owners, the Great Library contains almost 22,000 volumes. At the main entrance, tourists admire the forged gates, which are a masterpiece of blacksmith art from 1764-1766.

The columns separating the parts of the gate are decorated with stone vases in the Rococo style. On both sides of the palace there are small two-story buildings, like arms ready to embrace the symmetrical park. Today, one part of the palace houses a hotel, and in the summer Haydn festivals are held.

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Lake Fertö

Lake Fertő is the fourth largest lake in Central Europe, its area is about 315 km², with an average depth of about one meter.

On the amazing Lake Fertö you can observe more than 300 species of nesting and migratory birds, including herons, as well as spoonbills, wild geese, grebes, warblers, wigeons, and many others.

When seasonal migrations begin, snipe, bean goose and plovers stop here, and among the rare bird species it is worth noting the red-breasted goose, white-tailed eagle and harrier.

On the shore of the lake there is an educational path from which ornithologists and park visitors can observe the biosphere of the reserve.

And already along there is a ridge of fertemelleks, which were developed from the times of Ancient Rome until 1948.

The hills covered with forests are very beautiful and picturesque; on them you can see a large number of rare plants.

You can visit the park on an organized excursion, but some areas are completely closed to people.

For centuries, the tower occupied a very important role in the life of the city of Sopron. Fires were monitored from it, and surprisingly, music was often heard from the tower when significant events in life took place, such as weddings and funerals.

The spire of the Fire Tower was decorated with a double-headed eagle, it was presented in 1622 by King Ferdinand II and Queen Eleanor.

Today the tower is not functioning, despite everything it has become significant in people's lives, it was a symbol of loyalty and love for the Motherland of Sopron.

In 1921, when the question of whether the city should remain part of Hungary was being decided, the townspeople spoke out in support of citizenship, and in memory of this, a sculptural composition “The People of Sopron Pays Tribute to a Figure Symbolizing Hungary” was placed above the tower gates.

The fire tower in Sopron has become a popular tourist attraction.

Many tourists climb the 200-step spiral staircase to the observation deck, a former security post, from where the entire city and its surroundings are visible at a glance.

Church of St. George Sopron

The Church of St. George is located in the city of Sopron. It is squeezed between houses on the street of the same name not far from the main square of the city. The temple was built between 1380 and 1430 and was a typical Gothic cathedral. Unfortunately, history has not conveyed to us the name of the architect who supervised the construction.

Since the end of the 16th century, the growing Protestant community of Sopron has taken over the Church of St. George. In 1676, there was a serious fire in the city, many houses were damaged, and the Church of St. George was also affected. However, the building was quickly restored, and the Baroque style began to dominate the design. In 1674, the church changed hands again, coming under the authority of the Jesuit order. Since then, the appearance of the building has changed even more. In 1685, two side chapels were completed. In 1705–1706, stucco ornaments characteristic of the Baroque era appeared in the interior.

The final, finishing touch to the appearance of the modern Church of St. George was made in 1882, when a 55-meter tower rose nearby. The church has three bells, the largest weighs 800 kg, the middle one weighs 200 kg, and the smallest weighs 50 kg. All bells were cast in the twenties of the last century. The bas-reliefs on the church depict the famous battle of George and the dragon. A bas-relief depicting St. Margaret of Antioch was also discovered. The value of these bas-reliefs is that they were left over from an old Gothic temple. There is also an old organ built in 1633 at the church.

Today, tourists often come to the Church of St. George to admire the rich altar. The furnishings inside are truly luxurious, fully consistent with the 17th century. In the baptistery of the chapel next to the sanctuary you can even see the remains of original medieval paintings. And when you leave, you can capture the general view of the building and yourself against its background.

The most popular attractions in Sopron with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Sopron on our website.

Sopron is a small cozy city located very close to the Alpine border, at the foot of the Alps. It is surrounded on all sides by a ring of dense coniferous forests. In the 1st and 2nd centuries, on the site of Sopron there was a rich Roman settlement of Scarbancia, through which the famous Amber Route passed: merchants brought amber mined on the Baltic shores to the countries of Southern Europe. Fragments of stone sculptures and decorations from the ancient forum, located at the foot of the Fire Tower, known as one of the symbols of Sopron, have survived to this day. This tower was built on the remains of an ancient Roman foundation and, starting from the 13th century, served as the northern gate to the city. In the old days, fire guards played a very important role in the life of the city. In addition to their main function - monitoring fire safety - they also warned residents about approaching troops or trade convoys. In addition, they were invited as musicians to all kinds of events - weddings, funerals, festivals. Ironically, in 1676 the tower itself suffered a fire. As a result of subsequent reconstruction, it acquired its current Baroque appearance. The lower vault of the tower is decorated with the bas-relief “Hungary Calls Its Sons,” reminiscent of the historical event of 1921. The history of this bas-relief is as follows: after the First World War, when the borders were revised, the inhabitants of Sopron had the opportunity to decide in a referendum whether they wanted to belong to Austria or Hungary. The townspeople voted in favor of Hungary. The Latin inscription on the city’s coat of arms, which reads “Civitas Fidelissima” (“The most faithful citizens”), also recalls this event.
Sopron is often compared to a jewelry box, since in terms of the number of architectural monuments and museums it is the second Hungarian city after Budapest. Due to this fact, in 1975 Sopron was awarded the prestigious European Prize Europa Nostra. The main square of the Old Town Fő tér is surrounded by ancient houses, each of which is a valuable architectural monument. Some of these houses house museums, the most visited of which is the Shtorno House, built in the Baroque style and decorated with a cozy corner balcony. In the old days, the house belonged to immigrants from Italy, the Shtorno family. Particularly famous is the head of the family, Felix Storno, who purchased this now famous building in 1872. Without any special education, he used his own funds to restore many frescoes in the Transdanubian region and, as a result, collected a huge collection of medieval religious objects, furniture, stained glass, glass and porcelain. Nowadays, all these valuables are exhibits of the museum operating in the Shtorno House. The building is also famous for the fact that Franz Liszt performed concerts here twice, in 1840 and 1881.
Another interesting building on the Main Square is the General's House. It originally belonged to Dr. K. Latzkner, who donated the house to the general in 1681. Today, the house houses an exhibition of contemporary sculpture.
A valuable architectural monument is the House of Fabricius. The building's hall is a unique example of the Gothic style; in addition, the elegant loggia in the courtyard, as well as the Gothic and Baroque cellars, are noteworthy. The owners of the building have always been wealthy citizens or merchants; it received its name in honor of the mayor and member of the city magistrate Endre Fabricius, who belonged to him at the beginning of the 19th century. When Franz Liszt gave concerts in Sopron, the outstanding Hungarian poet Sandor Petőfi, with whom Fabricius had warm friendly relations and who at that time was at the front, having escaped from a military barracks, lived in this house. Nowadays, the House of Fabricius houses a museum, the decoration and furniture of which reflect the tastes of the burgher class of the 17th-18th centuries. However, the greatest interest is the medieval basement of the building, where the Roman lapidarium was located. Here you can see the ruins of buildings remaining from the time of Scarbancia, the ruins of temples and baths, statues, funeral urns and sarcophagi... The Gothic house "Gambrinus", built at the beginning of the 15th century by order of King Zsigmond, is famous for the fact that it housed the city hall. One of the most visited museums in Sopron is the City History Museum, also located on the Main Square. Its exhibition is dedicated to the history of Sopron from the 17th to 18th centuries. There is also a separate exhibition of archaeological finds from the area around Sopron from the Celtic, Roman and Hungarian periods. Like many other Hungarian cities, Sopron's Central Square is decorated with a statue of the Holy Trinity. According to one of the widespread versions, it was installed at the expense of Sopron native Janos Jacob Levenburg in memory of his wife who died during the plague epidemic.
Sopron is also famous for its ancient churches and temples. In the southern part of the Central Square stands a Benedictine church, which is also popularly called the Church of the Goat. The temple is famous for the fact that Hungarian rulers were crowned there three times. The interior decoration of the church is distinguished by its beauty: frescoes and ornaments, lancet windows and a unique Christian pulpit, which is of great value. Another significant temple of the city is the Church of St. Michael, located outside the Old Town. The statue of the Virgin Mary located inside the temple is a masterpiece of wooden sculpture.
Around the central part of the city there is a system of streets and squares - Sopron downtown. Its narrow winding streets, the medieval atmosphere of cozy courtyards, the walls of the old city that you encounter at every step, and intricately decorated balconies will take you back to bygone eras. Despite the fact that Sopron is called an open-air museum, it still has its own museum street. Located in the downtown area, Church Street is distinguished by the fact that there are museums with valuable collections one after another. The Benedictine monastery houses the Kaptalan Hall, an architectural monument of the 13th century. Its magnificent decoration, statues and wall paintings are unsurpassed examples of medieval art. House number 12, which once belonged to the Sopron priest, now belongs to the State Evangelical Museum. In house No. 5 you can see interesting examples of ancient clothing and coins. The Franz Liszt Museum is located on Church Street. The fact is that the great Hungarian composer was born not far from Sopron, in the town of Deborjan. The exhibition contains exhibits on the history of the city, ethnography, as well as works of fine art.
For many centuries, Sopron's downtown area was home to artisans, merchants and winemakers. Streets such as Balfi, Fövényverem or Halász have retained their unique atmosphere to this day. On Bécsi Street there is the only bakery museum in the country. You will immediately recognize this building by the lions decorating its facade, resting one paw on pretzels (a typical delicacy for Central Europe - a dry dumpling sprinkled with salt). From 1686 to 1970 the house belonged to the baker's family. After this, the City Council decided to open a museum here, while preserving the original furnishings left over from the previous owners. In the right wing there is a working bakery, where you can observe the bread making process. In addition, the museum has a confectionery workshop and a bread shop where the freshest baked goods are sold.
Sopron is famous not only for the wealth of its architectural monuments and museums, but also for being one of the oldest wine-growing regions in Hungary. The city is surrounded on all sides by gentle hills adjacent to Lake Fertö. Reflecting in the waters of the lake, the sun's rays intensify their effect, which contributes to better ripening of the grapes. The history of Sopron winemaking dates back to the era of the Celts, who appreciated the local climatic conditions and began to cultivate vineyards here. In the Middle Ages, the fame of Sopron wines spread far beyond the borders of the Hungarian state: many European monarchs and representatives of the highest clergy ordered them to their tables. The most famous variety of wine produced in the region is kekfankos. It has a rich dark red color and a rich bouquet. Of the white varieties, the most characteristic is zöld veltelini, and piros veltelini, made from an early ripening grape variety, is considered a real exclusive.
Many interesting natural and cultural attractions are concentrated in the vicinity of the city. For example, to the east of Sopron is the Fertő-Hanszág National Park. Lake Ferto deserves special attention here, famous both for its size and for its unique flora and fauna. In 2001, the lake and its surroundings were honored to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. For lovers of climbing, we can recommend a walk through the Leverek hills surrounding Sopron. At the top of one of them stands the Karoly observation tower, which offers a picturesque panorama of the city and its surroundings. Just 25 km from Sopron, in the town of Fertőd, there is the legendary Esterházy Palace, one of the most beautiful in Hungary. The town of Nagycenk (14 km west of Forted) is famous for being the birthplace of István Széchenyi. The estate, which has survived to this day, now houses a memorial museum, the exhibition of which is dedicated to the life of the legendary Hungarian politician.