Another journey through Eastern Europe on my own allowed me to see such sights of Szekesfehervar as the garden of ruins, the cathedral and the episcopal palace, find out where you can eat in Szekesfehervar, wander through the streets; to learn more, read another report from Hungary

Through the city with the almost unpronounceable name Szekesfehervar (I always want to go astray to Szekesfekes ...) I had a chance to pass a few years ago, when I set out to go from Budapest to the Balaton on my own. Since the railway line runs away from the historical core, naturally, I could not see any sights of Szekesfehervar, and I did not strive, to tell the truth. In my opinion, it would be much better for everyone if it were advertised everywhere that we are talking about the royal white city - and this is how the name is translated from the Hungarian language - and tourists would immediately understand what they are dealing with.

The question of whether it is worth visiting Szekesfehervar can be answered even with one single fact: in 1972 locals pompously celebrated the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the city. It is believed that the settlement was founded by the legendary Prince Gyoza, the grandson of the famous leader of the Hungarians Arpad, who led the people to the fertile plains of Central Europe. Those who chose then new town for living, they soon discovered that it was located at the crossroads of the most important trade routes. The significance of Szekesfehervar for medieval Hungary was clearly emphasized by the construction of the first stone building in the country. Christian temple. Then the city acquired powerful walls, a large basilica rose above it, in general, its business went uphill.

But, as they say, no matter how much the rope twists, the end will still be: a fluke allowed Szekesfehervar to avoid ruin by the Mongol troops, but he no longer had enough luck for the Turks. The Muslims, who took the city in 1543, owned it for a century and a half and did not waste time in vain: they burned the palaces of the nobility, plundered and destroyed the graves of the Hungarian kings, destroyed the churches, replacing them with mosques.

The revival of Szekesfehervar began only after the expulsion of the Turkish hordes from Hungary at the beginning of the 18th century. It took a whole century for the townspeople to return their former beauty to their small homeland. But the resulting ensemble came out even better than the previous one, since the Hungarian and Austrian architects widely used the baroque style that gained insane popularity during construction. Since then, the sights of Szekesfehervar have been distinguished by their magnificent design and look truly awesome!

When figuring out where to park my car in Szekesfehervar, I first chose the Zichy Park area, located north of the historic center. But then, having driven through the streets, we found a place even better, literally under the old fortress walls. It turned out that at the beginning of Palotai Street near the Tesco shopping complex there is a huge and completely free parking- I don't want to get up Piac Square, where McDonald's is located in Szekesfehervar, can serve as an additional landmark. Having settled down there, we got both quick access to the city core and unhindered access to the main intercity highway.

Having safely attached the car, we crossed the road and found ourselves in a small Varfal park, along which a semblance of a fortress wall stretches. In the past, fortifications surrounded Szekesfehervar in a continuous ring, they were demolished just a little over two hundred years ago, when work was underway to rebuild the city. Now, from such fragments, one can judge how the historical center used to look. Its structure was formed in the Middle Ages, but there are almost no buildings of that time left. The most outstanding of the few exceptions is the chapel of St. Anne, and so the number of ancient buildings can really be counted on the fingers - the reason for this is the massive destruction caused by the Turks. However, what was built to replace the lost one looks very, very impressive, and from the first steps around the city it became clear that I like it.

To begin with, we were pleased with the Liszt Ferenc street, furnished with houses in the Baroque spirit. A nice bonus was the figurine of a merry old woman with a cart, which is very popular with the local population, standing right behind a small fountain - few of those passing by could resist rubbing her nose. Probably, the townspeople believe that this ritual brings good luck.

Further - more, and after a couple of minutes, Varoshaz Square spread out in front of us in all its glory. It overlooks as many as four sights of Szekesfehervar, including the town hall and the palace of the archbishops. The fifth object, a huge granite orb, stands in the eastern part of the space as a reminder of those times when the city was the capital of the Hungarian state and the coronation treasures were kept in it.

As for the town hall, having looked into the Szekesfehervar guide, we set the date of its construction - 1710. This work of baroque art was the first sign of a grand restructuring of the entire city ensemble. Then came the palaces of aristocrats, the church of St. John, the temple of the Cistercians and other buildings, but the town hall remained an example for all of them.

The archbishop's palace, which rises obliquely from it, is a product of later architecture, it was built during the last quarter of the 18th century. Historians found out that during the construction, stones were used that were left over from the church of St. Stephen destroyed by the Turkish invaders. The building, designed in the style of mature classicism, received a long facade - in fact, it occupies the entire eastern side of the square. When visiting the biggest attraction of Szekesfehervar, you need to pay attention to the triangular pediment, decorated with archiepiscopal heraldry. And the guests who manage to get inside are waiting for luxurious furniture and chic interiors - this and much more is promised by the booklet I took from the travel agency.

Fo street leaves the palace to the north, whose most picturesque houses simply provoke you to come up and get to know them better. However, I recommend that you first see two more objects that you should definitely see in Szekesfehervar. First, you need to go around the residence of the archbishops on the right and go to the Garden of Ruins. The place only looks unsightly, but in fact it has great historical value: scientists have established that the most important basilica in Hungary used to stand on it. Dating back to the early Middle Ages, the temple was used for decades to host the coronations of Hungarian rulers, and at least three dozen kings were anointed to the throne there. Over time, the basilica began to be used as a royal tomb. It is believed that the patron saint of the country, Saint Stephen, found eternal rest in one of the graves.

In the XIII century, instead of the old, dilapidated church, a new, large and, judging by the descriptions of contemporaries, very impressive was built. She, like many shrines of Christian Europe, was destroyed by the Turks. First, the conquerors desecrated the temple, ruining the burial places and setting up a gunpowder warehouse in the main nave. Then, in 1601, it happened real disaster: an accidental spark ignited the gunpowder, the explosion came out of such force that it did not leave stone on stone from building. The occupiers stole the rest of the building materials for their own needs.

When the time came to build a new Szekesfehervar basilica, the townspeople erected it elsewhere. The old foundation almost disappeared, but in the end, archaeologists managed to unearth it, partially restore it and conserve it. Being turned into a museum under open sky, The Garden of Ruins is now a real pilgrimage site for Hungarians who come to stand near one of the pillars of national history.

As already mentioned, the liberation of Hungary from the rule of the Ottoman Empire made it possible at the beginning of the 18th century to begin the restoration of Szekesfehervar. Assessing the prospects for the revival of the basilica, local officials preferred to build a new building in another place. For this, land was allocated in the rear of the town hall, and work began to boil. Things were going well until 1740, until a hurricane hit the almost finished cathedral, causing severe damage: among other things, the roof and one of the two towers collapsed. As a result, the temple was opened to believers only at the end of the century, and it acquired its final form only by the end of the era of the Napoleonic Wars, when the towers were completed. But it must be said work time the builders did not spend in vain: the baroque style made the cathedral a pearl of architecture, which, in addition to its expressive appearance, also boasts rich interiors with an abundance of sculptures and paintings.

Almost immediately behind the palace you can see the Arpad baths, a place, in general, nothing, but, perhaps, got into the sights of Szekesfehervar, so to speak, for beautiful eyes, that is, for a pleasant view. The Art Nouveau building of 1905 has recently undergone restoration and now looks excellent.

After waving the hand to the baths, we return to Fo street to gaze at the imposing Cistercian church. In fact, the temple began to be built in 1745 by order of the Jesuits, who then actively spudded Hungary. After 12 years, the work was completed, and contemporaries did not get tired of gasping and groaning at the sight of the magnificent decoration of the stronghold of Catholicism. After the expulsion of members of the Order of Ignatius Loyola from the country, the building went to their more modest colleagues in monastic life. Although the followers of the views of Bernard of Klevossky do not respect luxury, they still retained the interiors, so the frescoes, the altar, the pulpit and other details are still pleasing to the eye.

To the right of the facade of the church is the Museum of St. Stephen, where we did not get, as it was corny closed. For the same reason, we had to ignore the Historical Museum of Szekesfehervar, located on the parallel M egyehaz street. According to the description, it contains both amusing finds of archaeologists and valuable relics of the Middle Ages. Probably, it would be interesting to see the exposition, but the case did not burn out.

But a further walk opened up new beautiful pictures for us, which we thoroughly admired. The final point of the walk already in the coming twilight was set by the City Theater, which is considered the oldest building of its kind in the whole country. It was opened in 1874 with great fanfare, then the ceremony was attended by "our everything" of Hungary Mor Yokai. After almost exactly 70 years, the building burned down, becoming another victim of the Second World War. Its second opening took place in 1962 thanks to a powerful public initiative that received the support of the authorities.

It cannot be said that the appearance of the theater is breathtaking, but the impressions from it remain favorable, as, indeed, from the entire tour of Szekesfehervar.

Having completed our acquaintance with the historical center, we began to think about how to have lunch - the time was already late, and we still wanted to walk around Budapest at night. Therefore, the search for places where you can eat inexpensively in Szekesfehervar was limited to the central quarters. And, I must say, almost immediately half a dozen restaurants were found ready to serve Hungarian national dishes to customers. Moreover, two establishments, "Hiemer Cafe" and "Sorozo", were located in the southern part of the main square, and "Porto Vino"On its northern corner. Their tables in front of the facades beckoned to sit in the fresh air, and if we were in another country, say, Finland or Germany, we would have done just that. The catch was that smoking in Hungary seems to be allowed everywhere, and enjoying a meal in clouds of tobacco smoke from neighbors and passers-by was simply unthinkable. So in the end, our choice fell on the pretty Perte bistro, whose interiors seemed to us the most attractive. The menu also turned out to be attractive, in which goulash, gypsy meat, and other Hungarian national dishes were found. The quality of the food was excellent, we were served promptly, so it took less than an hour for a meal of soup, main course and dessert. Moreover, for an excellent lunch, we, as always in Hungary, paid very little, a little more than 8,000 forints for two - that is, 25 euros for gatherings in the city center. In short, I definitely recommend an institution to eat inexpensively in Szekesfehervar.

When the city accumulated during the day was satisfied, the time was already approaching eight in the evening. There was no longer any talk of buying souvenirs, and in general, to the great displeasure of my half of shopping in Veszprem and Szekesfehervar, she lost it. At that time, happiness turned out to be the purchase of water and juice, which we grabbed at the last moment, literally breaking into the supermarket "on the flag" - Hungary's grocery stores close at 20:00, rarely anyone works after this time, except that hypermarkets are open until 22:00 . We didn’t manage to get to such an attraction of Szekesfehervar as the fabulous castle of Bori. Well, some other time we will visit him and the local open-air ethnographic museum.

Ahead of us was Budapest at night, to which we had to drive about an hour and a half ...

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

Szekesfehervar - former capital Hungary, located between the shores of Lake Balaton and the bends of the Danube. The marvelous region of the Transdanubia, the decoration of which is the city, has earned a reputation as the cradle of Hungarian statehood, since it was in Szekesfehervar that the medieval royal residence was located. On the significance of the city for Hungarian history testifies to the fact of the coronation of 37 kings in these places. In addition, 15 crowned rulers of the country found eternal rest in Szekesfehervar.

The royal regalia were kept here for a long time, among which stood out the crown, marked with an inclined cross - a real symbol of royal power. In addition, Szekesfehervar was the meeting place of the Sejm, which made fateful decisions for Hungary.

But the genealogy of the city is much older than the Hungarian statehood. The Celtic settlement located here was used by the Romans to establish their own military camp, which grew to city size. It was Roman dominion that gave the settlement the name "Alba Regia", meaning "white throne city", later translated into Hungarian with the sonorous word Szekesfehervar.

The 145-year Turkish domination was accompanied by the renaming of the city, the transformation of temples into mosques and the looting of royal burials. Only the liberation of Szekesfehervar by the Hungarians made it possible to begin the revival of Christian traditions, supported by the arriving Serbian and German colonists.

The resurgent city was built up, according to the wish of Empress Maria Theresa, in the then dominant European styles of rococo and baroque. It is these stylistic trends that determined the dominant motifs in the appearance of the central building of the city.

The memory of the originality of Szekesfehervar, revealed to him in the centuries-old Hungarian history, has been preserved by numerous architectural and monumental sights. In the center of Varoshaz - perhaps the main square of the Old Town - there is a kind of symbol of the former Hungarian capital. It is a huge power crowned with a crown, symbolizing royal power. The inscription, executed on the orb, confirms the right of Szekesfehervar to be called free city.

Another city attraction is the Garden of Ruins. In this Garden, which seems to be a national Hungarian shrine, the foundation of the first stone basilica, which was considered an architectural miracle, is demonstrated by archaeologists. An excellent overview of urban planning opens up Observation deck equipped on central square.

Of interest is the Ethnographic Museum, which demonstrates authentic church and residential buildings erected by Serbian colonists who inhabited the city in the 16th century. The doll museum located in Szekesfehervar attracts with a collection of porcelain toys that once amused local children. And the museum-pharmacy under the romantic name "Black Eagle" exhibited here with ancient tools resembles a medieval alchemical laboratory.

City of Szekesfehervar(Székesfehérvár) is located 65 km southwest of Budapest. The population of the city is 109 thousand people.

The city was founded in 972 by the Hungarian prince Geza and he was to play a very important role in medieval history Hungary. It was called the city of kings. In the Basilica of Szekesfehervar, 37 kings and 39 queen consorts were crowned. In the 14th century, it was believed that the king is the legitimate ruler of the country, subject to three conditions: the crown of St. Stephen should be placed on his head, the bishop of Esztergom should have placed the crown, and the coronation should have taken place in Szekesfehervar. This custom was first introduced by King Peter Orseolo in 1038, the last to be crowned was Janos II Zsigmond in 1540. 15 rulers were buried in Szekesfehervar.

In the Middle Ages Szekesfehervar was called Alba Regia. From Hungarian, the name of the city can be translated as "Chronicle White City". At the time when the city was under the rule of the Turks, the city was called Belgrade.

Szekesfehervar

History of the city of Szekesfehervar

The legends that have come down to us say that the city was founded by Prince Geza on the site where the tent of Arpad, the leader of the Hungarians, who led their resettlement to the territory of modern Hungary, had previously been located. The first written mention of the city dates back to 1009.

In the Middle Ages, Hungarian kings were crowned in Szekesfehervar. But the city became famous not only for this, there were many state negotiations and meetings that influenced the development of Hungary.

The Mongol invasion of Hungary in 1242 did not touch Szekesfehervar due to the flood that flooded the surroundings. And the prosperity of the city continued until the Turkish invasion in the 16th century.

After a long siege, in 1543, the Turkish army captured the city and left behind great destruction. After 150 years, the city was liberated and its restoration began at the end of the 17th century. New churches were erected and old ones completely rebuilt. New residential buildings in the style of baroque, rococo and neoclassicism grew up. In 1777 the city became the residence of the bishop, for whom a palace was erected on the central square.

But during the Second World War, Szekesfehervar was again almost completely destroyed. In the post-war period, only old buildings in the city center were restored, while the rest of the districts were built up with typical faceless houses.

In Szekesfehervar there was a plant for the production of buses "Ikarus".

Sights of Szekesfehervar

Old city center - the main attraction of which is Cathedral St. Stephen, erected in 1758 - 1768 on the site of the cathedral, destroyed by the Turks. Nearby is a small chapel of St. Anne, built in 1480. Monument to St. Istvanu is located in the southern part of the Old Town, on St. Istvan.

"Park of Ruins"- a kind of open-air museum, located in the eastern part of the city on Coronation Square. Here we can see only the remains of the foundations - this is all that has been preserved from the historical medieval buildings.

Town Hall Square - is the central square of the city. And it has several attractions at once. The main one is the Bishop's Palace, built in 1800 in the Zopf style.

The Town Hall, built in 1690 in the Baroque style, is one of the first structures built in the city after the expulsion of the Turks from it. The Zichy Palace, built in 1781, adjoins the Town Hall. On the north side is the Church of St. Imre, belonging to the Franciscan order. It was built in 1745.

In memory of the victims of World War II, in the western part Town Hall Square, installed shattered bell .

Also on the Town Hall Square we can see one of the symbols of the city - Power. The stone attribute of kings - orb - topped with a crown and symbolizes royal power.

the main street (Fő utca) of the city is also worth seeing. On it is the Church of St. John of Nepomuk is a baroque church owned by the Cistercians. Also located here is the Vörösmarty Theatre, the Black Eagle Pharmacy Museum and Archaeological Museum St. Istvan.

- the only architectural landmark of the city, created in the 20th century, a unique love castle built by Jeno Bori for his beloved wife Ilona.

Bori Castle, Szekesfehervar town

Urban art Gallery - presents exhibitions of Hungarian art of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Puppet Museum

Ethnographical museum

How to get there: from Budapest South Station (Déli pályaudvar) by train towards Balaton to Szekesfehervar (journey time 1 hour)

Szekesfehervar(Hungarian Szekesfehervar, German Stuhlweiyyenburg, Latin Alba Regia, Croatian Stolni Biograd) is a city in Hungary, administrative center county Feyer. Population 101,465 (2005). In the Middle Ages, Szekesfehervar was the most important city in Hungary, the location of the royal residence. 37 kings and 39 queen consorts were crowned and 15 rulers were buried in the city.

The city is located about 65 kilometers southwest of Budapest on the plain west of the Danube, about halfway between the capital and Lake Balaton. Szekesfehervar is a major railway junction connected by roads and railways to Budapest and major cities countries.

The name of the city can be translated as "White Capital City" - this Hungarian word goes back to the Latin "Alba Regia", the name by which the city was known in the Middle Ages. The Hungarian Szek means "throne" and reflects the role of the city in early Hungarian history, when it was the residence of kings, Feher - white, Var - city. During the Turkish rule, the city was known as Belgrade or Istolni Belgrade.

ruin garden

Already in the times of the Roman Empire, there was a settlement on the site of Szekesfehervar. The current Hungarian city was founded in 972, according to legend, on the site where the tent of Arpad, the leader of the Hungarians, who led their resettlement to the territory of modern Hungary, was located. The city was founded by the grandson of Arpad - Prince Geza. The first written mention of the city dates back to 1009. In the late 970s, Geza moved his residence to Esztergom, but this did not lead to the decline of Szekesfehervar. On the contrary, the city grew rapidly, under King Stephen the Holy, a fortress with earthen ramparts, a majestic basilica (1039) was built in the city. Under the rule of Istvan, Szekesfehervar received city rights.

In the Middle Ages, Hungarian kings were crowned in Szekesfehervar. In total, 37 coronations were held in the city (38 according to other sources). Peter Orseolo was the first to be crowned here (1038), the last was Janos II (1526). 15 kings were buried in the local cathedral, among them Istvan I the Holy, Bela II, Lajos the Great, Matthias Korvin and others. In 1222, the Golden Bull was issued here by King Andrew II, which guaranteed the rights of the nobility and royal duties. Until 1848, the Hungarian Constitution was based on it. The Mongol invasion of 1242 did not cause damage to the city, the invaders were forced to bypass Szekesfehevar due to a large flood that flooded the surroundings. In 1543, the Turkish army besieged Szekesfehevar and after a long siege took the city. Most of the buildings were destroyed, the surviving churches were turned into mosques. The tombs of the kings were looted and destroyed, and the basilica, turned into a powder store, was completely destroyed after a fire and explosion following a lightning strike. In 1688, the city was liberated from the Turkish yoke. At the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th century, the city was rebuilt, the Austrian baroque became the dominant style. The greatly reduced Hungarian population of the city was replenished by the arrival of German and Serbian colonists. In 1777, the city became the residence of the bishop, for whom a luxurious palace was erected on the central square. By the 19th century, the population of the city exceeded 12 thousand people.

Bori Castle (photo from Wikipedia)

New ordeals awaited Szekesfehervar during World War II. In March 1945, heavy fighting took place in the city and its environs between the 5th SS Panzer Division and the troops of the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front (Balaton operation). During the fighting, almost half of the buildings in the city were destroyed, more than 10 thousand inhabitants died. In the post-war period, the city was restored. Baroque buildings in historical center Szekesfehervara were restored, and the rest of the city was built up with typical faceless houses. Szekesfehervar is getting big industrial center. The most significant enterprises in the city were the Ikarus bus plant and the Videoton TV and radio equipment plant. In the 1990s, after the fall of the socialist system, Szekesfehervar and its industry experienced a severe crisis. Today it is a dynamically developing city focused on modern industry and high technologies.

The “Garden of Ruins” is the name given by archaeologists to the remains of the foundation of the famous basilica of the 11th century, in which numerous kings of the pre-Turkish era of Hungarian history were crowned and buried. The Garden of Ruins is located in the eastern part of the old city on Coronation Square.

Cathedral of St. Istvana is located in the center of the Old Town, built in 1758–1768 in the Baroque style on the site of an ancient gothic cathedral destroyed by the Turks. There is a small chapel next to the cathedral. This is the chapel of St. Anna, built in 1480. The construction became one of the few buildings of Sehesfehervar that survived both the Turkish yoke and the Second World War.

On the central square of the city - the Town Hall - stands the Bishop's Palace. Created in 1800 in the style of Austrian classicism (zopf style). The Baroque Town Hall (1690) is located in the southern part of the Town Hall Square. This is one of the first buildings built in Szekesfehervar after it was conquered from the Turks. From the west, the Zichy Palace adjoins the Town Hall (1781, Zopf style). The entire northern side of the Town Hall Square is occupied by the Church of St. Imre (1745), which belongs to the Franciscan order.

Among other churches of Szekesfehervar, the Baroque Church of St. John of Nepomuk on fe street, owned by the Cistercians, as well as the frescoed Carmelite Church in the south of the Old City (1769).

On the central street of the Old Town - Fe Street - the baroque theater of Veresmarty and the Black Eagle Pharmacy Museum, opened by the Jesuits in the 18th century, are interesting for viewing.

Bori Castle is the only architectural landmark of the city created in the 20th century. Located in the northeast of the city, away from the center. In its silhouette, various architectural styles are harmoniously combined: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and the walls, columns, domes and even sculptures richly decorating the terraces and balustrades are made of concrete. At the beginning of the 20th century, the architect and sculptor Jene Bori decided to build a castle for his young wife Ilona in the vicinity of Szekesfehervar near a small house, which he acquired in 1912. But the First World War delayed the execution of this plan for ten years. Jena Bori had to go to the front. But the service, fortunately, was short-lived: the architect was transferred to Sarajevo, where he completed a number of monumental projects commissioned by the imperial family. Only in 1923, Jene Bori was able to start fulfilling his dream. Construction progressed slowly - the construction was completed only in 1959. Working only on weekends, Yene Bori created this monument until the end of his days. eternal love. Numerous images of Ilona Bori, the wife of the architect, in sculptures, paintings or poems dedicated to her and carved on the stones of the castle, tell about the love of the architect for his beloved. In the garden, on the terraces and under the arcades of the castle, the artist's studio displays more than 500 works of art made by Bory himself, his wife and daughter. Walking through the castle, the visitor, as it were, passes through historical eras, coming into contact with their symbols, with heroes who identify their glorious pages, with artists and thinkers. So in the garden, among the sculptures, there are fragments of bombs and shells that destroyed what was supposed to bring joy to people. Next to the tombstones of Turkish soldiers who trampled the land of Hungary for 150 years, there is a monument to a Soviet soldier who corrected artillery fire from one of the castle towers and died for the liberation of foreign land. There are busts of famous Hungarian architects, painters and sculptors on the terraces of the castle. The sword of Damocles hanging between the towers of the castle reminds us of the moral qualities of a person, and the elephant holding the earthly sphere reminds us of the progress of human thought. The sculptures of the Hungarian kings, lined up along the perimeter of the fortress walls, seem to tell about the glorious and tragic moments of Hungarian history. From the height of the castle towers, a wonderful panorama of the surroundings opens up.

Among the museums of Szekesfehervar, worthy of mention are the archaeological museum of St. Stephen on Fö Street, the city art gallery - an exhibition of Hungarian art of the 19th-20th centuries; puppet museum; ethnographical museum.

One of the symbols of the city is the monument "Derzhava". It is installed on the central square of the Old Town - the Town Hall. The stone attribute of kings - orb - topped with a crown and symbolizes royal power. In the western part of the Town Hall Square you can see another interesting monument"The Broken Bell", dedicated to the memory of the victims of World War II. Monument to St. Istvanu is located in the southern part of the Old Town, on St. Stephen, a relief stone figure of King Matthias Corvinus is located on the northern wall of the archaeological museum.

On a porcelain bell "Szekesfehervar" (" Geographic features”) depicts the city coat of arms - a silver castle (“fehervar” - “white city”, white color - the color of the family banners of the royal Arpad dynasty, whose family possessions and residence were located here back in the 10th century), as well as three sights of the city: the Cathedral of St. .Istvan, Bori Castle and the monument "Derzhava".

According to Wikipedia, sites www.otdohnuli.ru and http://his.1september.ru

Szekesfehervar is a large Hungarian city, the economic center of the country. Located between Lake Balaton and the Danube. The most important city of the Fejer region, the Middle Transdanubian region, with a population of more than 1 million people. Szekesfehervar is actively involved in the development of new technologies and in the economic development of Hungary. After the abolition of the socialist system, the city quickly adapted to the new political and economic conditions of existence. A highly developed industry has managed to attract a large flow of foreign investment. To date, the amount of foreign capital is about 1.8-2 billion US dollars.

City `s history

972 is considered the year of foundation of the city. At that time, there was a tent of the leader who led the Hungarians. During the reign of King Stephen the Holy, the settlement grew rapidly and developed, and there was a need for enhanced protection. In 1039, an earthen fortress with ramparts was built - the famous basilica. Szekesfehervar received the status and rights of the city. received city status in 1918.

The Hungarian kings of the Middle Ages were crowned in Szekesfehervar. The first coronation took place in 1038, and the last in 1526 - it was the 37th coronation, the main actor which became Janos Zapolya.

In 1543 the city was attacked and besieged by the Turkish army. After the capture, most of the buildings were destroyed, the churches turned into mosques, the graves of the kings were devastated, and the basilica became a powder warehouse. A lightning strike caused a fire, as a result of which the basilica was completely destroyed.

The liberation from the Turkish yoke took place in 1688. The city is being rebuilt, although the style of architecture is completely different. Serbian and German colonists settled here, increasing the population. Until the middle of the 20th century, Szekesfehervar quietly lives and develops.

The Second World War did not bypass Szekesfehervar. During the battles that took place in March 1945, the city was half destroyed, a large number of the population died. After the end of the war, the reconstruction of buildings in the historical center and the development of ordinary Soviet houses in the rest of the city began. Szekesfehervar became a large industrial center. The most famous products manufactured in the second half of the 20th century were the Ikarus buses, which were widely used throughout the Soviet Union.

How to get to Szekesfehervar

The easiest and most convenient way is through Budapest. There is an airport in Budapest, which regularly receives direct flights from Moscow. There is little time spent on the flight - about 2.5 hours. The prices for the flights of the Hungarian airline WizzAir are much lower than for the flights of our native Aeroflot.

Szekesfehervar is located 70 kilometers from Budapest. It can be reached without problems by car or by railway. Trains depart regularly from Budapest South Station, and buses from the bus station located on Erzsebet Square. 45 minutes of travel - from the capital of Hungary to Szekesfehervar. You can get there even faster by car. City connected highways and railway lines with the largest cities of the country.

Prices for hotels and shopping

The 4-star Novotel Szekesfehervar is located in the center of Szekesfehervar. The cost of living is from 2500 rubles per night. This is one of the most expensive hotels. In 2-star hotels, the cost of living is 2 times lower. In them, the cost of living is from 1200 rubles. One of the most budget options of residence is the Szent Gellert Hostel. Here the minimum cost of living is 600 rubles per day.

The city of Szekesfehervar is not the most popular place for shopping. People come to this city to admire historical and cultural sights to pay tribute to the heroes who defended the city during World War II. In the center of the city there is a large Shopping mall Alba Plaza Shopping Centre. Here you can buy things of world famous brands, perfumes, underwear, toys, food and just have a good rest. Tourists buy souvenirs in specialized shops. As a rule, these are products made of wood, clay, porcelain, clothes with lace and embroidery, wine, etc.

The most interesting and beautiful places in Szekesfehervar

The Garden of Ruins is located on Coronation Square in the eastern part of the old city. Here, until the middle of the 16th century, the famous basilica towered, in which the coronation of royal persons took place. Their burial place was located here. The remains of the foundation of the basilica have been discovered by archaeologists. The place became significant for the inhabitants of the city.

Town Hall Square. In the southern part of the square is the town hall, built in 1690 after the liberation from the Turks. The building is an example of baroque architecture. To the west of the town hall is the Zichy Palace, built in 1781 in the Zopf style. In the north of the Town Hall Square rises the Church of St. Imre - the construction of 1745. The Bishop's Palace, built in 1800 in the style of Austrian classicism, occupies a large part of the square.

The center of the Old Town is decorated with the Cathedral of St. Stephen. From 1758 to 1768 its construction lasted on the site of an ancient cathedral. As a result, the building changed from the Gothic style to the Baroque style, but the functions remained the same. Near the cathedral there is a small chapel - the chapel of St. Anne, built in 1480 and survived all the tragic historical events that took place in the city.

Church of St. John of Nepomuk is located on Feu Street. Made in the Baroque style. In the south of the city, you can see the Carmelite Church, created in 1769, which is distinguished by colorful frescoes that adorn the outer facade of the building. northern part Fö streets are decorated with the Baroque Vörösmarty Theatre.

Bori Castle, built in the 20th century and named after the architect and sculptor who created it, has become a modern landmark of the city. The architect dedicated this building to his wife Ilona. The castle is decorated with her numerous images in paintings, sculptures, poems dedicated to the beloved woman.

MuseumsSzekesfehervara

The Archaeological Museum of Saint Stephen is located on Fö Street. The materials exhibited in its exposition make it possible to trace the entire history of the city from its very foundation to modern times.

Museum-Pharmacy "Black Eagle" - another attraction of Fyo Street. Opened in 1758, it is one of the most original museums. The building is made in the Baroque style. The main exposition is devoted to the history of the pharmacy.

City Art Gallery - showcases Hungarian art of the 19th and 20th centuries. The city has a Puppet Museum and an Ethnographic Museum.