Russian Eger Hungary classes. Sights of Eger: overview, photos and description

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Eger is a small town in northern Hungary, home to about 56 thousand people. I think many of us simply haven’t heard of it, but it’s very beautiful and there’s certainly a lot to see.

Fortress Museum in Eger (Egrivar)

It is known that the first fortress on the mountain was built in the 13th century, however, during the Tatar-Mongol invasion, the fortress fell and was severely destroyed. Later, the fortress was restored by local bishops, and soon the structure became the main defensive building of the region. Once upon a time, the fortress was much larger, and it was surrounded by additional massive walls. The year 1552 was a turning point in the history of the fortress - the army and residents (2,100 people) managed to defend the fortress from the huge Turkish army, and the defense lasted 33 days. After this, Baron Istvan Dobo, who led the defense, became a national hero of Hungary. By the 18th century, the fortress ceased to perform defensive functions and became an ordinary building, and rather sad from the outside. Finally, at the beginning of the last century, they decided to restore the fortress and conduct excavations on the territory. The results of the research can be seen in the museum on the territory of the fortress. The episcopal palace was also restored, in fact, where the museum is located on the ground floor. And in the Hall of Heroes you can see Dobo’s grave, as well as a slab with a list of the defenders of the fortress. On the second floor there is an art gallery where you can admire paintings by Dutch, Italian, Austrian and Hungarian artists. Also, if you find yourself in Hungary in October, then visit the annual festival “Days of the Eger Fortress” with interesting knightly tournaments, concerts, exhibitions and costume performances. It’s also very interesting to visit the mint and even become an apprentice coin minter, as well as visit an old wine cellar.

Address: st. Var, 1

Valley of Beauties

This is a wine valley, which is famous for its wine cellars, but why the place is called that way is still not clear even to local residents. But it is assumed that the most beautiful women of the city lived (and live) in this area. Other local residents They will tell you that the valley began to be called that way because men from Eger came here for their fun, because of the wine, and also because dissolute girls lived here. Either way, the place is beautiful and definitely a paradise for wine lovers and connoisseurs. Tourists are offered wine tasting in a semicircular cellar and lunch with excellent Hungarian dishes, accompanied by live gypsy music. If possible, visit the interesting programs that are held here, for example, Magyar weddings, goulash parties, national grape harvest fun and others.

Address: Szépasszonyvölgy 50

Village of Egerszalok

The small village of Egerszalok in the Laško River valley is located 9 km from Eger to the southwest. No more than 2000 inhabitants live here. The main attraction of the city is the hydropathic and Wellness Bath in the south of the town. The waters in the springs gush from a depth of 410 meters, and the waters are hot - 65-68 degrees. They spill over the hill and cover it with salt. There is so much salt that over hundreds of years of the existence of this source, a massive salt cone has already formed here. If it’s hard for you to imagine what it all looks like, then remember the Turkish Pamukkale, only the place is much less famous and crowded, so it’s much more comfortable here. Or maybe someone has heard about National Park Yosemite in the USA. That's all, there are no such miracles in the world anymore. As you might guess, these waters are extremely beneficial for health, and especially help those who have problems with the musculoskeletal system. The resort is large - about 2000 sq.m. Visitors to the resort are offered 20 outdoor and indoor pools with healing water.

Eszterházy Karoly College (Eger Lyceum)

This ancient building was erected in the 18th century. It was planned to open a university in this building, but the plans were not destined to come true, and so a lyceum appeared on this site. The square building with a courtyard in the center impresses primarily with its Baroque and Empire style façade. The layout of the building is not without interest: large rooms, three spacious halls with ceilings on the third floor, ceilings with frescoes by an Austrian artist and the fresco “The Blessed” in the northern wing, as well as a rich library.

Address: Eszterházy ter 1

Minorite Church (Szent Antal-templom)

This is one of the most beautiful old Baroque churches in the whole country. It can be found in the city center on István Dobó Square. It was erected in 1773. The church is surrounded by vineyards, no less beautiful. Very beautiful facade with two bell towers with a clock that can be heard three times a day: at 11, 15 and 18 hours. The church is interesting for its frescoes from the late 16th century and the magnificent statue of St. Anthony.

Address: Dobó István ter 4.

City Hall of Eger(City Hall Eger)

The city hall building was erected in 1755 according to the design of a local famous architect. The building is located on central square Dobo, in the historical part of the city. Near the city hall you can see a monument to Hungarian soldiers. An interesting and very realistic monument, by the way, was erected in 1968 and it depicts a battle between a Hungarian mounted warrior and two Turkish invaders in 1596.
It is worth noting that initially the city hall building was an ordinary house, but since the beginning of the last century it has turned into an administrative building that impresses tourists with its stucco molding and facade in a neoclassical style with baroque elements.

Address: Dobo Istvan ter 2

Cheboksary district

Interestingly, one of the city districts is named after the Russian Volga region city of Cheboksary. And all because our compatriots once helped build houses in this area. Accordingly, in Cheboksary there is Egersky Boulevard, as a sign of respect for the sister city. The area is quite beautiful and is located almost in the city center, nearby you can see the Eger Fortress and the Minorite Church.

Lipitsai stud farm(Lippizzaner horses stud)

The horse farm is located on top of the Karszt hill and was built in 1580. The Konko-Lipitsai breed, by the way, was bred specifically for the imperial court. In order to develop this breed, 8 different types of horses took part until the result was, as they say, “the best” - obedient, trainable and beautiful stallions. You can find out what they look like on this farm.

Address: Szilvásvárad, Egri út 12 (half an hour drive north from Eger)

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Eger is located in a picturesque valley on the banks of a stream of the same name at the foot of the Bükk Mountains. The city is one of the most visited cities in this country and all because it has an advantageous location, a well-developed winemaking culture and famous baths with healing water. People come to Eger to relax their soul and body, as well as to improve their health. However, if you get tired of pampering your body and seeing beautiful natural views from the window of a sanatorium or hotel, then I advise you to take a short excursion to local attractions. Let's start right now.

Fortress Museum in Eger. The first fortress on this mountain was built in the thirteenth century, but during the Tatar-Mongol invasion it was completely destroyed. Local bishops managed to completely restore the fortress and, moreover, make it the main defensive center of the region. Initially, the defensive structure occupied a much larger area than it does now. It was surrounded by numerous towers and had fairly high walls. In 1552, the fortress was defended by Baron Istvan Dobo together with his devoted warriors in a battle with Turkish soldiers, whose numbers significantly exceeded the number of fighters from the baron’s detachment. The onslaught of the Turks lasted thirty-three days and all this time the defenders of the fortress managed to hold off the onslaught. After the fortress was defended, Baron Istvan Dobó was awarded the title of national hero of Hungary. Further, calm times came for the country and already at the beginning of the eighteenth century, the defensive structure lost its need and relevance, became dilapidated and partially collapsed. The beginning of the twentieth century brought the fortress a chance to new life, since active archaeological and restoration work began to be carried out on its territory. The purpose of such a large-scale event was to create a museum exhibition within the walls of the fortress. During the restoration work, it was possible to restore the episcopal palace, on the ground floor of which the Istvan Dobó Fortress Museum was located. In the museum, or rather in the Hall of Heroes, the full list with the names of the heroes of those times, exhibits related to the events during the siege and the grave of Baron Istvan Dobó. The second floor of the palace is dedicated to the collection of the Eger Art Gallery, which includes paintings by Italian, Hungarian, Dutch and Dutch artists. Every year in October, the “Days of the Eger Fortress” are held here. During the celebrations, concerts, costume performances, knightly tournaments and exhibitions are held here.

Valley of Beauties. Why this valley was called the Valley of Beauties remains a mystery to me, just as it remains a mystery to the local residents. The valley is famous for its wine cellars, excellent Hungarian cuisine and fiery gypsy melodies. Old residents claim that they named this area in honor of the beautiful goddess Venus, since the most beautiful girls of the city lived in these parts. A less romantic version of the origin of the name tells us that once the men of the city came here for carnal pleasures in the arms of dissolute women. There is a third version, rather comical, but which still has a significant grain of truth - after tasting multiple varieties of wine, all the women in the area seem beautiful. The most popular place in these places, of course, are the cellars located in a semicircle. No matter how the name of this area appears, the fact remains that the Valley of Beauties is a very hospitable place and any tourist can enjoy delicious Hungarian cuisine, and at the same time taste excellent local wine.

Monument to István Dobó. This memorial is one of the most important attractions of the city. It looks like a bronze statue that depicts the great commander of the sixteenth century - Baron Istvan Dobo. The monument is located in the most honorable place on the main square of the city and all tourists can freely admire the great commander, who, together with his soldiers, held the defense of the fortress for thirty-three days. The statue of the commander itself is installed on a high pedestal made of marble and has a very solemn appearance, which in some way reminds me personally of the monuments to Peter the Great.

Cheboksary district in Eger. Amazing, right? The Hungarian region has a very post-Soviet name. Do you know why they called him that? The thing is that during the existence of the CMEA, this area was built and our compatriots took part in this action. In honor of such close cooperation, the district in Egera was named, and in Cheboksary, also in memory of past relationships, there is Egersky Boulevard. Although Soviet students took part in the construction of the area, it still primarily has historical value and more than one. The value of this area is that not far from it there is the famous Eger Fortress and the most recognizable building in the city - the Church of the Minorites.

Minority Church. This church is one of the most beautiful and oldest in the country. Finding it is very easy, since it is located in the very heart of this beautiful city, on István Dobó Square. The church was erected in 1773. The architecture of the building is made in Baroque style. It is surrounded by vineyards and ancient buildings, emphasizing its modest splendor. The facade of the church is decorated with two tall clock towers, which sound melodiously throughout the city three times a day, signaling at eleven o'clock in the morning, at three o'clock in the afternoon, and at six o'clock in the evening.
The church contains amazingly beautiful frescoes, the production of which dates back to the beginning of the sixteenth century. But the main attraction of this shrine is the majestic statue of St. Anthony. Due to its advanced age, excellent appearance and refined architectural style, the Minorite Church, for several centuries now, has proudly held the title of unique historical monument countries.

Eger: treatment, recovery, medicine, balneotherapy. Information about medical centers and sanatoriums in Eger. Reviews from tourists about Eger.

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The historic city in northern Hungary of Eger is famous mainly for its castle, thermal springs with baths, ancient houses (including the northernmost Turkish minaret) and, importantly, the best wines in Hungary (at least according to Egerites). When planning a trip here, it is easy to decide that this small town will not require more than half a day to explore. In fact three days It may not even be enough for you - especially if you are traveling in winter.

Eger is located at the foot of the Bükk Mountains, on hilly terrain in the valley of the stream of the same name. Thanks to its advantageous location, the development of winemaking and bathing culture, this resort has become one of the most visited cities in Hungary today. Among the most frequent guests of Eger are Germans, Italians and our compatriots. Nevertheless, most tourists do not stay overnight in the city, but limit themselves only to visiting the castle and what is nearby. Thus, depriving yourself of the opportunity to spend a day or two relaxing in a thermal spa, listening to the organ in a colossal basilica, wandering through the numerous wine cellars and enjoying a glass or two of the magnificent “Bull's Blood”. And also the opportunity to visit the “Valley of Beautiful Women”.

How to get to Eger

Flight to Budapest, then transfer two hours (130 km).

Search for flights to Budapest (closest airport to Eger)

Weather in Eger

Eger Hotels

Eger hotels are located at a sufficient distance from each other. For those for whom thermal springs are of primary interest, we recommend staying at the nearby hotels Flora, Eger & Park, Aqua Eger or Fortuna Panzio. “On the outskirts” you can choose “Flamingo” and “Egged”, as well as the three-star “Villa Veld” - by the way, standing right in the middle of the wine valley.

Treatment in Eger

Turkish bath

The Turkish bath in Eger was built at the beginning of the 17th century. Now a modern balneological center has been opened in the historical building. Healing water with radon (+31 °C) comes directly from under the stones covering the bottom of the pools. And to pools with a higher temperature, moisture is supplied from nearby thermal springs Andornaktalia.

Main medicinal properties Radon supplies local waters. It reduces inflammation and increases the body's production of endorphins, which improve well-being. In addition, radon also activates regeneration processes in cells. By the way, the local Turkish bath can be used not only by patients of local health resorts, but also by vacationers who, for now, arrogantly consider themselves healthy.

Indications: inflammation and degenerative changes in the joints, pain syndromes associated with the spine, diseases of the musculoskeletal system caused by metabolic problems (arthritis, osteoporosis), reduced mobility caused by illness, age or lack of movement.

Maps of Eger

Eger thermal bath

The pools of the Eger Thermal Bath, open next to the Turkish bath, feed the surrounding thermal springs. Some bathing pools contain healing water. From a source located near the borders of Eger, they receive hydrocarbonate medicinal water containing sulfur and calcium at a temperature of +47 °C. These types of medicinal waters are used primarily to treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system and rheumatic diseases, bone diseases, as well as to relieve fatigue syndrome.

The beach and bathing complex has seven pools with therapeutic thermal water, children's pool, indoor and outdoor pools with 14 effects - jacuzzi, “pearl bed”, underwater massage, waterfall and so on.

Egerszalok

6 km from Eger is the small town of Egerszalok, a relatively young resort by local standards. It has a wellness complex offering various types of health services. Indications: post-traumatic treatment, joint diseases and rheumatic diseases.

Entertainment and attractions

Eger's most famous landmark is the 13th century fortress with stunning views of the city and surrounding area. It houses the episcopal palace with the Istvan Dobó Museum and an art gallery.

The Turkish minaret (early 17th century) is the northernmost in Western and Central Europe. The mosque itself was destroyed in 1841, and the minaret was crowned with a cross as a sign of the victory of Christianity over Islam.

Other attractions: Eger Cathedral, late Baroque Lyceum building, Serbian Orthodox Church, the city theater Geza Gardoni, the Church of St. Anthony of Padua, about 200 caves in the vicinity of Eger (excursions are organized to some of them).

One of the most popular excursions in Eger is a trip to the “Valley of Beautiful Women” (Szepasszony-volgy). Every day, winemakers from all over the region gather here to offer guests from afar a taste, or even buy a liter or two of life-giving moisture. Selected varieties are poured into special plastic barrels, or, for a fee, into beautiful souvenir bottles. You can get to the valley on your own in 15-20 minutes from the resort center, following the signs to Beautiful Woman Valley.

The town of Eger (Hungary) is a settlement that is considered one of the most interesting and beautiful in the state. It is famous for its heroic and rich historical events. There is a huge number of medieval monuments and architectural ensembles, built in the Baroque, neoclassical, Rococo and Gothic styles. For one period, Eger was the seat of bishops, and today it is considered an archiepiscopal center. This city is perceived as a symbol of the country's patriotism.

Brief information about geography and history

Eger, which Hungary can be proud of, is located in the North-Eastern region of the state, near the southern mountain slopes of Mátra and Bükk. A settlement was built 130 km from the capital of the state, on the banks of the small river Eger. The city has a population of 60 thousand people. At the heart of life settlement There is a legend about how Istvan Dobo, constable of the Eger Fortress, in 1552, for almost a whole month, with a small detachment, resisted the Turks, who were 20 times superior in strength. Many customs and museums are dedicated to this feat.

At the beginning of the 10th century, Hungarian conquerors occupied the territory where Eger (Hungary) is located today. This fact is confirmed by the graves found by archaeologists within the settlement. Armed men were buried in the graves, and Arabian coins were also discovered there. The time of the birth of the city coincided with the reign of King St. Stephen. In 1241, Eger was invaded by the Mongol-Tatars. They almost completely destroyed the settlement. But when the Mongol-Tatar army left the city, a period of its development began. At this time, the same Eger fortress that we mentioned above was built. During the years 1458-1490 the Bishop's Palace was built. This happened during the reign of King Matthias.

Nature, weather and climate

Eger, Hungary in particular, is characterized by a temperate continental climate. It's quite warm here in winter. The average daily temperature reaches three degrees below zero. But in summer it is very hot. During the day, temperatures can reach 35 degrees above zero. Autumn and spring are characterized by moderate warmth and slight precipitation. Most tourists come here during May-September. Tourists love Eger because it has amazing thermal springs and unsurpassed natural beauty. The landscapes of the village and its surroundings simply captivate the human eye.

Eger attractions

Eger, which is of interest to many historians and travelers, attracts attention with the fortress around which the city was built. While István Dobó held the defense of the structure, it was severely destroyed as a result of bilateral hostilities. Then, during the years 1553-1596, the fortress was reconstructed using drawings developed by architects from Italy. Today, the landmark has its original Episcopalian Gothic style exclusively on the model presented in the István Dobó Fortress Museum.

Worth the attention of travelers Cathedral, built in the neoclassical style. This temple is the second largest in the country. The cathedral has the largest organ in Hungary. In the summer, church organ and classical music concerts are held here every day. Tourists will also be interested in the Lyceum building in the late Baroque style. It was built by Count Carolai Eseterházai. Today it is a functioning college that trains future teachers. The building is decorated with exquisite artistic carvings and breathtaking frescoes. And on the second floor of the institution there is one of the most beautiful Hungarian libraries. It contains almost 130 thousand different volumes of literature.

Thermal springs and treatment

Many travelers are attracted to the city of Eger. Hungary has several medicinal springs at its disposal. Some of them are located in this city. Eger is one of the largest resorts in the country. Waters from thermal springs were used to treat various ailments back in the Middle Ages. The first bathing houses on the territory of the settlement appeared already in the 15th-16th centuries. They accepted here water treatments in wooden barrels and steam baths. The bathing culture was actively developed by the Turks who came to the Hungarian lands. In general, they highly valued the healing water of indescribable power. Many Turkish bathing houses have survived to this day in the city. These are steam baths and hot water baths. In Eger, at the beginning of the 17th century, a Turkish bath was erected, which still exists today. There is a modern balneology center here.

Winemaking

The settlement of Eger, which is attached to the material, has been one of the most popular wine-growing regions of the state for many centuries. The famous wine “Bikaver” appeared in this place. Almost every Hungarian family in Eger has a wine cellar in their home. And in the dungeons running under the city, there are many kilometers of cellars in which the most famous Eger wines mature.

In May 2015, I took part in an excursion from Budapest to the city of Eger, located in northern Hungary. Its name, according to the most common version, comes from the alder tree. Eger is located in the region of the Matra and Bükk mountain ranges, abounding in beautiful oak and beech forests and favorable for vineyards. By the way, in the Matra massif there is the highest peak in Hungary - Mount Kekes with a height of 1014 (sometimes called the number 1015) meters. On the road from Budapest to Eger it can be seen in the distance.

The population of Eger is about 56 thousand people, which is quite 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 historical history, the fact that it is one of the four Hungarian cities that belong to the Union of Baroque Cities of Europe, and the production of oxblood 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 attraction I saw in Eger was 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 have the honorary status of a minor basilica (there is only one great basilica - this, naturally, is 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 - József Hild. It is interesting that in plan they all have the shape not of a Latin, but of a Greek (that is, equilateral) cross.

The Latin inscription Venite adoremus Dominum (“Come, let us worship the Lord”) is visible on the pediment. At the top there are figures of Faith, Hope and Love and two archangels. Closer to the temple are sculptures of the apostles Peter (left) and Paul (right). And in the foreground are sculptures of the Holy Kings of Hungary: Stephen (under him, Hungary adopted Christianity) and Laszlo I.

Interiors of the Basilica:

Opposite the Basilica is main building 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 is named after Bishop Károly Esterhazy.

Streets of Eger

The historical 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, since there were numerous people with umbrellas crowding below):

Deference to King Stephen the Saint (who founded the bishopric of 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 us of the Jesuits:

The main square of Eger is the square of István Dobo, the hero of the defense of the fortress in the 16th century (discussed below). On the square stands the beautiful Church of St. Anthony of Padua (belongs to the Minorite Order):

The green building nearby is what I assume is the city magistrate (it features the coat of arms of Eger):

And in the center of the square is a monument to the heroic captain Dobo. Behind is a view of the Eger Fortress:

Near the Minorite Church there is an interesting sculptural composition that depicts a fight between a Hungarian cavalryman and two Turkish horsemen:

Eger Fortress

The Eger Fortress, located in the city center on 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 ancient bard (unfortunately, I don’t remember his name), who was the first to sing about the feat of the defenders of the fortress:

The fortress acquired its modern form at the beginning of the 16th century.

In 1552, a Turkish army of about 40 thousand people (there are much larger estimates) besieged the fortress, in which about 2 thousand (including women and children) defenders, led by the brave captain Istvan Dobo, took refuge.

Despite being greatly outnumbered, 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, defended by mercenaries - they simply accepted money from the Turks and left.

But in 1552, women bravely fought the Turks, as illustrated by the bas-relief in the fortress:

The Hungarian writer Geza Gardonyi wrote the novel “Stars of Eger” about the defense of the Eger Fortress. I would like to draw your attention to the curious feature that Hungarians write their last name first and then their first name.

In 1968, the work was filmed; The color film has Russian dubbing. Gardogni is buried in the fortress. The inscription CSAK A TESTE at the bottom of the cross means "Body Only"; it means that only the writer’s body 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:



The staff of the fortress museum, dressed in costumes of the 16th–17th centuries, add a special flavor:

And it is not surprising that many guests want to take pictures next to these heroes. Especially, of course, children and women:

From the fortress it is convenient to admire Eger:

On the right side of the next photo you can see a tall, thin tower. This is the northernmost historical minaret (early 17th century) in territory that once belonged to the Turks, and one of three preserved in Hungary. The mosque adjacent to it was destroyed in 1841; The minaret was not destroyed, but was crowned with a cross as a sign of the victory of Christianity over Islam in Hungary.

Eger oxblood and other wines

After exploring the streets and fortress of Eger, the group enjoyed an excellent meal at the White Hart restaurant:

It was possible to taste several wines (including, for example, the rather famous “Girl of Eger” - dry white). It's time to talk a little about the Eger bull's blood wine (by the way, you must use the word "Eger" in the name, since there is "bull's blood" produced in other places).

Eger oxblood is a blended red wine prepared in Eger wine region Hungary, in which no one type of wine used dominates. Eger bull blood takes approximately 130–150 years to prepare. Today's bull's blood consists of a mixture of such local wines 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), Portugieser, Kadarka, and from international varieties - cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and, more recently, pinot noir and shiraz in different proportions.

The name of the wine “Eger oxblood” is registered in the EU as an appellation of origin. The type of its production is regulated and controlled. The name is only permitted to be used by winemakers in the Eger wine region.

According to Eger legend, the name “bull’s blood” was born during the era of the fight against the Turks. When, during the siege of the Eger fortress, its commandant Istvan Dobó ordered wine to be given to his soldiers to strengthen their morale, the Turks saw how, thanks to this drink, the Hungarian soldiers received fresh strength, and decided that their opponents were drinking bull's blood. The legend cannot be true, because only white wine was produced in Hungary before the Turkish yoke. Kadarka and the technology for producing red wine in general were spread much later by the Rats (as the Hungarians call the Serbs with a hint of ridicule), who fled from the Turks to Hungary. Written sources, letters and travel notes do not mention the name "ox blood" until mid-19th century.

There are many small wine producing businesses in the area around Eger. On the periphery 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 acquainted with the village (2 thousand inhabitants), which, in fact, is called Egerszalok. This toponym comes from the ancient Hungarian tribe Salok. The village is quite old. In the 13th century it was devastated by the Mongols; then it was restored, and after the Turkish invasion in 1551, only 17 families remained there. To restore the population, settlers 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 Egerszalók was first mentioned in 1249.

I liked the idea of ​​decorating power poles with pots of flowers:

And nearby there is a second remarkable object - a resort:

The place is truly peaceful:

The main feature of the resort is the thermal waters, which are associated with baths:

The thermal spring was formed here in 1961 when drilling for oil. underground spring water with a temperature of 68° formed a salt mound on the surface called Sodomb. From there the water flows down to the baths.

This is a unique phenomenon in Europe; its analogues are available in Turkish Pamukkale and Yosemite national park in the USA.

I’ll end my little story about the pleasant town of Egerszalók with a “blooming” photograph:

The city of Eger is located in the northern part of Hungary, at the foot of mountain range Bukk. Picturesque surroundings, richly decorated houses (mostly in the Baroque style), labyrinths of ancient streets, tranquility in the air - all this together makes Eger one of the most beautiful and cozy cities in the country.
The starting point of the history of Eger can be considered the beginning of the 11th century, when King Stephen I established an episcopate here. A century later, a fortress was founded in the city, which went down in the history of the Hungarian state. In the middle of the 16th century, Eger was besieged by the Turks, who by that time had captured most of the territory of Hungary. The defenders of the city, led by the brave captain Istvan Dobó, took refuge in the fortress, where for 33 days they repelled attacks from the vastly superior Turkish army. In the end, having suffered significant losses, the Turks were forced to retreat from the walls of the fortress.
Only many years later they managed to take possession of Eger. This historical event is reflected in many works of Hungarian art and literature. In particular, the novel “Stars of Eger” is dedicated to him, based on which a film was made in 1968 with Imre Šinkowicz in the title role. Today, the fortress houses the István Dobó Museum, the exhibition of which introduces visitors to the history of the city and the fortress. One of the most interesting places The fortress has a perfectly preserved system of underground corridors. There is a torture museum here, the sight of whose exhibits will make your blood run cold. The fact that the Turks finally managed to capture Eger is reminded by the arrow of the minaret on Knézich Károly utca. The cross crowning it symbolizes the end of the era of Turkish rule and the victory of Christianity. A narrow staircase inside the minaret leads to a balcony from which a breathtaking view of the city and its surroundings opens.
The main attraction of Eger is the majestic basilica in the classical style, built according to the design of József Hild, the author of the cathedral in the city of Esztergom. Thanks to the high series of steps leading to the cathedral, its size seems even more impressive. The main value of this second largest temple in Hungary is its huge organ, which has no analogues in the country.
Not far from the basilica there is a small two-story building of the Archbishop's Palace, reminiscent in style of Italian palazzos. The palace houses a rather interesting exhibition of religious art with valuable exhibits. Opposite the basilica stands a richly decorated Baroque building. This is the Lyceum, one of the oldest schools in Hungary. The pride of the Lyceum is the library, decorated with artistic carvings and amazing ceiling frescoes, containing about 130 thousand volumes of books in 34 languages. The library tower houses the ancient Špekula observatory, where you can see ancient astronomical instruments. The camera obscura, the so-called “Eye of Eger,” is of constant interest to visitors to the observatory. This small darkened room is a prototype of a modern camera: a small hole in one of its walls plays the role of a lens, with the help of which a “live” panorama of the city is projected onto a white stand.
Lojos Kossuth Street is home to mansions and palaces in the Baroque and Rococo styles. Richly decorated with stucco, with graceful wrought iron balconies, they leave a lasting impression. Among these buildings, we should first of all note the Small and Large Rector's Palaces, the Baroque Franciscan monastery and temple, as well as the Buttler House, one of the oldest buildings in the city.
For a break between educational walks around Eger, the best place is Szechenyi Street, a pedestrian area with many souvenir shops, cozy cafes, restaurants and pastry shops. There is another one here interesting museum city ​​Telekess pharmacy. Founded at the beginning of the 18th century by the Jesuit order, in 1900 it was moved from the former monastery to its current location. It has preserved a unique antique interior with oak trim, stupas, flasks and other apothecary supplies.
Eger is famous not only for its unique historical atmosphere and many interesting attractions; it is also the largest resort city in Hungary. The healing power of local thermal water sources was used here already in the Middle Ages; it was then that the first bathing houses appeared in Eger. The Turks who came to Hungary highly appreciated the healing waters of Eger and made an invaluable contribution to the development of the city’s bathing culture. You can still find many baths built by the Turks in the city. The largest of them, the Turkish bath, was built at the beginning of the 17th century. Despite the reconstructions that it underwent in different centuries, the architectural appearance and traditions were preserved. Today the building houses a modern balneological center. Healing water with a temperature of +31 °C comes from under the stones covering the bottom of the pools. The pools with higher temperatures receive water from the Andornaktal thermal springs located in the vicinity of Eger. The main healing properties of water are explained by the presence of radon in it, which explains the presence of bubbles in it. Radon reduces inflammatory processes and increases the production of endorphins in the body, which improves well-being. In addition, radon, as an ionizing factor, activates regeneration processes in cells. The Turkish bath can be used not only by sick people, but also by those who simply want to get rid of everyday stress and improve the overall tone of the body. In a picturesque park next to the main Turkish bath there is a complex of six thermal pools. The waters that fill them are used primarily to treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system and rheumatic bone diseases, as well as relieve fatigue syndrome. Great pleasure comes from all sorts of “effects” used in the pools of the Eger thermal complex - jacuzzi, pearl baths, underwater massage, waterfall and others.
Many interesting ancient monuments, combined with all the advantages of a large spa resort, make Eger one of the most attractive holiday destinations in Hungary. Another reason why this city attracts many tourists every year is the fiery red wine Egri Bikavér produced in these parts. It is made in the Sepassony (“beauty”) valley located near the city, named after the goddess Venus, whose figure the outlines of this valley are similar to. Bottles of the precious drink are kept in numerous cellars dotting Sepassony. Their owners are always happy to treat guests to Eger with famous wine.