Back to Northern Hungary
Eger
Everyone loves Eger and it's immediately apparent why: beautifully preserved Baroque architecture gives the town a relaxed, almost Mediterranean feel; and it is flanked by two of the Northern Uplands' most beautiful ranges.
Hungarians like to visit Eger because it was here that their ancestors fended off the Turks for the first time during the 170 years of Turkish occupation.
This is a perfect city for discovering on foot because there is something interesting around every corner and the town centre - with its 175 protected buildings and monuments - is closed to traffic
Eger sights and attractions
Fortress of Eger
The fortress of Eger, which has lived through many tough centuries was begun on Castle Hill after the invasion of the Tartars, in the 13th century. On this spot there had been a cathedral and an Episcopal palace as far back as the time of the King Stephen I (1000-1038), the founder of the Hungarian State.As a result of the Turkish threat, the place was fortified in the 16th century. Istvan Dobo was appointed Governor in 1548, and he carried on the fortification of the castle. He ordered the building of a new bastion, which was later named after him. During the attack of the Turkish army in 1552 only about five hundred horsemen and just about the same number of soldiers were inside the fortress. Yet in the desperate battle fought against the 80,000 Turks, in which even the inhabitants of the fortress, girls and women took their part - the defenders succeeded in winning a remarkable victory. Their triumph is written with golden letters in the history book of Hungarians.
Today, the exhibitions of the Istvan Dobo Fortress Museum can be visited inside the walls of the castle.
Siege of Eger
Admission tickets :
Adults : 1200HUF Children : 600HUF, Walking ticket : 700HUF (not valid for exhibitions, casamata tour), Walking ticket for children/pensioner : 350HUF, Foreign language guide : 800HUF/person
Fortress open 9am till 5pm (10th March - 31st Oct), 10am till 4pm (1st Nov - 16th March 2010)
Eger Basilica
at Eszterhazy Square is the only neoclassic-styled building in the town and the second biggest church in the country. Enjoy listening here a remarkable organ concert that is hold every day in the summer.Admission is free of charge
Archbishop's Palace
N The U-shaped Baroque group of buildings, the Archiepiscopal Palace, is also a delight. This is the Collection Centre of the Archbishopric. You can gaze in wonder at the treasures in the collection, the Gothic chalices, ciboriums, reliquary crosses. The coronation robe of Empress Maria-Theresa is also kept here.Lyceum and the Observatory Tower
Opposite the Basilica, there is the late-Baroque style Lyceum, is interesting from the point of view of cultural history. An 11-storey, 53-metre high observatory tower, formerly known as the Specula stands above its Eastern wing, housing an astrological museum. The library of the Archbishopric, which operates within the Lyceum, is also rich in codices, and preserves the first book printed in Hungarian, the Buda Chronicle, from 1473.
County Hall and Fazola Gates
Kossuth Street is full of fine buildings from the 18th century.
The 9. Kossuth Street is the County Hall. It has splendid wrought iron gates by Henrik Fazola from 1761.
Minaret
The 40m-high Minaret with 100 narrow spiral stairs twisting claustrophobically to the top, is the northernmost Turkish monument in Europe.
Bath, Spa in Eger
Do not miss the public baths. The most interesting and flourishing period in the history of the baths of Eger was undoubtedly the days of Turkish rule in Hungary (16th and 17th centuries). The town was occupied by the Ottomans in 1596, and that event a very special and prosperous Turkish bathing culture was established in Eger. As it appears from the following passage from 1791, this culture lived on in subsequent centuries. The Bath is situated in a beautiful park, near the Eger stream, not far from the city. Ancient sycamore and cypres trees are found in the theritory of the Bath, and some tropical plants and animals. There are 6 different termal basins and a swimming pool, massage basin and slide for children. Water components: calcium-magnezium-hydrocarbonated water, temperature: 27-38 C. Currative effects suggestions: rheumatic disease, spine pains, skin- and gyneologiar problems.Valley of Beautiful Women, Wine of Eger
You will find many-many wine cellars. The wine cellars are almost as long as the streets of the town. The inhabitants of Eger like their wine cellars as much as their houses. Famous wine cellars can be founded in the Szepasszonyok volgye (Valley of beautiful women), where cellars are lining in a que and you can go in and out the open ones and taste different wines from different makers. More about Eger wines The valley itself is in walking distance from the city, see map below.Shopping, Transportation in Eger
Eger has plenty of opportunity for shopping, the main street (szechenyi) has many smaller/larger boutiques, shops mainly for clothes, books and souvenirs. The quite new Agria Plaza, the local shopping mall, is only walking distance (200m) from the Basilica. You have to walk towards the main street, pass the Basilica, cross the street than you are there.
Larger shops, like Tesco, Lidl are in the city outskirts, but easily accessable by bus.
Mass transport of Eger is heavily on buses. But normally you do not need any vehicle to get around in the downtown as it is not that big.
You can catch a bus to Tesco or Lidl, number 11, 12 are perfect, both bus go to the train station as well.
Bus tickets available at the newsagencies and the bus drivers as well. You have to have coins to buy a ticket at the driver.
View Larger Map
Hotels in Eger
| Luna Pansion, Eger | |||||||||
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| Hotel Korona, Eger | |||||||||
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| Kodmon Wellness Hotel, Eger | |||||||||
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| Hotel Aranytrofea, Eger | |||||||||
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| Hotel Rubinia, Eger | |||||||||
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How to get the Eger?
By train: From Budapest Keleti station, there are direct Intercity and slow trains as well. You must change in Fuzesabony to Eger if you are coming by slowtrain.Check timetable
By bus Direct buses almost every hour from Budapest Stadionok bus station.
By car take M3 highway to Miskolc direction, take exit at Fuzesabony to Eger (from Fuzesabony to Eger only main road).
You have to pay parking fee in most of the places in Eger,but you can pay only with coins!
Aron' Tips
Eger is a must see place in Hungary without argue, beside all the tourist spots, you can take short walks in the downtown discovering the small streets and wonderful buildings, have a coffee at one of the restaurants.
But try the cakeshop on the mainstreet, they are one of the most known name in hungarian cake history.
Or take a tour at the Marzipan Museum opposite the Minaret.
