Eger

Eger with its varied landscape, historical past and valuable monuments is one of the most beautiful towns in Hungary. This over a millenia years old small town is located in northern Hungary at the foot of Bükk and Mátra mountains, in a picturesque valley. Eger, which has more than 62.000 inhabitants, is the cultural and economical centre of the County of Heves.

St. Stephan, our first king, the founder of our country, and our church established a bishopric here in the first years of his reign.  Unfortunately during the thousand year history of our country, Eger was almost always threatened by danger from outside its borders.  Due to  this  Eger was prey to the terrible devastation of the Tatars in 1241.
 
The fortification, built in the 13th century, had a great part in the defence of Hungary during the battles against the Turks.  Eger entered its name into the history of our country and also into that of Europe when  István Dobó the commander of the fortress with his 2000 heroic defenders fended off the attack of the Turks, who had superior  numbers in 1552.

It can be said that Eger is mainly a Baroque city.  It was a cultural and artistic centre in Hungary and Europe in the 18th century. Eger has about 170 outstanding monuments remaining in their natural beauty from the past centuries.  The city became an archbishopric in 1804.

Eger and its surroundings are a famous historical wine-district.  The inhabitants have been dealing with grape- and wine-growing for several hundred years, and they produce excellent wines such as the Bull's Blood, the " Egri Leányka" or the Medina.  The Eger wine-district is the third largest wine-district in Hungary.  There is a more than 130 km long cellar system under the city.  The oldest ones are more than 400 years old.  You can find lots of wine-cellars in the famous "Valley of Beautiful Women", which is one of the most popular sights of Eger.

The city is also famous for its thermal water. There used to be several puplic baths during the Turkish rule. The renovated bath of Arnaut pasha today belongs to the Arthn' Hospital.  Eger's mineral baths are good to treat inflamed ligaments, as well as degenerative diseases of the spine.  The low temperature of the water allows those suffering from circulatory ailments to pursue health exercises.