The "town of queens" lies on the southeastern foothills of the Bakony Forest, about 15km (9mi.) distant from the northeast bank of Lake Balaton. The main sight in Veszprém (Veszprim) is visible from afar, the old diocesan town on the narrow rocky spur of the castle hill, which is one of the most beautiful collections of buildings in Hungary. Its proximity to Lake Balaton and the charming Bakony Forest are also favorable factors in its development into a popular tourist center. As regional capital and university town with famous scientific and cultural institutions it also fulfills educational and administrative functions.
Settlement at Veszprém dates back to the Bronze Age. The Romans did not settle here - probably on account of the exposed position - but later the Avars and Slavs occupied the land around Lake Balaton before the arrival of the Magyars. Christianity was spread from Salzburg and as early as the middle of the 9th C. Veszprém had a church dedicated to St Michael. In the 10th C, Veszprém was in the possession of the Arpads. Shortly after 1000 King Stephen I raised the town to the seat of a bishop and the church to a cathedral. The town owes its name to his nephew Besprem, whom he installed as administrator. The palace built by Stephen was primarily the residence of his wife Gisela and after her a succession of later queens who were crowned by the bishop of Veszprém (thus the epithet "town of queens").
During the Renaissance the town experienced its heyday, which was brought to an end by the Turkish wars. After the Habsburgs had reconquered the town they blew up the castle to crush the Independence struggle in Hungary. In the 18th C. the town was rebuilt in Hungarian Rococo-Baroque style. Veszprém was heavily damaged in the Second World War.
The well preserved Castle Quarter contains many of Veszprém's key attractions. Within the walled area are the Bishop's Palace, Gisela Chapel, St Michael's Cathedral, and several other important buildings.
The Gisela Chapel is Veszprém's most important historical building. The church dates to the 13th C, with some original frescoes still visible on the north wall.
The Bakony Museum near Megyeház tér chronicles the history of the region. Directly next to the museum is a small farmhouse with a typical pergola and original features.
The municipal theater stands on one of the main arteries into the town, an unusual art nouveau building. It was built in 1908 by István Medgyaszay, a student of the Viennese art nouveau architect Otto Wagner.
Directly below the castle is the square surrounded by attractive patricians' houses. Of interest are the so-called Pósa House (No. 3), from 1793, in 18th C plait style and some art nouveau houses with unusually fine traditional decor. At the beginning of Vár tér, which leads to the castle, is the 48m (157ft) high fire tower (upper part 19th C.)
The 50m (164ft) high viaduct over the Séd valley was constructed in 1938 to a design by Róbert Folly and is regarded as an important technical achievement. The view encompasses the castle in the east, the Betekints valley in the west and the peaks of the Bakony in the north.
Below the viaduct in a side corridor of the Betekints valley there is the 100ha (247 acre) Veszprém wildlife park. One of its attractions is the large aviary where the birds are free to fly among the visitors.
Read More
Read Less
Read More
Castle Quarter
Read More
Read Less
