The city of Pécs

Situated in Central Europe, Hungary is unique and rich in cultural and historical values. Every year, it attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world. The University of Pécs has 9 out of 10 of its faculties in the same city. The tenth faculty is in Szekszárd, also well worth a visit.

Situated in the northwest of Hungary, the city of Pécs is exciting, culturally diverse, with a population of 180,000 inhabitants. Located in the south of the Danube region, close to the border with Croatia, it has a mild climate, similar to the Mediterranean.

The history of Pécs goes back 2000 years. The name of the old Roman town, Sopiane, can still be found in some names of products and institutions. In spite of its development, the city has suffered a number of setbacks throughout the years, such as the Tatar invasions of the Ottoman-Turkish rule. The city did not only strengthen from these invasions, it also generated a modern town, rich in historical monuments. Moreover, it has become an administrative, cultural, and educational centre, which attracts hundreds of people who want to live or study here. The city is famous for its monuments, art galleries, festivals and cultural events.

The lower part of Pécs is a unique blend of primitive Christianity relics, the arrival of the Hungarians, the Turkish Empire and the achievements of architecture and modern art. The National Theatre, the Philharmonic Orchestra, and the famous International Ballet offer interesting programmes. In addition, there are the Summer Festival, the Pécs Culture Week and the Days of Pécs.

Our European relations are promoted by multiple programmes and institutions:

• Pécs is an active member of the Alpe-Adria Community, the Healthy Cities Movement promoted by the WHO and the Alliance of Mid-Sized Cities.
• Pécs is a diplomatic centre. Austria, France, Germany, Finland and Italy have honorary consulates here. Croatia’s General Consulate is located near the University. The Turkish Consulate is near Szigetvár.
• Since 1956, different sponsorship programmes have been developed in different cities, both European and American: Cluj (Romania), Fellbach (Germany), Graz (Austria), Lahti (Finland), Lyon (France), Olomouc (Czech Republic), Osijek (Croatia), Seattle (USA), Terracina (Italy) and Tucson (USA).

Hungary:

Hungary is a small, beautiful country located in Central Europe, where Hungarians (or Magyar,as they are also called) settled more than 1,000 years ago. Visitors can enjoy the landscape, the mountains, plains, lakes, rivers, big cities and quiet rural areas. Budapest, the capital, is on the shore of the Danube river. It is hilly on one side and plain on the other, and it is famous worldwide thanks to its many tourist attractions. Lake Balaton, located in the central region of the Danube, attracts visitors from all over the world who decide to spend their holidays here. Although the majority of the population is Hungarian, there are also Croats, Germans, Romanians, Slovaks and Serbs. The official language is Hungarian, which belongs to the Finno-Ugric languages. This might explain why it is so difficult to understand for foreigners. Culinary delights and the hospitality of the Hungarian population are renowned worldwide, not to mention their excellent wines, beers and champagnes.