Hungary is brimming with stunningly beautiful cities one should visit when in the country. Today, we would like to introduce a lesser-known gem of domestic tourist destinations. One that deserves more attention and should be on the list of top places to see in Hungary. We are talking about the regional capital of the northwestern part of the country, the city of Győr.
Győr is the 6th most populous city, with a population of around 130 thousand people. Economically it is an incredibly prosperous city, due to the car industry that employs tens of thousands from the town and its surroundings. It is also an important transportation hub, as it is situated at the crossroads of Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest.
History
At the current location of the city, we know there was a previous Roman settlement called Arrabona. Győr, as we know it today was founded at around 1009, when it became the centre of Győr diocese. Originally under the control of the Catholic church, it became a royal city in 1271, due to its importance as a communication and trading hub. It later became an important fortress city in the 16-17th century during the Turkish occupation of the country.
After the Turkish threat subsided, Győr became an important centre of power for the Austrian Habsburgs. They decided they would turn the city into a prosperous baroque town. In 1743 Maria Theresa gave Győr the privileges of a free royal city. In 1809 the town was occupied by Napoleon.
The second half of the 19th century saw the city take on its modern-day shape, with the industry becoming a more and more important segment of its economy. Between the two world wars, it became a domestic industrial giant and a centre of the arms industry. Under communism, the growth of the city slowed down, but the population kept growing, that’s why much of the outskirts is now littered with Soviet-style concrete apartment buildings.
Nowadays Győr is still an important industrial, transportation and cultural hub. Located at the crossroads of three capitals and three rivers, with a GDP/capita rivalled only by Budapest and with a constantly growing population and expanding economy, the city has unlimited possibilities for further growth.
The city centre – The entire city centre is dominated by buildings of baroque fashion, which give a unique look to the town. Walking down the narrow, cobbled streets between the clean, yet elegant buildings will make you question whether you are in the 21st or the late 18th century.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/[Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs] – Stelczer Street, Győr with the Benedictine church and the Maria columnSzéchenyi Square – The baroque main square of the city. It is surrounded by other baroque buildings and palaces as well as by the Benedictine church and school. It is one of the main centres of public life where many events and markets are held.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/[SNRTZ] – Győr Széchenyi tér 2021Source: Wikimedia Commons/[Sudika] – Panorama of Széchenyi tér, GyőrSource: Wikimedia Commons/[Pe-Jo] – Széchenyi Square (Széchenyi tér) with Saint Ignace Church in Győr, HungaryDunakapu tér – In English, this is called Danube-gate Square, as during medieval times one could exit to the river Danube from this spot. Nowadays it’s an important market square where public events such as concerts and fairs are organised. The periodic Győr Eye is also set up here.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/[S7inG R] – The new main square of GyőrScreenshot from Google Maps – Dunakapu tér in Győr
Püspökvár and Káptalandomb (Bishop’s Castle) – This is the old ecclesiastical centre of the city. Here you can visit the Basilica, the Bishop’s Tower and also the bust of King Saint Ladislaus, which is an important religious relic.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/[Mister No] – BasilicaSource: Wikimedia Commons/[Thaler Tamas] – Szeminárium, Győr, Káptalandomb 7Source: Wikimedia Commons/[Cicamacska] – Püspökvár (Győr, Káptalandomb 1.)Bécsi kapu tér (Vienna-gate Square) – Back during the medieval era, this used to be the place where the gate to the road which led to Vienna was situated at. Nowadays it is a charming square, surrounded by the Carmelite church, the city centre, and the river Rába.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/[Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs] – Bécsi Kapu Square, GyőrSource: Wikimedia Commons/[Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs] – Bécsi Kapu Square, GyőrSource: Wikimedia Commons/[htom80] – Karmelita templom (Győr, Bécsi kapu tér)Frigyláda (Ark of the Covenant) – Located at Gutenberg Square, this monument depicts a famous religious relic
Source: Wikimedia Commons/[Ing.Mgr.Jozef Kotulič] – Súsošie. Historické centrum, mesto Győr. Maďarsko.Győri Nemzeti Színház (Győr National Theatre) – Finished in 1978, the theatre of Győr is one of the main cultural institutions of the city, where plays, orchestras and ballet shows are regularly performed.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/[Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs] – National Theatre of GyőrSource: Wikimedia Commons/[Globetrotter19] – National Theatre of Győr,, ceramic op art building decoration by Victor Vasarely. – Czuczor Gergely Street, Downtown,City Hall – The baroque city hall and the fountain on the other side of the street are probably some of the most picturesque sights in the city
Source: Facebook/[Győr Város hivatalos oldala]-Fountain in the city centre of GyőrSource: Facebook/[Győr Város hivatalos oldala]-Fountain in the city centre of Győr, with the city hall behind it
Source: Wikimedia Commons/[SNRTZ] – Győr városháza 2021Rivershore – As we’ve mentioned, Győr is at the crossroads of three rivers- Mosoni-Duna (Danube), Rába and Rábca. The shores of the Danube and Rába are frequently visited by tourists and citizens alike, especially in the summers.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/[Nxr-at] – Rába Moson-Danube in Győr View from the Kossuth BridgeSource: Wikimedia Commons/Franjklogos] – Győr, Hungary, the city walls and the river Danube
That’s more or less all the most important landmarks to visit in Győr. If you got curious to see the city for yourself, you can easily reach Győr by car or by train from Budapest. An entire tour to check out all the sights will take you around 3-4 hours. Győr makes a perfect one-day getaway destination that everyone should visit once in their lifetime.
