Summer in Eger: historical monuments and wines

Should you set out to visit Eger in mid-summer and to stay there for a weekend or for an extended holiday you will find a lot of impressive sights and places worth exploring. Besides the historical monuments and sights it is highly recommendable to include a visit to the rejuvenated Szépasszony Valley where you can sample local wines in one of the many cellars situated there.

The town

The Eger castle is a piece of history on its own.

The Archbishop’s Palace, the Cazametes and the Waxworks all provide insight into the lives of the defenders.

You can explore these sights on your own but you can certainly gain a better understanding of the lives and fates of Eger’s heroes if you enroll for a guided tour.

A lot of relics of great historical value have survived the period of Ottoman rule. It’s worth visiting the 40 meter tall minaret and enjoy the breathtaking views from its top. Then one could sip a Turkish coffee at the Egri Pasa’s Tent. Spending a few hours at the still functioning Turkish Bath will surely recharge your batteries. The oldest pool of the spa was built in 1610 and the thermal water spring reaches the surface right below your feet through the stone floor plates. The ruins of the other spa Valide Sultana are also worth a visit.

The long list of sights continues with the museums.

The recently renovated Archbishop’s Palace was built in baroque style and offers several exhibitions. One of the highlights is the Bird Hall with its amazing frescoes of birds which for many years lay under more than 30 layers of paint which had to be carefully removed by experts.

The Archdiocese Library stores 170.000 volumes including the documents of Pope Leo IX and a copy of the Dante Codex of which there are only three surviving copies in the world.

The Magic Tower that you can find in one of the buildings of the Eszterházy Károly University houses a museum of astrology, an observatory and the Panoráma terrace which offers a wonderful view of the town and its surroundings. At the top of the Magic Tower you’ll find the oldest camera obscura in Europe.