Pécs

Pécs, the city of Mediterranean ambience. A treasure trove of science, art and sacrality. It has been bathed in fame and glory, plundered and destroyed, yet it has grown over the centuries as geological layers pile up. Here, on top of each other and side-by-side, you can still see the many monuments of the Roman era, the Middle Ages, the Turkish occupation and the civilisation, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque houses, Christian churches and Muslim places of worship, mosques and camiis, baths and public buildings. The legacy of the past goes back to the Neolithic era. The area has always offered good living conditions for the ethnic groups that settled here. The archaeological finds that have been excavated bear witness to this.

The archaeological research of the town and cemetery of Sopianae (Roman for “Pécs”) has been going on for hundreds of years. The excavated finds outlined the area of the town and the cemetery located north of it, on the slopes of the Mecsek Mountains. The community of the town of Sopianae built a considerable number of tombs (chapels, burial chambers, built tombs) in the 4th century. The monuments are unique both architecturally and artistically and have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. In 2007, the Cella Septichora Visitor Centre was completed, where the Cella Septichora Tombs, the Peter and Paul Tomb, the Octagonal Chapel, Tombs III, IV, XIX and XX can be admired in an underground archaeological site.

The Zsolnay Cultural Quarter was the largest investment of the Pécs2010 European Capital of Culture project, built on a large part of the Zsolnay Porcelain Manufactory site in Pécs over a period of 2 years. Thanks to an investment of more than HUF 11 billion, the 5 hectares of the porcelain manufactory have been revitalised. The cultural quarter, which is part of the rehabilitation of one of the largest factory complexes in Central Europe, is divided into four parts. The most important element of the Míves quarter is the exhibition on the Zsolnay family and its history, as well as the Gyugyi collection. These include the renovated Zsolnay Mausoleum, the House of Creativity and Incubation, and the Artisans' Street outlet. The Creative Quarter is home to cultural institutions, restaurants and festivals. The central elements of the Children and Family Quarter are the Planetarium, the new building of the Pécs Gallery, which can host major international events, and the renewed Bóbita Puppet Theatre, while the University Quarter houses several faculties (e.g., the Faculty of Arts) and the newly established departments of the University of Pécs.

After the migration of the people, around 1009, Saint Stephen founded a bishopric in Pécs. Thanks to the economic and cultural importance of the town, in 1367, during the reign of King Louis the Great, Pope Orban signed the bull of the foundation of the university - and thus Pécs became the seat of the first university in Hungary. The University of Pécs is still a major intellectual and scientific centre. The city's development was also reflected in the founding of factories: Zsolnay ceramics, Littke champagne and Angster organs became world famous. In fact, the city of Pécs is more attractive for its intellectual life, its cultural and historical values, its unique style. In 2010, it rightly received the title of European Capital of Culture.

It is known throughout Europe for its museums, rich art scene, art festivals and creative artists. The best known museums in Pécs are: Pécs Basilica Treasury, Jannus Pannonius Museum, Ethnographic Exhibition, Csontváry Museum, Vasarely Museum, Amerigo Tot Exhibition, Natural History Museum, Modern Hungarian Picture Gallery I. and II., galleries. In the city, which was the venue of the National Theatre Meeting, guests to taste the famous gastronomy of Pécs and the famous wine of Mecsek, the cirfandli. Pécs has exceptional potential, evidenced by countless visitors, whether businessmen, researchers, students, lovers of history, the arts, cultural programmes or travellers seeking relaxation.

For more information: www.iranypecs.hu, www.pecs.hu, www.zsn.hu

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