Pécs is a town in the southern part of Hungary with Mediterranean  style colours and atmosphere. It owes its irresistible charm to the inseparably intertwined imprint of historical eras and cultures - as the video below shows.

Ancient Roman burial sites, a Turkish minaret, medieval castle walls and the Bishop's Palace, Renaissance and Baroque residential buildings and an abundance of museums all make Pécs one of the most interesting and enjoyable cultural destinations in Hungary.

A European Capital of Culture

All of the above explain why the town was selected to be the European Capital of Culture in 2010. The brightest jewel of the town is the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter.

Here the unique legacy of the founding family of the famous porcelain manufacturer lives on with new content added all the time.

Besides the street of artisanal stores, coffee-houses, restaurants, contemporary exhibition spaces and atmospheric promenades, this Quarter is also home to one-of-a-kind sights such as the Gyugyi Collection presenting the Golden Age of the Zsolnay Factory or the mysterious Zsolnay Mausoleum.

Pécs: Paradise for Art Lovers

Art is an intrinsic feature of Pécs, just like the mosques or the TV tower. For example, Káptalan Street, also called the street of museums, is a paradise for art lovers.

Among others, this is where you’ll find the “Street” exhibition of Erzsébet Schaár, or the “Sopianae” archaeological exhibition temporarily transferred here from the Museum of Archaeology.

The very same street is also home to the Martyn Museum with the works of the namesake Ferenc Martyn donated to the town of Pécs and the Janus Pannonius Museum.

The sculptor, painter, graphic designer and illustrator born in Kaposvár is a major character of modern Hungarian visual art, and also one of the most significant representatives of the post-World War II non-representational styles.

One of the most prestigious collections, Museum Vasarely is also located in this street: it includes world-famous masterpieces of optical art.

The most famous of all might be the Csontváry Museum exhibiting the paintings of Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka with a unique colour palette and symbolic system. You can also see The Lonely Cedar on display here.

Try Exquisite Wines in the Cellar Villages of Villány

Located near Pécs, Villány is the southernmost of Hungary’s 22 wine regions, whose premium red (and rosé) wines are regularly awarded at domestic and international wine competitions.

This is where Hungary’s very first wine route was set up. The long and hot summers and the mild winters in the Southern region favour the production of full-bodied, spicy reds of excellent quality.

The white nectars of Siklós are also among the most famous Hungarian wines too.

In addition to the protected, landmark cellar-streets, old press-houses and small family businesses of Palkonya, Villánykövesd, Villány, Nagyharsány and Kisharsány, state-of-the-art wineries also welcome visitors with open doors.

After a drink or two do visit one of the press-houses now turned into restaurants - found among the long rows of wine cellars - to savour local flavours like plum and onion flan and / or catfish stew.

For more inspiration check out the video below to see that Pécs really does have a myriad things to experience at any time of the year.

Source:
Wow Hungary

Main Photo by Tamás Sóki, MTI