Pecs

Pécs, a charming Hungarian town located in the south of the country, is more than 2000 years old. It’s a secret gem, which history and culture lovers will immediately fall in love with. The town was first inhabited by the Celts and later on by the Romans – the Early Christian Necropolis is now a UNESCO world heritage site. Afterwards the powerful Turks came to the area and left behind a number of fascinating sites, among them the Mosque of Pasha Qasim that was later on converted into a Catholic Church.

Lonely Planet describes the town as a place “blessed with a mild climate, an illustrious past and a number of fine museums and monuments”. Often referred to as “the Borderless City”, it represents a peaceful union of Hungarians, Croatians, Serbians and other ethnic groups.
The best thing about the place is that it hasn’t been discovered by crowds of tourists. Having said that, it’s beauty has not been overlooked: in 2010 it held the title of European Capital of Culture. Back then, a number of urban development projects took place, parks were revitalized and Zsolnay Cultural Quarter was established.

Apart from the Roman and Turkish Empire remains, there is much to explore. One of the must-see places is Pécs Cathedral, which was originally built in the 11th century. It is dominated by four 60 metre high towers, which make it one of Pecs’ most impressive buildings. Also the interior is breathtaking, featuring the famous frescoes of Bertalan Székely.

Pécs is also known for its decorative arts, specifically for Zsolnay porcelain. Visitors have a chance to look into the story of this famous porcelain, produced in the storied Zsolnay ceramics factory founded in 1853, by visiting the Zsolnay Museum and the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, built on the grounds of the original factory.
Blessed by the mild climate, the town is also home to a number of wine-cellars. And the food here is fascinating as well. This charming historic town is home to a number of restaurants serving traditional and modern Hungarian dishes. Among the restaurants worth visiting is also Cellarium Etterem, located in the downtown of Pecs – this is the place which will make history buffs speachless. It boasts good food, friendly atmosphere and a fascinating setting – it is located eight metres beneath the ground in a Turkish catacomb. Cozy atmosphere and reasonable prices make the restaurant really worth visiting.
This is just briefly about why Pecs is worth visiting. Contact us for more information and ideas on how to include it into your East-European Tours. With its charm, it will most certainly impress even the most demanding clients.