Szekesfehervar - the main city of the Fejer region, which has a population of 110 thousand people - is one of the largest cities in Hungary, the economic center of the country.
As the center of a new emerging industrial region of Budapest-Gyhr-Szekesfehérvár, the city plays an important role in the introduction of new technologies that determine the economic development of the country.
Fountain
The city is located about 65 kilometers southwest of Budapest on the plain west of the Danube, about halfway between the capital and Lake Balaton. Szekesfehervar is a major railway junction, connected by road and rail to Budapest and the largest cities in the country.
The name of the city can be translated as "Chronicle White City" - this Hungarian name goes back to the Latin "Alba Regia", the name by which the city was known in the Middle Ages. The Hungarian szék means "throne" and reflects the city's role in early Hungarian history when it was the seat of kings, hung. fehér - "white", Hung. vár - "fortress", "city". During the Turkish rule, the city was known as Belgrade or Istolni Belgrade.
In the early Middle Ages, the city was the capital of Hungary, the capital city of the king. 37 kings and 39 queen consorts were crowned and 15 rulers were buried in the city. Later, its influence decreased, and only in the 18th century did it begin to develop rapidly again. It was then that the character of the core of the city in the Baroque style was formed, which is still preserved in many monuments of art.
Already in the times of the Roman Empire, there was a settlement on the site of Szekesfehervar. The current Hungarian city was founded in 972, according to legend, on the site where the tent of Arpad, the leader of the Hungarians, who led their resettlement to the territory of modern Hungary, was located. The city was founded by the great-grandson of Arpad - Prince Geza. The first written mention of the city dates back to 1009. In the late 970s, Geza moved his residence to Esztergom, but this did not lead to the decline of Szekesfehervar. On the contrary, the city grew rapidly, under King Stephen the Holy, a fortress with earthen ramparts, a majestic basilica (1039) was built in the city. Under the rule of Istvan, Szekesfehervar received city rights.
In the Middle Ages, Hungarian kings were crowned in Szekesfehervar. In total, 37 coronations were held in the city (38 according to other sources). Peter Orseolo was the first to be crowned here in 1038, the last was Janos Zapolyai in 1526. 15 kings were buried in the local cathedral, among them - Istvan I the Holy, Bela II, Lajos the Great, Matthias Korvin and others.
In 1222, the Golden Bull was issued here by King Andrew II, which guaranteed the rights of the nobility and royal duties. Until 1848, the Hungarian Constitution was based on it.
The Mongol invasion of 1242 did not cause damage to the city, the invaders were forced to bypass Szekesfehevar due to a large flood that flooded the surroundings. The prosperity of the city continued until the Turkish invasion in the 16th century.
In 1543, the Turkish army besieged Szekesfehevar and after a long siege took the city. Most of the buildings were destroyed by them, the surviving churches were turned into mosques. The tombs of the kings were looted and destroyed, and the basilica, turned into a gunpowder store, was completely destroyed after a fire and explosion following a lightning strike. 
In 1688 the city was liberated from the Turkish yoke. At the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th century, the city was rebuilt, the Austrian baroque became the dominant style. The greatly reduced Hungarian population of the city was replenished by the arrival of German and Serbian colonists. In 1777, the city became the residence of the bishop, for whom a luxurious palace was erected on the central square. By the 19th century, the population of the city exceeded 12 thousand people.
New ordeals awaited the city during World War II. In March 1945, heavy fighting took place in and around Szekesfehervar between the 5th SS Panzer Division and the troops of the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front (Balaton operation). During the fighting, almost half of the buildings in the city were destroyed, more than 10 thousand inhabitants died.
In the post-war period, the city was rebuilt. Baroque buildings in the historical center of the city were restored, while the rest of the city was built up with typical faceless houses typical of the socialist countries. Szekesfehervar was turned into a major industrial center. The most significant enterprises in the city were the Ikarus bus plant and the Videoton TV and radio equipment plant. In the late 1970s, the population of the city for the first time exceeded the mark of 100 thousand people.
In the 90s, after the fall of the socialist system, the city and its industry experienced a severe crisis. Modern Szekesfehervar is a dynamically developing city focused on modern industry and high technology.
Since the 1960s, as a result of a large-scale industrial development program, Székesfehérvár has become one of the Hungarian industrial centers. Its potential is determined by companies that have achieved recognition at the international level, such as IKARUS (at that time one of the largest bus factories in the world), VIDEOTON (the largest company in the Hungarian electronics industry), KOFEM - a large aluminum processing company (in currently under the purview of ALCOA).
After the change of the social system of the state in 1989-90, the city became one of those settlements that quickly adapted to new conditions. Through the successful use of local conditions, the city has been able to create an area of application for investment that has resulted in the infusion of a very high amount of overseas working capital. The capital raised is currently about 1.8-2. billion US dollars.
The city is the center of the Middle Transdanubian region, which consists of three regions with a total population of 1.12 million people.
Attractions
Ruin garden. Remains of the foundation of the famous 11th-century basilica, unearthed by archaeologists, in which numerous kings of the pre-Turkish era of Hungary's history were crowned and buried. The basilica was destroyed during the Turkish occupation of the city. The Garden of Ruins is located in the eastern part of the old city on Coronation Square. 
Cathedral of St. Istvan. It is located in the center of the Old Town, built in 1758-1768 in the Baroque style on the site of an ancient Gothic cathedral destroyed by the Turks. 
Chapel of St. Anna. A small chapel next to the cathedral. Built in 1480. One of the few buildings in Sehesfehervar that survived both the Turkish yoke and the Second World War.
Bishop's Palace. It is located on the central square of the city - the Town Hall. Created in 1800 in the style of Austrian classicism (zopf style).
City Hall. Located in the southern part of the Town Hall Square, built in 1690 in the Baroque style, one of the first buildings built in the city after it was conquered from the Turks.
Zichy Palace. It is located to the west of the town hall and adjoins it. 1781, Zopf style.
Church of St. Imre. It occupies the entire northern side of the Town Hall Square, built in 1745, belongs to the Franciscan order.
Mother of God
Church of St. John of Nepomuk. The baroque church is located on Feu street. Belongs to the Cistercians.
Carmelite Church in the south of the Old City. Erected in 1769, decorated with frescoes.
Vörösmarty Theatre. It is located in the northern part of Feu street. An elegant baroque building.
Bori Castle. The only one of the architectural sights of the city, created in the XX century. The construction of the castle was carried out by the architect and sculptor J. Bori. Construction completed in 1959. The building is made in an eclectic style, but at the same time harmonious. Located in the northeast of the city, away from the center.
Museums
Museum-Pharmacy "Black Eagle". It is located on the main street of the old town - Fyo street. Discovered by the Jesuits in the 18th century. 
Archaeological Museum of St. Stephen. Located on Fyo Street opposite the Black Eagle Pharmacy. Adjacent to the Cistercian church. The exposition reveals the archaeological history of the city from Roman times to the present day.
City Art Gallery - an exhibition of Hungarian art of the XIX-XX centuries.
Puppet Museum.
Ethnographical museum.
Notable monuments
Power. One of the symbols of the city is installed on the central square of the Old Town - the Town Hall. The stone attribute of kings - orb - topped with a crown and symbolizes royal power. 
Broken bell. Installed in the western part of the Town Hall Square. Dedicated to the memory of the victims of World War II. 
Monument to St. Istvan. It is located in the southern part of the Old Town, on St. Istvan.
Monument to King Matthias. The relief stone figure of King Matthias Corvinus is located on the northern wall of the archaeological museum.
Fragment of the monument
"Aunt Katya goes to the market"
Aunt Katya sold milk in this square in Szekesfehervar for so many years that the townspeople erected this monument.
Spiral staircase in the Castle of Love. Szekesfehervar, Hungary
Together forever
Clock with moving figures. The mechanism works at the beginning of each hour. There was one figure in the previous photo. After 15 minutes, there is already a composition from the life of the king.
At 12 o'clock the most famous Hungarian kings appear.
Fountain
flower clock
street sculpture
Not far from my house was a cemetery of Soviet soldiers of the Great Patriotic War.
division headquarters
Another trip to Eastern Europe on my own allowed me to see such sights of Szekesfehervar as the garden of ruins, the cathedral and the episcopal palace, find out where you can eat in Szekesfehervar, wander through the streets; to learn more, read another report from Hungary
Through the city with the almost unpronounceable name Szekesfehervar (I always want to go astray to Szekesfekes ...) I had a chance to pass a few years ago, when I set out to go from Budapest to the Balaton on my own. Since the railway line runs away from the historical core, naturally, I could not see any sights of Szekesfehervar, and I did not strive, to tell the truth. In my opinion, it would be much better for everyone if it were advertised everywhere that we are talking about the royal white city - and this is how the name is translated from the Hungarian language - and tourists would immediately understand what they are dealing with.
The question of whether it is worth visiting Szekesfehervar can be answered even with one single fact: in 1972, local residents pompously celebrated the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the city. It is believed that the settlement was founded by the legendary Prince Gyoza, the grandson of the famous leader of the Hungarians Arpad, who led the people to the fertile plains of Central Europe. Those who chose then a new town to live in, soon found that it was located at the crossroads of the most important trade routes. The significance of Szekesfehervar for medieval Hungary was clearly emphasized by the construction of the first stone Christian church in the country. Then the city acquired powerful walls, a large basilica rose above it, in general, its business went uphill.
But, as they say, no matter how much the rope twists, the end will still be: a fluke allowed Szekesfehervar to avoid ruin by the Mongol troops, but he no longer had enough luck for the Turks. The Muslims, who took the city in 1543, owned it for a century and a half and did not waste time in vain: they burned the palaces of the nobility, plundered and destroyed the graves of the Hungarian kings, destroyed the churches, replacing them with mosques.
The revival of Szekesfehervar began only after the expulsion of the Turkish hordes from Hungary at the beginning of the 18th century. It took a whole century for the townspeople to return their former beauty to their small homeland. But the resulting ensemble came out even better than the previous one, since the Hungarian and Austrian architects widely used the baroque style that gained insane popularity during construction. Since then, the sights of Szekesfehervar have been distinguished by their magnificent design and look truly awesome!
When figuring out where to park my car in Szekesfehervar, I first chose the Zichy Park area, located north of the historic center. But then, having driven through the streets, we found a place even better, literally under the old fortress walls. It turned out that at the beginning of Palotai Street near the Tesco shopping complex there is a huge and completely free parking lot - I don’t want to get up; Piac Square, where McDonald's is located in Szekesfehervar, can serve as an additional landmark. Having settled down there, we got both quick access to the city core and unhindered access to the main intercity highway.
Having safely attached the car, we crossed the road and found ourselves in a small Varfal park, along which a semblance of a fortress wall stretches. In the past, fortifications surrounded Szekesfehervar in a continuous ring, they were demolished just a little over two hundred years ago, when work was underway to rebuild the city. Now, from such fragments, one can judge how the historical center used to look. Its structure was formed in the Middle Ages, but there are almost no buildings of that time left. The most outstanding of the few exceptions is the chapel of St. Anne, and so the number of ancient buildings can really be counted on the fingers - the reason for this is the massive destruction caused by the Turks. However, what was built to replace the lost one looks very, very impressive, and from the first steps around the city it became clear that I like it.
To begin with, we were pleased with the Liszt Ferenc street, furnished with houses in the Baroque spirit. A pleasant bonus was the figurine of a merry old woman with a cart, which is very popular with the local population, standing right behind a small fountain - few of those passing by could resist rubbing her nose. Probably, the townspeople believe that this ritual brings good luck.
Further - more, and after a couple of minutes, Varoshaz Square spread out in front of us in all its glory. It overlooks as many as four sights of Szekesfehervar, including the town hall and the palace of the archbishops. The fifth object, a huge granite orb, stands in the eastern part of the space as a reminder of those times when the city was the capital of the Hungarian state and the coronation treasures were kept in it.
As for the town hall, having looked into the Szekesfehervar guide, we set the date of its construction - 1710. This work of baroque art was the first sign of a grand restructuring of the entire city ensemble. Then came the palaces of aristocrats, the church of St. John, the temple of the Cistercians and other buildings, but the town hall remained an example for all of them.
The archbishop's palace, which rises obliquely from it, is a product of later architecture, it was built during the last quarter of the 18th century. Historians found out that during the construction, stones were used that were left over from the church of St. Stephen destroyed by the Turkish invaders. The building, designed in the style of mature classicism, received a long facade - in fact, it occupies the entire eastern side of the square. When visiting the biggest attraction of Szekesfehervar, you need to pay attention to the triangular pediment, decorated with archiepiscopal heraldry. And the guests who manage to get inside are waiting for luxurious furniture and chic interiors - this and much more is promised by the booklet I took from the travel agency.
Fo street leaves the palace to the north, whose most picturesque houses simply provoke you to come up and get to know them better. However, I recommend that you first see two more objects that you should definitely see in Szekesfehervar. First, you need to go around the residence of the archbishops on the right and go to the Garden of Ruins. The place only looks unsightly, but in fact it has great historical value: scientists have established that the most important basilica in Hungary used to stand on it. Dating back to the early Middle Ages, the temple was used for decades to host the coronations of Hungarian rulers, and at least three dozen kings were anointed to the throne there. Over time, the basilica began to be used as a royal tomb. It is believed that the patron saint of the country, Saint Stephen, found eternal rest in one of the graves.
In the XIII century, instead of the old, dilapidated church, a new, large and, judging by the descriptions of contemporaries, very impressive was built. She, like many shrines of Christian Europe, was destroyed by the Turks. First, the conquerors desecrated the temple, ruining the burial places and setting up a gunpowder warehouse in the main nave. Then, in 1601, a real catastrophe happened: an accidental spark ignited gunpowder, the explosion was so powerful that it did not leave stone on stone from building. The occupiers stole the rest of the building materials for their own needs.
When the time came to build a new Szekesfehervar basilica, the townspeople erected it elsewhere. The old foundation almost disappeared, but in the end, archaeologists managed to unearth it, partially restore it and conserve it. Having been turned into an open-air museum, the Garden of Ruins is now a real pilgrimage site for Hungarians who come to stand near one of the pillars of national history.
As already mentioned, the liberation of Hungary from the rule of the Ottoman Empire made it possible at the beginning of the 18th century to begin the restoration of Szekesfehervar. Assessing the prospects for the revival of the basilica, local officials preferred to build a new building in another place. For this, land was allocated in the rear of the town hall, and work began to boil. Things were going well until 1740, until a hurricane hit the almost finished cathedral, causing severe damage: among other things, the roof and one of the two towers collapsed. As a result, the temple was opened to believers only at the end of the century, and it acquired its final form only by the end of the era of the Napoleonic Wars, when the towers were completed. But, I must say, the builders did not spend their working time in vain: the baroque style made the cathedral a pearl of architecture, which, in addition to its expressive appearance, also boasts rich interiors with an abundance of sculptures and murals.
Almost immediately behind the palace you can see the Arpad baths, a place, in general, nothing, but, perhaps, got into the sights of Szekesfehervar, so to speak, for beautiful eyes, that is, for a pleasant view. The Art Nouveau building of 1905 has recently undergone restoration and now looks excellent.
After waving the hand to the baths, we return to Fo street to gaze at the imposing Cistercian church. In fact, the temple began to be built in 1745 by order of the Jesuits, who then actively spudded Hungary. After 12 years, the work was completed, and contemporaries did not get tired of gasping and groaning at the sight of the magnificent decoration of the stronghold of Catholicism. After the expulsion of members of the Order of Ignatius Loyola from the country, the building went to their more modest colleagues in monastic life. Although the followers of the views of Bernard of Klevossky do not respect luxury, they still retained the interiors, so the frescoes, the altar, the pulpit and other details are still pleasing to the eye.
To the right of the facade of the church is the Museum of St. Stephen, where we did not get, as it was corny closed. For the same reason, we had to ignore the Historical Museum of Szekesfehervar, located on the parallel M egyehaz street. According to the description, it contains both amusing finds of archaeologists and valuable relics of the Middle Ages. Probably, it would be interesting to see the exposition, but the case did not burn out.
But a further walk opened up new beautiful pictures for us, which we thoroughly admired. The final point of the walk already in the coming twilight was set by the City Theater, which is considered the oldest building of its kind in the whole country. It was opened in 1874 with great fanfare, then the ceremony was attended by "our everything" of Hungary Mor Yokai. After almost exactly 70 years, the building burned down, becoming another victim of the Second World War. Its second opening took place in 1962 thanks to a powerful public initiative that received the support of the authorities.
It cannot be said that the appearance of the theater is breathtaking, but the impressions from it remain favorable, as, indeed, from the entire tour of Szekesfehervar.
Having completed our acquaintance with the historical center, we began to think about how to have lunch - the time was already late, and we still wanted to walk around Budapest at night. Therefore, the search for places where you can eat inexpensively in Szekesfehervar was limited to the central quarters. And, I must say, almost immediately half a dozen restaurants were found ready to serve Hungarian national dishes to customers. Moreover, two establishments, "Hiemer Cafe" and "Sorozo", were located in the southern part of the main square, and "Porto Vino"On its northern corner. Their tables in front of the facades beckoned to sit in the fresh air, and if we were in another country, say, Finland or Germany, we would have done just that. The catch was that smoking in Hungary seems to be allowed everywhere, and enjoying a meal in clouds of tobacco smoke from neighbors and passers-by was simply unthinkable. So in the end, our choice fell on the pretty Perte bistro, whose interiors seemed to us the most attractive. The menu also turned out to be attractive, in which goulash, gypsy meat, and other Hungarian national dishes were found. The quality of the food was excellent, we were served promptly, so it took less than an hour for a meal of soup, main course and dessert. Moreover, for an excellent lunch, we, as always in Hungary, paid very little, a little more than 8,000 forints for two - that is, 25 euros for gatherings in the city center. In short, I definitely recommend an institution to eat inexpensively in Szekesfehervar.
When the city accumulated during the day was satisfied, the time was already approaching eight in the evening. There was no longer any talk of buying souvenirs, and in general, to the great displeasure of my half of shopping in Veszprem and Szekesfehervar, she lost it. At that time, happiness turned out to be the purchase of water and juice, which we grabbed at the last moment, literally breaking into the supermarket "on the flag" - Hungary's grocery stores close at 20:00, rarely anyone works after this time, except that hypermarkets are open until 22:00 . We didn’t manage to get to such an attraction of Szekesfehervar as the fabulous castle of Bori. Well, some other time we will visit him and the local open-air ethnographic museum.
Ahead of us was Budapest at night, to which we had to drive about an hour and a half ...
Sümeg is one of the oldest and well-preserved fortresses in Hungary. Its construction began under St. Stephen, the first king, the founder of the Hungarian state. Sümeg is considered the founder of the Hungarian forts.
Bori Castle
Can one man build a castle with his own hands? A reasonable answer is a resounding no. But it turns out that there are no barriers for a passionately and sincerely loving man. A worthy confirmation of this is the castle of Borivar. At first glance, it seems that he came to today from a fairy tale. And it is impossible to imagine that the artist Jeno Bori built it himself, from the first to the last stone.
At first, the inhabitants of the city openly laughed at the strange neighbor, but soon the mockery was replaced by boundless respect. He became the only person in the world who built a house of this magnitude alone. And all for the sake of his only, beloved wife, Ilona. Construction lasted for a long 40 years and ended only in 1959.
The castle is a truly grandiose and majestic building, which harmoniously combines a variety of architectural styles. Sculptures, bas-reliefs, paintings and stained-glass windows created by the artist himself and his wife are located throughout the castle. In almost every room there is an image of Ilona, the artist literally prayed for her, as for an icon. And this is not an exaggeration: in the palace there is a chapel where Ilona is depicted as the Madonna, and at her feet is the artist himself in the form of an angel.
The courtyard of the castle is a fragrant garden with many rose bushes, where you want to stay longer. Everything here is saturated with an atmosphere of love, devotion and purity. No wonder the castle became a Mecca for lovers. If you want to carry love through your whole life - come to Bori Castle, make a wish and it will certainly come true!
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Fountain Power
Power. One of the symbols of the city is installed on the central square of the Old Town - the Town Hall. The stone attribute of kings - orb - topped with a crown and symbolizes royal power.
The construction of the fountain, in Hungarian Power - Orsz & aacute galm & aacute nak, began in the second half of 1941 and was completed in September 1943.
Contains three dates - 1001 (the year of the coronation of King Stephen), 1688 (liberation from the Turkish yoke), 1938 (900th anniversary of the death of St. Stephen),
inscription in Latin LIBERTATES CIVITATI ALBENSI A. S. REGE STEPHANO CONCESSAE about giving the city the status of a free city by King Stephen.
In 1777, the city became the residence of a bishop, for whom a sumptuous palace in the style of Louis XVI was erected on the central square from the stones of the royal basilica of the 11th century.
Carillon with figures of Hungarian kings
In the courtyard next to Kossuth Street (Kossuth utca) there is a low turret with intricate chimes decorated with figures depicting the legendary Hungarian kings.
Knight's Tournament in Sümeg Fortress
A rather well-preserved ancient Hungarian fortress of the 13th century invites tourists and local residents to a jousting tournament. The whole old town of Szekesfehervar is imbued with a medieval spirit. Here you can take pictures with a knight in full armor, as well as plunge into the fascinating atmosphere of legendary times. From the bastions of the fortress you will have an amazing opportunity to watch the magnificent panorama. The local museum houses an exhibition of ancient weapons and an exposition of wax figures.
The fortress has a unique history. It was founded in the 11th century on a high hill during the era of King St. Stephen. The choice of location was based on the strategic importance of the region, where important transport routes intersected. In 1241, King Bela IV was hiding in the fortress. At the beginning of the 18th century, after a national uprising against the Habsburgs broke out in the country, the walls of almost all the fortresses, including the Sümeg one, were blown up. It was restored only in the 20th century.
Now on the territory of the fortress there are various shops and shops where you can buy souvenirs with knightly symbols. The program of the knightly tournament ends with a real medieval meal. The total duration of the tour is 5-6 hours. The cost of an adult ticket is € 50, and a child ticket is € 35.
The most popular attractions in Szekesfehervar with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit the famous places of Szekesfehervar on our website.
Individual and group
Szekesfehervar(Hungarian Szekesfehervar, German Stuhlweiyyenburg, Latin Alba Regia, Croatian Stolni Biograd) is a city in Hungary, the administrative center of Fejer County. Population 101,465 (2005). In the Middle Ages, Szekesfehervar was the most important city in Hungary, the location of the royal residence. 37 kings and 39 queen consorts were crowned and 15 rulers were buried in the city.
The city is located about 65 kilometers southwest of Budapest on the plain west of the Danube, about halfway between the capital and Lake Balaton. Szekesfehervar is a major railway junction connected by road and rail to Budapest and the largest cities in the country.
The name of the city can be translated as "White Capital City" - this Hungarian word goes back to the Latin "Alba Regia", the name by which the city was known in the Middle Ages. The Hungarian Szek means "throne" and reflects the role of the city in early Hungarian history, when it was the residence of kings, Feher - white, Var - city. During the Turkish rule, the city was known as Belgrade or Istolni Belgrade.
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ruin garden |
Already in the times of the Roman Empire, there was a settlement on the site of Szekesfehervar. The current Hungarian city was founded in 972, according to legend, on the site where the tent of Arpad, the leader of the Hungarians, who led their resettlement to the territory of modern Hungary, was located. The city was founded by the grandson of Arpad - Prince Geza. The first written mention of the city dates back to 1009. In the late 970s, Geza moved his residence to Esztergom, but this did not lead to the decline of Szekesfehervar. On the contrary, the city grew rapidly, under King Stephen the Holy, a fortress with earthen ramparts, a majestic basilica (1039) was built in the city. Under the rule of Istvan, Szekesfehervar received city rights.
In the Middle Ages, Hungarian kings were crowned in Szekesfehervar. In total, 37 coronations were held in the city (38 according to other sources). Peter Orseolo was the first to be crowned here (1038), the last was Janos II (1526). 15 kings were buried in the local cathedral, among them Istvan I the Holy, Bela II, Lajos the Great, Matthias Korvin and others. In 1222, the Golden Bull was issued here by King Andrew II, which guaranteed the rights of the nobility and royal duties. Until 1848, the Hungarian Constitution was based on it. The Mongol invasion of 1242 did not cause damage to the city, the invaders were forced to bypass Szekesfehevar due to a large flood that flooded the surroundings. In 1543, the Turkish army besieged Szekesfehevar and after a long siege took the city. Most of the buildings were destroyed, the surviving churches were turned into mosques. The tombs of the kings were looted and destroyed, and the basilica, turned into a powder store, was completely destroyed after a fire and explosion following a lightning strike. In 1688, the city was liberated from the Turkish yoke. At the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th century, the city was rebuilt, the Austrian baroque became the dominant style. The greatly reduced Hungarian population of the city was replenished by the arrival of German and Serbian colonists. In 1777, the city became the residence of the bishop, for whom a magnificent palace was erected on the central square. By the 19th century, the population of the city exceeded 12 thousand people.
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Bori Castle (photo from Wikipedia) |
New ordeals awaited Szekesfehervar during World War II. In March 1945, heavy fighting took place in the city and its environs between the 5th SS Panzer Division and the troops of the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front (Balaton operation). During the fighting, almost half of the buildings in the city were destroyed, more than 10 thousand inhabitants died. In the post-war period, the city was restored. Baroque buildings in the historic center of Szekesfehervar were restored, and the rest of the city was built up with typical faceless houses. Szekesfehervar becomes a major industrial center. The most significant enterprises in the city were the Ikarus bus plant and the Videoton TV and radio equipment plant. In the 1990s, after the fall of the socialist system, Szekesfehervar and its industry experienced a severe crisis. Today it is a dynamically developing city focused on modern industry and high technologies.
The “Garden of Ruins” is the name given by archaeologists to the remains of the foundation of the famous basilica of the 11th century, in which numerous kings of the pre-Turkish era of Hungarian history were crowned and buried. The Garden of Ruins is located in the eastern part of the old city on Coronation Square.
Cathedral of St. Istvana is located in the center of the Old Town, built in 1758-1768 in the Baroque style on the site of an ancient Gothic cathedral destroyed by the Turks. There is a small chapel next to the cathedral. This is the chapel of St. Anna, built in 1480. The construction became one of the few buildings of Sehesfehervar that survived both the Turkish yoke and the Second World War.
On the central square of the city - the Town Hall - stands the Bishop's Palace. Created in 1800 in the style of Austrian classicism (zopf style). The Baroque Town Hall (1690) is located in the southern part of the Town Hall Square. This is one of the first buildings built in Szekesfehervar after it was conquered from the Turks. From the west, the Zichy Palace adjoins the Town Hall (1781, Zopf style). The entire northern side of the Town Hall Square is occupied by the Church of St. Imre (1745), which belongs to the Franciscan order.
Among other churches of Szekesfehervar, the Baroque Church of St. John of Nepomuk on Fe Street, owned by the Cistercians, as well as the frescoed Carmelite Church in the south of the Old Town (1769).
On the central street of the Old Town - Fe Street - the baroque theater of Veresmarty and the Black Eagle Pharmacy Museum, opened by the Jesuits in the 18th century, are interesting for viewing.
Bori Castle is the only architectural landmark of the city created in the 20th century. Located in the northeast of the city, away from the center. In its silhouette, various architectural styles are harmoniously combined: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and the walls, columns, domes and even sculptures richly decorating the terraces and balustrades are made of concrete. At the beginning of the 20th century, the architect and sculptor Jene Bori decided to build a castle for his young wife Ilona in the vicinity of Szekesfehervar near a small house, which he acquired in 1912. But the First World War delayed the execution of this plan for ten years. Jena Bori had to go to the front. But the service, fortunately, was short-lived: the architect was transferred to Sarajevo, where he completed a number of monumental projects commissioned by the imperial family. Only in 1923, Jene Bori was able to start fulfilling his dream. Construction progressed slowly - the construction was completed only in 1959. Working only on weekends, Yene Bori created this monument of eternal love until the end of his days. Numerous images of Ilona Bori, the wife of the architect, in sculptures, paintings or poems dedicated to her and carved on the stones of the castle, tell about the love of the architect for his beloved. In the garden, on the terraces and under the arcades of the castle, the artist's studio displays more than 500 works of art made by Bory himself, his wife and daughter. Walking through the castle, the visitor, as it were, passes through historical eras, coming into contact with their symbols, with heroes who identify their glorious pages, with artists and thinkers. So in the garden, among the sculptures, there are fragments of bombs and shells that destroyed what was supposed to bring joy to people. Next to the tombstones of Turkish soldiers who trampled the land of Hungary for 150 years, there is a monument to a Soviet soldier who corrected artillery fire from one of the castle towers and died for the liberation of foreign land. There are busts of famous Hungarian architects, painters and sculptors on the terraces of the castle. The sword of Damocles hanging between the towers of the castle reminds us of the moral qualities of a person, and the elephant holding the earthly sphere reminds us of the progress of human thought. The sculptures of the Hungarian kings, lined up along the perimeter of the fortress walls, seem to tell about the glorious and tragic moments of Hungarian history. From the height of the castle towers, a wonderful panorama of the surroundings opens up.
Among the museums of Szekesfehervar, worthy of mention are the archaeological museum of St. Stephen on Fö Street, the city art gallery - an exhibition of Hungarian art of the 19th-20th centuries; puppet museum; ethnographical museum.
One of the symbols of the city is the monument "Derzhava". It is installed on the central square of the Old Town - the Town Hall. The stone attribute of kings - orb - topped with a crown and symbolizes royal power. In the western part of the Town Hall Square, you can see another interesting monument, the Broken Bell, dedicated to the memory of the victims of World War II. Monument to St. Istvanu is located in the southern part of the Old Town, on St. Stephen, a relief stone figure of King Matthias Corvinus is located on the northern wall of the archaeological museum.
The porcelain bell “Szekesfehervar” (“Geographical objects”) depicts the city coat of arms - a silver castle (“fehervar” - “white city”, white color is the color of the family banners of the royal Arpad dynasty, whose family possessions and residence were here back in the 10th century) , as well as three sights of the city: St. Stephen's Cathedral, Bori Castle and the monument "Derzhava".
According to Wikipedia, sites www.otdohnuli.ru and http://his.1september.ru
Székesfehérvár- a city in Hungary, 60 km southwest of, 33 km from the lake. Population - 101,465 people (2005).
The city is a major railway junction, connected by road and rail to Budapest and the largest cities in the country.
Szekesfehervar has a rich history, as in the Middle Ages it was the most important city in Hungary, the location of the royal residence. 37 kings were crowned and 15 rulers were buried here.
City name
The name of the city can be translated as "Chronicle White City" - this Hungarian name goes back to the Latin "Alba Regia", the name by which the city was known in the Middle Ages. The Hungarian szék means "throne" and reflects the city's role in early Hungarian history when it was the seat of kings, hung. fehér - "white", Hung. vár - "fortress", "city".
Story
Szekesfehervar was founded in 972, according to legend, on the site where the tent of Arpad, the leader of the Hungarians, who led their resettlement to the territory of modern Hungary, was located. The city was founded by the great-grandson of Arpad - Prince Geza. The first written mention of the city dates back to 1009. In the late 970s, Geza moved his residence to Esztergom, but this did not lead to the decline of Szekesfehervar. On the contrary, the city grew rapidly, under King Stephen the Holy, a fortress with earthen ramparts, a majestic basilica (1039) was built in the city. Under the rule of Istvan, Szekesfehervar received city rights.
In the Middle Ages, Hungarian kings were crowned in Szekesfehervar. In total, 37 coronations were held in the city (38 according to other sources). Peter Orseolo was the first to be crowned here in 1038, the last was Janos Zapolyai in 1526. 15 kings were buried in the local cathedral, among them - Istvan I the Holy, Bela II, Lajos the Great, Matthias Korvin and others.
In 1222, the Golden Bull was issued here by King Andrew II, which guaranteed the rights of the nobility and royal duties. Until 1848, the Hungarian Constitution was based on it.
The Mongol invasion of 1242 did not cause damage to the city, the invaders were forced to bypass Szekesfehevar due to a large flood that flooded the surroundings. The prosperity of the city continued until the Turkish invasion in the 16th century.
In 1543, the Turkish army besieged Szekesfehevar and after a long siege took the city. Most of the buildings were destroyed by them, the surviving churches were turned into mosques. The tombs of the kings were looted and destroyed, and the basilica, turned into a gunpowder store, was completely destroyed after a fire and explosion following a lightning strike.
In 1688 the city was liberated from the Turkish yoke. At the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th century, the city was rebuilt, the Austrian baroque became the dominant style. The greatly reduced Hungarian population of the city was replenished by the arrival of German and Serbian colonists. In 1777, the city became the residence of the bishop, for whom a luxurious palace was erected on the central square. By the 19th century, the population of the city exceeded 12 thousand people.
New ordeals awaited the city during World War II. In March 1945, heavy fighting took place in and around Szekesfehervar between the 5th SS Panzer Division and the troops of the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front (Balaton operation). During the fighting, almost half of the buildings in the city were destroyed, more than 10 thousand inhabitants died.
In the post-war period, the city was rebuilt. Baroque buildings in the historical center of the city were restored, while the rest of the city was built up with typical faceless houses typical of the socialist countries. Szekesfehervar was turned into a major industrial center. The most significant enterprises in the city were the Ikarus bus plant and the Videoton TV and radio equipment plant. In the late 1970s, the population of the city for the first time exceeded the mark of 100 thousand people.
In the 90s, after the fall of the socialist system, the city and its industry experienced a severe crisis. Modern Szekesfehervar is a dynamically developing city focused on modern industry and high technology.
Sights of Szekesfehervar
- Remains of the foundation of the famous basilica of the XI century, discovered by archaeologists, in which numerous kings of the pre-Turkish era of Hungary's history were crowned and buried. The basilica was destroyed during the Turkish occupation of the city. The Garden of Ruins is located in the eastern part of the old city on Coronation Square.
(Szent Istvan Cathedral)- located in the center of the Old Town, built in 1758-1768 in the Baroque style on the site of an ancient Gothic cathedral destroyed by the Turks.
- a small chapel next to the cathedral. Built in 1480. One of the few buildings in Sehesfehervar that survived both the Turkish yoke and the Second World War.
- located on the central square of the city - the Town Hall. Created in 1800 in the style of Austrian classicism. Next to it is a monument to the State. The stone attribute of kings - orb - topped with a crown and symbolizes royal power.
- located in the southern part of the Town Hall Square, built in 1690 in the Baroque style, one of the first buildings built in the city after it was conquered from the Turks.
Theater Vörösmarty (Vorosmarty Theatre)- located in the northern part of Feu street. An elegant baroque building.
- Construction completed in 1959. The building is made in an eclectic style, but at the same time harmonious. Located in the northeast of the city, away from the center.
Museum Pharmacy "Black Eagle" (Museum of Fekete Sas Pharmacy)- located on the main street of the old town - Fyo street. Discovered by the Jesuits in the 18th century.
Zichy Palace- is located to the west of the town hall and adjoins it. Built in 1781.
Church of St. Imre- occupies the entire northern side of the Town Hall Square, built in 1745, belongs to the Franciscan order.
Church of St. John of Nepomuk- the baroque church is located on Feu street. Belongs to the Cistercians.
carmelite church- located in the south of the Old Town, built in 1769, decorated with frescoes.
