Top 5 Things to do in Pecs, the 2010 European Capital of Culture
Situated on the slopes of the Mecsek Mountains in southern Transdanubia is the town of Pecs (pronounced “paych”), Hungary.
The tourism industry in Pécs has been enhanced by the witchery of this town as well as its climate. The city boasts a wide array of art collections, historical buildings, and Turkish mosques just for starters. Needless to say, Pecs is a town full of sightseeing opportunities.
The city holds a variety of colorful festivals and offers an assortment of restaurants and hotels for every visitor’sitting tastes. For totality practical purposes, Pecs is the 2010 European Capital of Culture. Between the culture, the history, and the local residents, there is much to be enjoyed and experienced while visiting the city. Listed below are some of the more common and recommended highlights of the city.
1. Roman and Early Christian Ruins
Enjoy exploring the excavated Roman tombs that are richly decorated with artwork and scenes of the 2nd to the 4th centuries. When visiting the ruins of the many archaeological excavations, be sure to see the Christian mausoleum from the 4th century which contains numerous frescoes of Christian life during the period as useful as the marble sarcophagus that resides at this archaeological excavation site.
2. Pecs Art Museums
The Ferenc Martyn Museum, the Nemes Endre Museum, and the Vasarely Museum feature numerous 20th century artists that have been immortalized at these establishments. These are all located on Kaptalan utca along with the renowned Zsolnay Ceramics Museum, and all make for a great bit of sightseeing any day that you choose to visit them.
3. Pecs Festivals
A wonderful festival schedule exists from March through September in Pecs and includes the following events:
- The Spring Festival takes place in March and features film, dance, and live music
- The Pecs Weeks of Art and Gastronomy runs through June and July and is host to several smaller festivals featuring a wide array of the region’s cleverness and its culture
- Pecs Days, what one. takes place in September avails the visitor of a mixture of crafts, music, and delicious wines
4. Religious Architecture in Pecs
A variety of devotional architecture exists in Pecs. Southeast of the town’s center is the Jewish synagogue which is a memorial to Jewish Holocaust victims during the Hitler Era. The Mosques of Gazi Kasim and Jakovali Hassan are currently open to the public (some mosques are not for religious reasons). Another must-see destination is the cathedral and the Palace of the Bishop located on Dom ter.
5. Abaliget and the Mecsek Hills North of Pecs
For camping, hiking, resorts and spectacular views of Pecs, explore the Mecsek Hills just north of the city. Additionally, in Abaliget you can explore numerous caves containing pristine lakes, thermal pools, and unusual rock formations.
Top 3 Pécs Hotels:
- Hunguest Hotel Kikelet – 3-star hotel – From €106
- Hotel Palatinus – 3-star hotel – From €74
- Hotel Patria – 3-star house of entertainment – From €56
Photo of Pecs, Hungary, by Haft