H U N G A R Y

Group — DMC
H U N G A R Y
G E N E R A L
I N F O
Name: Republic of Hungary
“Magyarország”
Neighbouring Countries:
Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine,
Romania, Serbia, Croatia,
Slovenia.
Area: 93 030 km 2
Population:
10,045,407 (y. 2003)
Density of population:
110,7 inhabitants per sq km
Formation date:
16 th November 1918
Established form:
republic
Form of government:
parliamentary democracy
EU member since:
1 st May 2004
Capital: Budapest
(population: 2 000 000)
Currency:
Hungarian Forint - HUF
Official language:
Hungarian
Nationalities:
Hungarian (92,3%),
Roma (1,9%), other
or unspecified (5,8%).
Religion:
Roman Catholic (67,5%),
Protestant (20,0%),
without confession
(7,5%), …
Time Zone: GMT + 1,
usually referred to as
Central European Time
(CET). The clocks are
changed by one hour
(daylight savings beginning
on the last Sunday in March
and ending on the last
Sunday in October) creating
winter and summer time
(GTM + 2).
Distances:
Bud.-Bratislava 195 km
Budapest-Vienna 252 km
Budapest-Praha 515 km
International
Airports:
BUDAPEST Ferihegy
Airport Term. 1 & 2
(20 car-minutes from
the City Centre)
Other: DEBRECEN,
SÁRMELLÉK (at Balaton).
The pagan Magyar tribes migrated from Asia to the Carpathian basin in 896.
The cultural influences of east
and west can be seen in the
monuments, traditions and
every day life of today’s
Hungary. Remains of the
Roman Empire, buildings from
the 15 0-year T urkish
occupation, small medieval
churches and splendid
basilicas, hilltop fortresses
and magnificent palaces, all
bear witness to an eventful
history.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
More than 1100 years
of history, colourful
traditions and folk art,
scenic beauty, teeming
cultural life and friendly,
warm hearted people –
just a few of the reasons
why a visit to Hungary is
worth it.
Budapest
Geographical
situation,
geological past and special
characteristics make this small
Budapest, Hungary´s capital, is also its
number-one tourist destination and is also
registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The
Danube
mighty
River
splits the city
in two parts,
separating the
hills and vales
of Buda from the flatland of Pest. A large
stalactite cave system lies hidden under the hills
of Buda and 70 million litres of thermal water
gush forth daily from deep under the city.
Budapest is the only city in the world with about
50 baths and spas fed by natural mineral and
medicinal waters. Turkish baths that are
hundreds of years old, splendid Art Nouveau
pools from the belle époque (like the Gellért)
and state-of-the art, modern spa hotels offer full
relaxation and revitalisation.
The first castle in Buda was built in the 13 th
century, but the architectural styles of centuries
that followed are clearly visible. The historic old
town on Castle hill is a living museum. The city
took its present form in the 1890s when –
celebrating the 1000-year anniversary of the
foundation of the state - many magnificent
buildings
were
built. About 200
museums
and
galleries present
the history and
art of the
country,
from
Roman times to
the
Something
present.
is
a l w a y s
happening
in
the city. 40
theatres,
the
opera house, and 7 concert halls offer a variety
of programmes every season, which is
completed by a long list of various festivals.

Group — DMC
H U N G A R Y
PAGE 2
country unbelievably rich in natural resources. The 10 national parks include wild river areas, forest-covered
mountain ridges, inactive volcanic areas, endless plains and fairy-tale stalactite caves.
Among its treasures of culture and nature, Hungary is proud to boast 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites including
Budapest. City of Pécs - founded by the Romans at the beginning of the 2 nd cent. AD - has a real Mediterranean
atmosphere, due to its climate, flora and narrow, rambling streets. The collection of buildings of the early
Christian cemetery of ancient Sopianae, with biblical frescoes decorating the walls of the tombs, the chapel
and the mausoleum, is regarded as an unrivalled group of cultural monuments.
The small village of Hollókő represents a preserved traditional medieval
village structure.
The history of the Benedictine Monastery of Pannonhalma is as old as that
of Hungary. Géza, leader of the pagan Magyar tribes, and his son King (later Saint)
Stephen recognised that the Hungarian people could only survive if they created a
solid, feudal state and adopted Christianity. Géza invited Italian and Czech
Benedictine monks into the country. Their first monastery was built in Pannonhalma,
and is not only exceptional with regard to its role in Hungarian history, but it also
acquires great importance, together with its harmonious natural environment, as a
piece of architecture, a work of art.
Basilica in Pannonhalma
The natural beauty and Lake Fertő is situated on the territory of Austria and
Hungary. It is the westernmost example of the Eurasian steppe lakes and at the
same time is Europe’s largest salt-water lake. The settlements around the lake date back to the Middle Ages.
Hortobágy, a National Park, is the largest continuous natural grassland in Europe. So far, the
appearance of 342 bird species has been reported here. The most exciting sight is the autumn migration when –
among other birds – tens of thousands of cranes fly over the spectator’s head.
Another entry, the more than 700 caves of the Aggtelek and Slovak Karst form the largest cave system of
Central Europe.
The name of Tokaj is identified with wine all over the world. The exceptional microclimate of the region stretching
also to Slovakia, the soil conditions created as a result of volcanic & post-volcanic activities, the favourably
situated slopes, the autumn mist caused by the rivers Tisza & Bodrog, the fermentation in oak barrels and the
special mould on the cellar walls - these all contribute to producing “the king of wines and the wine of kings”.
Central Europe’s largest Jewish community lives in Hungary, mainly in Budapest. Jewish traditions, architecture
and art form a valuable part of Hungarian culture. As early as in the 3 rd century AD the Jews were living in the
Roman province of Pannonia - Transdanubia in today’s Hungary. From the time of the Hungarian Conquest, written
documents prove the existence of Jewish communities in Hungary, so the history of Hungarian Jewry and that of
Hungary itself are almost inseparable. By the middle of the 17 th century the Jewish community in Buda had become
one of the largest congregations in Europe. Today there are 48 synagogues in Hungary, almost half of them in
Budapest, including Europe’s largest active synagogue on Dohány street.
Budapest, Spa Gellert
The abundance of thermal and medicinal (thermo-mineral healing) springs
is amazing - wherever a hole is drilled in a quest for oil, healing waters are
found in the deep. The local culture of bathing goes back 2000 years; excavated
remains of bath houses, frescoes and mosaics demonstrate that the Romans
discovered and exploited these thermal water resources. Of the approximately
1300 thermal springs currently registered, nearly 300 are used for bathing purposes.
The habit of bathing and relaxing in the warm waters is a part of everyday
life, just like the rich flavours of Hungary´s traditional food and wines from the country´s 22 wine regions.