Eger

Eger is a beautiful city in Hungary. It is the second largest city in Northern Hungary, after Miskolc. About 53,000 people live there.

The city is famous for its big medieval castle, warm thermal baths, and lovely baroque buildings. Visitors can also see the northernmost Ottoman minaret and try special red wines.

Eger is on the Eger Stream, a small river that flows into the larger Tisza river. Green hills surround the city between the Mátra and Bükk mountains. The main campus of Eszterházy Károly Catholic University is in Eger, making it a lively place.

Names and etymology

See also: Names of Eger in different languages

No one really knows how Eger got its name. One idea is that it was named after the alder trees (égerfa in Hungarian) that grew along the banks of the Eger Stream. Many alder trees used to grow there. The old German name for the town, Erlau, means 'alder grove'. Another theory says the name might come from a Latin word, ager, meaning 'field'. Eger has many other names depending on the language. In Latin it is called Agria, in Serbian and Croatian it is Jegar / Јегар or Jegra / Јегра, in Czech and Slovene it is Jager, in Slovak it is Jáger, in Polish it is Eger, and in Turkish it is Eğri. Eger is sometimes called the Hungarian Athens.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of Eger was created around 1694. It shows a fortress with three gates, standing for the city's strong defenses. A unicorn is between two towers, holding a sword for leadership and justice. A snake around the sword means faith can beat betrayal. The star and sun show day and night. An eagle with a book stands for Saint John, the patron saint of the Archdiocese of Eger.

History

Eger has been a place where people lived since ancient times.

Reign of Saint Stephen

Today’s Eger may have started in the 10th century when King Stephen, the first Christian king of Hungary, created an important religious center there. The first cathedral was built on a hill, where the Eger Castle stands now. Eger grew around this cathedral and stayed a key religious spot in Hungary.

During the 1100s and 1200s, people from a place called Walloon came to live in Eger. They brought new ideas and helped grow the town.

Mongol invasion

The growth stopped for a short time when invaders called the Mongols attacked and burned the town in 1241. After they left, Eger started to grow again. A leader named Lampert, the bishop of Eger, got permission to build a stone wall around the town. The town became busy again, with new houses, roads, and vineyards.

Reign of King Matthias

When King Matthias ruled from 1458 to 1490, Eger grew once more. A beautiful palace was built, and work continued on a big church fort.

The Siege of Eger

Main articles: Siege of Eger (1552) and Siege of Eger (1596)

After a big battle in 1526, Eger faced tough times. In 1552, a brave leader named István Dobó and his small group of soldiers successfully protected Eger from a big army. A famous writer later told this story. Even though they won, the town had to be rebuilt.

Ottoman rule

In 1596, Eger was taken over by a group called the Ottoman Empire. For almost 100 years, Eger was part of their land. A tall tower called the Eger minaret was built during this time. After a long struggle, Eger was freed from this rule in 1687.

Habsburg rule

After being freed, Eger started to grow again. New buildings went up, and the town became busy with crafts and trade. By the late 1700s, Eger had grown to be one of the bigger towns in Hungary.

The Period of Reforms

The time between 1825 and 1848 brought many changes to Eger. A leader named Pyrker started a school and helped build a big church. New ideas and schools helped the town grow.

Revolution and War of Independence

People in Eger joined a big change in 1848. Even though it didn’t work out, the town gained more freedom after that.

Age of the monarchy

After 1867, Eger didn’t grow as fast as other towns. It became known more for its schools and culture than for factories.

20th century

After World War I, Eger slowly recovered. A famous story about the town brought many visitors. In 1933, Eger was allowed to open a spa.

During World War II, Eger faced hard times but was saved from big attacks.

In the years after 1945, Eger started to grow with new industries, though it lost some of its old charm. Luckily, the beautiful old part of town was saved.

Eger is famous for its special wines, brandies, and warm baths. Today, it is a busy town and a favorite place for visitors with its lovely old center.

Ecclesiastical history

Eger is the home of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Eger. This church area was started in 1009 and became a big church center in 1804 by Pope Pius VII. The current leader is Archbishop Csaba Ternyak, who took over after Archbishop István Seregely retired. The area includes several other church regions like Košice, Rožňava, Szatmár, and Szepes.

Geography

Climate

Eger has a humid continental climate, which means its weather changes a lot through the year. The average temperature in Eger is about 10.8 °C (51.4 °F).

In July, the warmest month, temperatures average around 21.6 °C (70.9 °F). January is the coldest month, with temperatures averaging around -0.8 °C (30.6 °F).

The city gets about 583.4 millimetres (22.97 in) of rain each year. January is the driest month, and July is the wettest. The temperature in Eger can get as cold as -18.3 °C (-0.9 °F) and as hot as 38.6 °C (101.5 °F).

Wine

Eger is famous for its wines. The city makes both red and white wines that are of high quality. Traditional wines from the area include Egri Leányka, Egerszóláti Olaszrizling, Debrői Hárslevelű (white wines), and Egri Bikavér (a red wine). Newer wines like Chardonnay and Pinot noir have also been introduced. People say the wines from Eger taste similar to those from Burgundy. The most important place for growing grapes in the Eger Wine Region is Nagy-Eged Hill, where special high-quality wines are made.

Tourism

Most visitors to Eger come for just one day, usually from Slovakia, and they don’t stay overnight. People from Ukraine, Russia, and Italy often visit Eger Castle. You can also see travelers who speak German, including Germans, Austrians, and Swiss. Lately, more visitors from Turkey have been coming because of shared history.

Eger is famous for its beautiful castle, warm thermal baths, old buildings like the Eger minaret—the northernmost Turkish minaret—and its tasty Hungarian red wines.

Transport

Rail

The main train station is about 1.5 kilometers from the town center. Trains go to Budapest in about one and a half hours. There are also local trains to Füzesabony and Szilvásvárad.

There are smaller stations near the castle and in the Felnémet district that are served by local trains to Szilvásvárad.

Coach

The bus station is near the basilica. Buses leave for Budapest about every 30 minutes, and the trip takes about 2 hours. Many buses go to nearby areas and longer trips. You can also take a bus to Felsőtárkány to get close to hiking and mountain biking trails.

Local bus

Local buses serve most of the town, mostly going north to south. Line 12 is the busiest, with stops at the train station, the bus station, and the town center.

Culture

Districts

(Note: Most of these districts are historical, but they often appear on maps and street signs.)

• Almagyar – This hill in the eastern part of the town is near the castle. The streets are steep, but there are great views. Some college buildings are here too.
• Almár – The northernmost part of the town, it has many small houses and garden plots.
• Belváros (town centre) – The centre of Eger is called “the Baroque Pearl of Europe.” Here you will find Dobó tér, the main square, with beautiful old houses and St. Anthony's Church. Other important buildings nearby are the Cathedral and the Lyceum.
• Berva is a housing area about 2 km to the northwest of Eger. It was once a big industrial area.
• Castle of Eger – The oldest and most famous part of Eger.
• Cifra hóstya – North of the centre, this area has small houses and narrow streets. You can visit the Firefighters' Museum here.
• Csákó – A suburban area with bigger houses, east of the railway station.
• Érsekkert (Bishop's Garden) – The largest park in Eger, with sports areas, a small lake, and a fountain.
• Felnémet – This village north of Eger was added to the town in 1961. It still feels like the countryside. It has a beautiful old church.
• Felsőváros (Upper Town) – The largest housing area of Eger, with many tall apartment buildings. About a third of the town’s people live here. There are three high schools in this area.
• Hajdúhegy – A suburban area similar to Almagyar, across the valley from the town centre.
• Hatvani hóstya – This district has a stadium and a Reformed church. It is split by Highway 25.
• Industrial zone – Many big companies from other countries have offices and factories in this area east of Lajosváros.
• Károlyváros (Charles Town) – One of the largest parts of Eger, west of downtown. It has a health professions high school and a shopping mall called Agria Park.
• Lajosváros (Louis Town) – In the southern part of the town, this area has several high schools and student housing. It mainly has single-family homes and is also called Kanada.
• Maklári hóstya, Tihamár – This is one of the fastest-growing parts of the town. It has public swimming pools designed by Imre Makovecz.
• Pásztorvölgy – A suburban area in Felnémet. It also has a high school.
• Rác hóstya – Another suburban area west of Upper Town.
• Szépasszonyvölgy ("Valley of the Beautiful Woman") – This area of Eger is famous for its red wines, including Bikaver, and has many wine cellars.
• Tetemvár – A suburban area whose name means “Corpses' Castle” from an old story about Turkish soldiers buried there in 1552.
• Vécseyvölgy – A suburban area with a small airfield used for sports.

Main sights

Eger has many interesting places to visit. One of the most famous is the Castle of Eger. You can also visit the Eger minaret, the northernmost Turkish minaret in Europe. It is 40 meters high, and you can climb it for a view of the town.

Other sights include the Lyceum (Eszterházy College), a beautiful building with old paintings. There is also a Turkish Bath and several important churches, such as the cathedral built between 1831 and 1837. The town has many old buildings, squares, and places to learn about history and culture.

There is also the Egri Road Beatles Múzeum where you can learn about the famous music band the Beatles.

Churches

Eger has many churches, including a cathedral with organ recitals, and the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, which has special artwork called an iconostasis.

Population

Politics

The current mayor of Eger is Ádám Mirkóczki.

The local Municipal Assembly was elected in 2019. It has 18 members, including the mayor and representatives from different parts of the city.

International relations

Turkey has an honorary consulate in the city.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Hungary

Eger is twinned with:

• Cheboksary, Russia
• Dolný Kubín, Slovakia
• Esslingen am Neckar, Germany
• Gheorgheni, Romania
• Jericho, Palestine
• Kutná Hora, Czech Republic
• Mâcon, France
• Mukachevo, Ukraine
• Peja, Kosovo
• Pori, Finland
• Przemyśl, Poland
• Sarzana, Italy

Notable people

Eger is a city where many interesting people were born or lived. Some of these people became well-known in different fields. For example, there are athletes like water polo players and swimmers, artists like singers and directors, and writers. There are also important religious leaders and people who have served in big jobs, like being an ambassador to another country. These individuals have made their mark in many different areas.