Veszprém

Veszprém is one of the oldest cities in Hungary. It has special rights as a county city and serves as the administrative center of the county that shares its name. The city is located about 15 kilometers, or 9 miles, north of Lake Balaton, which is the largest lake in Central Europe.

People have lived in the area of Veszprém for many hundreds of years, making it an important place in Hungarian history. Today, it remains a key city in its region, connecting both natural beauty and historical significance.

Etymology

The name of the city Veszprém comes from an old personal name, Bezprem or Bezprym, which means "stubborn" or "self-confident". Over time, the name changed from Besprem to Vezprem due to the way people wrote in old times, especially because of the influence of the Greek language.

Location and legend

Veszprém is a city in Hungary that you can reach by car using the M7 highway and Road 8. You can also get there from Győr using Road 82, or from Székesfehérvár using Road 8.

There is a story people tell in the area that Veszprém was built on seven hills. These hills are called Várhegy (Castle Hill), Benedek-hegy (St. Benedict Hill), Jeruzsálem-hegy (Jerusalem Hill), Temetőhegy (Cemetery Hill), Gulyadomb (Herd Hill), Kálvária-domb (Calvary Hill), and Cserhát.

History

Anonymus Belæ Regis Notarius wrote that a castle stood in Veszprém when the Hungarians first arrived. This castle was likely a 9th-century Frankish fortress. Veszprém, along with Esztergom and Székesfehérvár, was one of the earliest stone castles built in Hungary.

Veszprém played a key role in making Christianity the main religion of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. Stephen I, the first king, was crowned there around the year 1000. The city became Hungary’s first bishop seat in 1009 and later an archiepiscopal seat in 1993. For many years, queens of Hungary were crowned by the bishop of Veszprém, earning the city the nickname “the city of queens.”

Veszprém was one of the first Hungarian cities to have a university, where students studied for centuries until a fire destroyed it in 1276. The university returned in the 20th century. The town was taken by the Ottoman Turks in 1552 but later changed hands many times. During World War II, it was captured by Soviet troops in 1945.

Economy

Veszprém is home to many important factories and businesses. Companies like Videoton make car parts, while others produce things like furniture, machines, and tools. Big international brands such as Valeo, Continental AG, and Unilever also have factories in the city.

There are also logistics centers run by companies from several countries, and a large electrical retailer operates from Veszprém. The Veszprém Aréna is not just for sports—it’s also used for exhibitions and conferences.

Demographics

Veszprém has many people from different backgrounds. Most of the people, about 84%, are Hungarian. There is also a small group of people from Germany, making up about 2% of the city. A very small number, about 1%, are Roma.

Volvo 7700 on Line 11 operated by V-Busz

Many people in Veszprém follow different religions. Almost 39% are Roman Catholic, and a few are Greek Catholic. Some people are Calvinists, and a smaller group are Lutherans. About 21% of the people do not follow any religion.

Politics

The mayor of Veszprém is Gyula Porga from the Fidesz-KDNP party.

The local Municipal Assembly was elected in the 2019 local government elections. It has 18 members, including the mayor, representatives from different areas, and others from a compensation list. They come from various political parties and alliances.

Seats	Current Municipal Assembly
Fidesz-KDNP	11	M
Opposition coalition	7

Public transport

The city of Veszprém has buses for public transportation. These buses are run by a company called V-Busz, which the city pays for. There are 30 bus lines in the city, including two night buses, numbers 44 and 45. The buses are easy to spot because they are all painted purple. You can buy tickets on the buses, at ticket machines around the city, or at bus stations.

Szent István valley bridge and surroundings

In 2018, V-Busz started running the buses instead of a bigger company that didn’t have enough money or new buses anymore. Some of the old buses were from the mid-1980s.

Notable people

Veszprém is a city where many interesting people were born or lived. Some of these people became famous in sports, music, and politics.

Some famous people from Veszprém include Péter Andorka and Tamás Kádár, who are footballers, and Csaba Vastag and Tamás Vastag, who are singers. The city also saw the birth of politicians like Attila Mesterházy and Tibor Navracsics, the latter of whom works for the European Union. Other notable individuals include Leopold Auer, a famous violinist, and Virág Blazsek, a lawyer.

Twin towns – sister cities

Veszprém is twinned with:

Tourism

Veszprém is a great place to visit for families and nature lovers. One of the most popular spots is the Kittenberger Kálmán Zoo & Botanical Garden, where children can see many interesting animals and plants. It’s a fun and educational place to explore!