Newsletter

Szeged is the fourth largest city of Hungary and the regional centre of the Southern Great Plain, as well as the county seat of Csongrád county since 1962.

Szeged and its area have been inhabited since ancient times; it was first mentioned in 1183, in a document of King Béla III. In the 14th century, during the reign of Louis the Great, Szeged became the most important town of Southern Hungary, and – as the Turkish armies got closer to Hungary – the strategic importance of the town grew. Szeged was raised to free royal town status in 1498.

Today the inner city of Szeged has beautiful buildings and wide avenues. This is mainly due to the great flood of 1879, which literally wiped away the whole town (only 265 of the 5723 houses remained). During the next years a new, modern city emerged from the ruins, with palaces and wide streets. Today's Szeged is an important university town and a popular tourist attraction.

 

Situated in the western part of Romania, at the border with Hungary and Serbia, Timisoara represents a zone of interference of several ethnic groups, languages, customs and cultures and is one of the most important economic and cultural centers from Romania.

The first record of the city of Timisoara, built on the site of an ancient Roman fortress called Castrum Regium Themes, dates back to 1212. Over the years it has been influenced by many cultures; Turks, Austrians, Hungarians, Germans and Serbs all left their mark and their influence can be seen in neighborhoods throughout the city even today.

The charm of this city lies in its distinct architectural character and vibrant cultural life. Frequently referred to as "Little Vienna," Timisoara is home to year-round musical and theatrical performances, art galleries, museums and a buzzing nightlife.

Interesting facts

Szeged is known as the home of paprika, a spice made from dried, powdered vegetables, being one of the main ingredients of the equally famous Szeged style fish soup. Paprika arrived in Hungary in the second half of the 16th century as an ornamental plant. About 100 years later the plant was cultivated as a herb, and paprika as we know it was born.

The Szeged Open-Air Festival is Hungary's largest 'open-air theatre' event awaited each year with great anticipation. This festival with a tradition stretching back over 75 years is held annually in July and August in the central square hosting the Dome, whose acoustics and scenery also contribute to the success of the spectacular performances held here.

Szeged is the education centre of southern Hungary and has built quite a reputation for itself, almost 30 thousand students study at the University, many of whom are foreign students from all around the world.

 

Interesting facts

A progressive and cosmopolitan place, Timisoara was the first city in Europe and second in the world after New York, to use electricity to illuminate its public streets (in 1884).

Timisoara was one of the first cities in the world to introduce horse-drawn trams (in 1869).

Timisoara was built on a swamp; the Metropolitan Cathedral has 5000 oaks supports underneath it.

Johnny Weissmüller, Hollywood's original Tarzan, was born here.