Veszprém is one of the oldest urban areas in Hungary, and a city with county rights. It lies approximately 15 km (9 mi) north of the Lake Balaton. It is the administrative center of the county (comitatus or ‘megye’) of the same name.
Sights
In the castle district
- The main cathedral of the Archdiocese of Veszprém , on the foundations of the 10th century , with a 14th century Gothic sub – church .
- Gizella Chapel : the oldest medieval building in Veszprém; it was built in the 13th century in gothic style.
- Castle Fountain: 41 meter deep well in front of the Gizella Chapel.
- Episcopal (now Archbishop’s) Palace: a late Baroque building on Holy Trinity Square, by Jakab Fellner .
- So called. Palace of the Grand Duchy
- VEAB headquarters
- Holy Trinity Column: also in Baroque style, made in 1750 .
- St. George’s Chapel: The ruins of a 10th-century building are located behind the cathedral.
- Statue of King Stephen I and Queen Gizella on the northern ridge of the castle hill ( 1938 by József Ispánki ).
- Castle Gate (Hero’s Gate): built in memory of the dead of the First World War , the Castle Museum is located in its tower.
- Fire tower : its base is medieval, the upper part is of 19th century origin.
- Queen Gizella Museum
- Franciscan church
- Dubniczay House
- Csikász Gallery
- House of Arts
Outside the castle district
- Dezső Laczkó Museum
- Petofi Theater
- City Hall
- Pósa House
- Love island
- County Hall
- Elizabeth Park
- St. Stephen’s Valley Bridge , more commonly known as the Viaduct
- Margaret ruins
- Kittenberger Kálmán Plant and Game Park
- Gulya Hill
- Cherry mansion (opposite Veszprém Hotel)
- Meggyesi mansion (opposite Veszprém Hotel)
- Chamber of Commerce building
- Art Nouveau buildings in Old Town Square
- The renovated downtown and inner courtyards
- Séd Film Theater (Pannon Castle Theater)
Cultural life [ edit ]
Petőfi Theater building (Photo: KT)
Theaters [ edit ]
The history of acting in Veszprém dates back two centuries. The first known local stage dates from 1814 , telling the urban audience about the performance of a Kotzebue horror drama. In 1905 , the City Theater Support Association was founded, which advocated the construction of an independent theater building.
Today, the Petőfi Theater in Veszprém is called the Art Nouveau- style theater designed by István Medgyaszay – which was the first theater building in the country to use reinforced concrete structures in 1908 . It was inaugurated on September 17, and has been named after Sándor Petőfi since 1920 . Part of the theater organization and part of the Latinovits Zoltan named Játékszín well.
In 2001 , a second theater called Pannon Castle Theater was established in the city of queens, mainly performing contemporary pieces. Initially, smaller performances were held at the Antal Csermák Music School. Due to the growing interest, the theater now operates in the old Séd Film Theater, where hundreds of people can watch musical pieces, more serious and lighter musicals and performances at the same time.
In 2008 , the theater also launched its theatrical performances, which theater lovers can watch at the Dubniczay Palace . In addition to the performances, the theater participates in the further organization of cultural life, as the Pannon Castle Theater is the organizer of the events called the Veszprém Spring Festival and the Dance Festival .
Of course, it’s not just seniors and youth who can have fun at theater performances. Very young children can attend the puppet shows of the Kabóca Puppet Theater .Dezső Laczkó MuseumDezső Laczkó sculpture detail (Photo: KT)
Museums, exhibitions [ edit ]
- Dezső Laczkó Museum
- Bakonyi House
- Castle Museum
- Queen Gizella Museum
- Hungarian Museum of Construction
- Vass László Collection
- Csikász Gallery
Festivals
Gizella Days
The Gizella Days Art Festival series of events is organized by the City Cultural Center in May of each year, in connection with the Gizella name day , in memory of our first queen, who also played a significant role in the history of Veszprém .
Veszprém Summer Festival
Like the Gizella Days, it has been organized by the Cultural Center since 2001 in the first weeks of August. It is home to many different genres, including chamber, stage and church music, dance, and literary and folk art programs.
Part of the Summer Festival is the Vivace International Choir Festival, where choirs from four continents showcase their skills and compete with each other.
Veszprém Festive Games
Since 2004 , a series of concerts in the castle have also been waiting for those interested. Over the past five years, the Festival of Festive Games has also hosted world-renowned artists.
Veszprém Street Music Festival
The Veszprém Street Music Festival , which has existed since 2000 , is a multi-day event in which amateur performers show their musical knowledge in competition with each other. In recent years, well-known star musicians and singers have also performed on the stages of the festival.
More festivals
- “Spring Games” International Festival of Children and Youth Arts and Sports (organized by the SPEES Office)
- Veszprém Spring Festival
- Dance Festival, National and International Contemporary Art Meeting (organized by the Pannon Castle Theater)
- Veszprém Spring Festival (organized by the Pannon Castle Theater)
- Kabóciádé Children’s Festival (organized by the Kabóca Puppet Theater)
- Cell-Cup International Handball and Cultural Festival
- Kamera Hungária Television Program Festival ( again from 2008 )
- Pannonfiling Film Festival
- “Veszprém Games – Children’s Island” International Children’s and Youth Art Festival (organized by the CHILDREN’S SMOOTH FOUNDATION and the SPEY Office)
- English Language Drama Festival (organized by the Anglo-American Institute of the University of Pannonia and the American Corner in Veszprém, with the support of the Petőfi Theater in Veszprém)
- Rosé, Riesling and Jazz Days
Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture
Based on the application submitted in the beginning of 2015, the city – shared with Iszkaszentgyörgy – won the title of Finno-Ugric Cultural Capital of 2016 .
European Capital of Culture
Based on the application submitted at the beginning of 2018, Veszprém will become the European Capital of Culture in 2023.
