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Székesfehérvár – An Imperial CityHistoric Hungarian Town, Close to the Balaton, Once A Royal Centre
Székesfehérvár, "white castle seat" was once the royal capital of ancient Hungary. It's now a lovely town between Budapest and the Balaton, with a gracious city centre.
Once, white was the colour of the kings of Hungary, and for hundreds of years Székesfehérvár, which means “white castle seat”, was the royal capital. Today it’s a lovely town between Budapest and the Balaton, with a gracious and lovely city centre. The town and its environs are full of things to see and do. The Romans, Árpád, King Stephen and OthersThe history of the town goes back well before the Hungarians, under the rule of Árpád, came to town. The Romans, in the 1st century, settled near Tác, 17 kms away. It was King Stephen who built a basilica at Székesfehérvár and made it a royal capital. The Turks captured the town in 1543, and by the time they were driven out, much of the town was in ruins. Luckily the centre, reconstructed in the 18th century, escaped the ravages of World War II. Building Styles Are Between Baroque and NeoclassicMany of the buildings are in the Copf building style – between late Baroque and neoclassical. There are also some lovely Art Nouveau buildings, and don't miss the Rococo Black Eagle Pharmacy. In fact, walking around the pedestrian streets, following the tangle of little laneways to hidden squares and courtyards, is one of the great pleasures of visiting Székesfehérvár. There are interesting shops, and plenty of sculptures, a carillon and fountains to add interest. The National Orb – a stone sculpture with a crown, holds pride of place in the Székesfehérvár’s city centre. St Stephen’s Cathedral and St. Anne’s ChapelCheck out St. Stephen’s Cathedral – despite its name of the first King of Hungary, is now an 18th century Baroque church, although it does date from the early 13th century. You can see the remains of an even earlier structure. St. Anne’s chapel, not far from St. Stephens, dates from the 1470s, and was used by the Turks when they occupied the town. King Stephen Museum and Garden of RuinsThe King Stephen Museum displays 1,000 years of the city's history and the Romkert – Garden of Ruins – saw the crowning of 37 kings and the burial of 17. You can also see some of the old city wall here. And you can't miss the National Orb, dedicated to King Stephen, in the main square. Bory Castle and Old SzékesfehérvárOne of the most unusual things to see in Székesfehérvár is the Bory Castle, am architecturally challenged structure built by sculptor Jeno Bory as a memorial to his wife. There are towers, courtyards and gardens, a pantheon of Hungarian kings, sculptures, paintings and statues. Some old peasant cottages and work places, including a dairy, have also been preserved and furnished in the style of those days. There are also other museums in town, such as the doll museum, that are worth seeing. Székesfehérvár FestivalsSzékesfehérvár hosts plenty of festivals and events throughout the years. For example, August in Székesfehérvár in August is one continual festival. Musica Regia runs for a week, the International folk dance festival is held in the middle of the month, and the Golden Bull art days – jazz, folk and light music – is near the end. The city is about 45 by car from Budapest, and a little over an hour away by train or bus.
The copyright of the article Székesfehérvár – An Imperial City in Hungary Travel is owned by Christiane Birkett. Permission to republish Székesfehérvár – An Imperial City in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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