Thursday, November 24, 2011

Sopron Tourist Attractions

Author: Komal

Location: On the Northern border of Hungary, near Lake Neusiedl
Language: Hungarian
Time Zone: UTC+1
Driving: Right Side
Attractions: Tuztorony, Loyalty Gate, Storno-House, Kecske Templom, Old Synagogue

Located on the Austrian Border, the small city of Sopron is admired for its old world charm. It is a bilingual city, with both Hungarian and German being prominent languages. The beautiful baroque-styled buildings that were built in the 1700s add a medieval charm to the ancient roman splendor of the city. Sopron receives majority of its business from Austria. Situated closer to Vienna (70km) in Austria and Bratislava (77km) in Slovakia than to Budapest (Hungary's Capital), the city nevertheless is still close to its Hungarian roots. In fact, it is so loyal to Hungary that it is often called Civitas Fidelissima (The Most Loyal Town). Sopron's German-speaking culture and heritage was highly suppressed during the Cold War, but is now fast resurging. The city is very close to the Iron Curtain, which was the symbol of European division up until 1991, when the Cold War ended. In the following lines, we would take you through brief tour of this city and tell you the most exciting places to see and things to do when you are in Sopron.

Places To See In Sopron

The Fire Tower (Tuztorony)
The number one attraction in Sopron is the Tuztorony. It is the emblem of Sopron. The building itself is unique, since its foundations are Roman, while the lower square base is from 14th century. The cylindrical center with the Tuscan arcade is from the Renaissance age. The upper part is a clock tower with a multi-storied onion dome which was added from 1681-82, following a massive fire in the city. This 222 ft high tower provides tourists wonderful view of the city.

The Loyalty Gate
To the south of the fire tower is the Loyalty Gate, presented to the town in 1921 by the government of Budapest. Sopron was part of the counties that were initially awarded to Austria in the Treaty of Saint Germain in 1919. However, after local unrest and a local referendum on December 14, 1921, with 65% voting for Hungary, Sopron (along with eight villages close by) was ceded to Hungary. The gate was presented to mark this occasion. Every year December 14 is a holiday to mark the occasion.

Storno-House (Museum)
Standing next to the tower is the Storno House, one of the finest palaces of the town. Built in the Middle Ages, the museum boasts of housing a diverse collection of collectibles. Right from the old porcelain artifacts, to ancient furniture, paintings, guild shops, traditional wood carving and ceramics relics, the museum is sure to leave you amazed and startled. However, it is not just the lavish interiors that are going to weave the magic. The museum flaunts of having Baroque exterior that dates back to the 18th century. The building also has a lovely courtyard that is formed from beautiful Renaissance arcades.

Kecske Templom (Goat's Church)
At the southern side of City Square is the Goat's Church or Mary Church (Kecske templom). The popular legend related to this temple is of a treasure, which was scraped out of the ground by a goat and was buried when the church was built. The church was built between 1280 and 1491. There is well preserved Gothic decoration on the church, while the facade and interior are in Late Baroque/Rococo style. Following the dissolution of the Franciscan order in 1787, the church was used as a barn, before it was passed on to the Benedictines.

Old Synagogue
One of the oldest synagogues in Europe, from 1300-20, it was the first house of prayer of the Jewish community in Sopron. Since non catholic houses of prayer were not allowed in the city; the synagogue was styled in such a manner that the actual prayer house was located in the interior, while the front side was used as shops. Under a high pyramid roof, the Old Synagogue consists of a large two-storied prayer hall, a prayer hall for women (joined to one other only by observation slits) and the ritual bath. The synagogue with both prayer halls was converted into residential houses and remained so, until after the Second World War, when it was restored.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Budapest Airport Transfers

You can book your airport transfers in Budapest by Huncool Tours. No hidden costs. Our driver will wait for your at Budapest Airport with your name sign. You have to pay to the driver directly, no advance payment

Prices:

Budapest Airport and Budapest City

PassangersBudapest Airport - CityCity - Budapest AirportCity - CityCity - City return way
1-422201614
5-635332220
7-840383533
9-1262584038
13-1475715753
15-1680767066

Prices per car and per way in EUR

PassangersBudapest - Hévíz and returnBudapest - Vienna and returnBudapest - Eger and returnBudapest - Debrecen and returnBudapest - Bratislava and return
1-4150160100150140
5-6180220130220200
7-8200280160220250
9-12240350240310300
13-14280400240310440
15-16300500410440390

Prices per car and per way in EUR

You can book your transfer online here: Budapest airport transfer

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Christmas Traditions in Hungary

Some Hungarian Christmas Traditions
 
Christmas Candy - Szaloncukor
At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in Hungary. The main celebration is on Christmas Eve (it's Szenteste in Hungarian, meaning Holy Night) Familiy members get together in the afternoon on 24th December and decorate the Christmas tree. Grandparents or elder brothers and sisiters look after the little ones, so they won't see their presents placed under the tree.

Beigli
The fragrant fir is adorned with colourful paper decorations and a special Hungarian Christmas candy (szaloncukor) wrapped in shinny coloured papers.
Housewives cook traditional Hungarian Chrismas dishes in the kitchen. We usually have fish soup, stuffed cabbage, pastry rolls stuffed with poppy seed, walnut or chestnut stuffings (it's called bejgli in Hungarian) and makosguba (another pastry with poppy).
Family members exchange gifts in the evening on 24th December while listening to tradtitional Christmas songs. In Hungary baby Jesus brings the presents and sometimes the angels, not Santa. We celebrate the arrival of Santa on 6th December, St. Nicholas Day.

Stuffed cabbage

At midnight a lot of people go to the midnight mass. Organ music and pine scent fill the air in churches where people sing together classical Christmas songs.
Even non-religious people attend this mass beacuse of its festive and uplifting atmosphere. On the following two days relatives and friends visit it each other have traditional Christmas dishes and desserts.


Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Opening time, public transport and weather around Christmas in Hungary

Christmas Tree
Essential information about opening hours, public transport and weather at Christmas time in Hungary.

Opening Hours at Christmas in Budapest

Shops are open till evening the last three weekends before Christmas. Shops close around early afternoon on 24th December and open only on 27th December. Some larger shopping malls might stay open until early evening on 24th December. On Christmas Day and Boxing Day the most of shops, supermarkets are closed in Hungary. Many shops do not open between Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Life gets back to normal after 1st January.

Restaurants are also closed on Christmas Eve (24th Decemeber), but most of them open on 25th-26th December. Several good restaurants open during Christmas.

Public Transport at Christmas in Budapest

Public transport vehicles run until around 15.00-16.00. After 16.00 night services carry passangers. On 25th-26th December vehicles run according to holiday schedule. Between 27th and 1st January, vehicles run less frequently than they do on usual weekdays. It's also holiday at schools, all public transport vehicles run according to schedules valid during school holidays.

Weather Around Christmas in Budapest

Several years ago there was always thick snow around Christmas. The first snowflakes fell usually at the end of November. The temperatures were around zero or below. Today it is hard to tell what will be the weather like around Christmas. The weather around Christmas is sometimes rather mild and dull, with some rain, and it's crispy and sunny with crystal blue sky at times. Last two years there was a little snow during Christmas holiday.

Programs at Christmas in Budapest

The world famous 100-member Gypsy Orchestra performs a concert on 30th December, at 6 pm in teh Budapest Congress Centre. They'll play both clasical and traditional folk music.

The whole city calms down for a couple of days. You can only hear the sound of Christmas concerts and Advent songs in Budapest's churches. After the hectic shopping it's a real realxation to listen to the organ works and contemplate about the meaning of Advent and Christmas. I recommend the Lights of Christmas Festival in Matthias Church on Castle Hill.

Merry Christmas!