Top 15 Must-See Attractions in Pécs, Hungary

In the 4th century, Christianity thrived in the Roman city of Sopianae, currently referred to as Pécs, located in the southwest of Hungary.

Ancient mausoleums from this era lie beneath the contemporary streets of the city and have collectively been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Some of these burial chambers feature intricately carved sarcophagi and vivid frescoes depicting Christian figures, including the Virgin Mary and Adam and Eve.

Advancing to modern times, Pécs has established a reputation for its ceramics, produced at the Zsolnay factory.

Pyrogranite, a material invented here in 1886, was swiftly embraced by the pioneers of the Hungarian Art Nouveau movement for its vibrant and durable decorations for their imaginative structures.

Let us delve into the top attractions in Pécs:

1. Early Christian Mausoleum

The ruins of the Roman city of Sopianae have been unearthed throughout Pécs, yet the Early Christian Mausoleum stands out as one of the most intriguing findings.

Discovered in 1975 and now recognized as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this mausoleum is among several tomb monuments dating back to the 4th century.

Unlike others from that period, the cemetery chapel features two distinct levels; the upper section serves as a memorial chamber while the crypt accommodates burials.

The chamber below houses three marble sarcophagi and walls adorned with enduring frescoes.

The artwork comprises both decorative patterns and depictions of significant Biblical narratives such as the Fall of Adam and Eve, the Tree of Life, and Daniel in the Lion’s Den.

2. Cella Septichora Visitors Centre

Adjacent lies another early-Christian burial structure that is unparalleled in the Danube region.

This chapel, comprising seven apses, was found buried four to six meters underground.

Construction appears to have been abruptly halted, as there is no documentation of any burials occurring within its confines.

It houses the burial chamber of St. Peter and Paul, featuring a frescoed vault displaying representations of Peter and Paul pointing towards a Christ monogram, alongside the dove of Noah bearing an olive branch, Jonah being cast into the sea, and Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

3. Pécs Cathedral

Constructed on the foundations of an early-Christian basilica from the 4th century, Pécs Cathedral experienced significant developments during Peter Orseolo’s mid-11th century reign.

The structure showcases Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and neo-Romanesque architectural styles, complemented by remnants from the Ottoman period when it functioned as a storage facility.

The majority of the facade dates back to a neo-Romanesque restoration performed in the 1880s, which was based on the original 11th-century plans.

The cathedral’s oldest section is the “lower church,” measuring 21 x 21 meters and featuring a white marble statue of the 19th-century bishop Nándor Dulánszky, who initiated the restoration project.

The chapels of the cathedral are notable for their stunning frescoes, attributed to Károly Lotz and Bertalan Székely.

The latter artist illustrated historical Hungarian moments in the walls of the Mary and St. Mór chapels.

4. Zsolnay Museum

This museum dedicated to the 19th-century ceramist and factory proprietor Vilmos Zsolnay is situated in Pécs’ oldest house, which dates back to at least 1324. In the 15th century, this locale housed Hungary’s first library, while later, during the Ottoman occupation, it served as the official residence of the city’s chief Imam.

The ceramics factory established by Zsolnay’s father, Miklós, in 1853 continues to operate today and withstood nationalization efforts in 1948. Its architectural embellishments can still be observed on many edifices throughout Pécs.

The museum chronicles the evolution of creations from the Zsolnay factory, including faience and pyrogranite, dyed with eosin.

Among the remarkable exhibits are pieces from the early 20th century when Zsolnay participated in the Hungarian Secession (Art Nouveau). Additionally, a room is dedicated to ceramics acquired from Zsolnay’s travels to Egypt and Persia.

5. Zsolnay Cultural Quarter

Located to the east of the historical center, a vibrant cultural and recreational district has been developed around the refurbished Zsolnay factory premises.

This transformation coincided with the time Pécs was designated as the European Capital of Culture in 2010, leading to the relocation of various cultural institutions into this five-hectare domain.

The University of Pécs’ Art Faculty was moved here, with its library situated within a repurposed ceramics kiln.

The “Pyrogranite Court” serves as an outdoor exhibition venue and hosts almost continuous live music and performances during the summer months.

The E78 building includes a contemporary concert hall, while the Street of Artisans’ Shops boasts ceramics studios, a beloved chocolate shop, a restaurant, and a café.

6. Széchenyi Square

As a central gathering place in Pécs, Széchenyi Square underwent renovations for the city’s tenure as the European Capital of Culture in 2010. Surrounding this somewhat irregular plaza are several significant landmarks, including the city and council halls, Nádor Hotel, and the dome of the former Pasha Qasim mosque, which has since been converted into a church.

During the Christmas season, the city’s festive tree is placed in Széchenyi Square, and in September, the square becomes the focal point for the Pécs Days Festival, coinciding with the grape harvest, featuring stalls with wines from the Pécs and Villány regions.

A fountain donated by the Zsolnay family is located on the southern side of the square.

This stunning monument, created by ceramist Andor Pilch and featuring an eosin glaze, is adorned with decorative oxen heads spouting water.

7. Mosque of Pasha Qasim

Unmissable on the northern edge of Széchenyi Square, the Mosque of Pasha Qasim serves as a striking reminder of Pécs’ 150-year Ottoman rule during the 16th and 17th centuries.

This worship site was established in 1580. Despite its minaret being dismantled shortly after the Habsburgs regained control of the city in the early 18th century, the mosque’s octagonal structure was successfully converted into a Catholic church.

The building illustrates key characteristics of Ottoman architecture, such as ornamental plaster decorations and “Ablaq,” which entails alternating layers of light and dark stone on its arches.

Additionally, inscriptions from the Quran can be found adorning the walls.

The two holy water vessels within the church were formerly baths belonging to the local pasha who resided next door.

8. Vasarely Museum

Victor Vasarely, the founding figure of the Op Art movement, was born in Pécs in 1908. At the age of 24, he relocated to France, where he spent the remainder of his professional life.

In 1968, he bequeathed a collection of serigraph prints, sculptures, and tapestries to his hometown.

This collection was publicly exhibited in 1976 and encapsulates his artistic evolution, from early Bauhaus serigraphs to the captivating kinetic geometric shapes that gained him prominence in the 1950s and 1960s.

9. Csontváry Museum

Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka was an unconventional and well-traveled artist who received little acclaim during his lifetime.

However, since his passing in 1919, his unique works, which draw inspiration from post-Impressionism and Expressionism, have gained considerable popularity, particularly in Hungary, where some of his paintings now fetch prices exceeding one million Euros.

Gedeon Gerlóczy, an architect and collector, was among the first to recognize Csontváry’s potential and lent his collection to Pécs to establish a museum in 1973. What began as a modest exhibition of ten works expanded significantly after the Hungarian government acquired nearly all of his creations.

Among Csontváry’s most acclaimed pieces, The Lonely Cedar (1907) is deemed worth the admission fee alone.

10. Király Street

Spanning between Széchenyi Square and Felsőmalom Street, this refined pedestrian thoroughfare situated in the heart of Pécs offers a traffic-free experience.

The street is lined with galleries, restaurants, and cafes, featuring outdoor terraces shaded by awnings and well-manicured lime trees.

The Neoclassical and Historicist buildings embellish the street with a sense of formality, while at several properties, visitors can peek through passages revealing charming courtyards and elegant staircases adorned with ornamental rosettes.

At number 5, one can admire the exquisite Art Nouveau lobby of the Palatinus Hotel from 1915, and the street broadens into a small square adjacent to the neo-Baroque National Theatre, inaugurated in 1895. The ornate pyrogranite reliefs on the Vasváry house at number 19 were crafted by the Zsolnay Porcelain Factory, and Caflisch confectioner’s shop at 32 holds the distinction of being the oldest of its kind in Hungary, established in 1789.

11. Archaeological Museum and Lapidarium

The Archaeological Museum is located in a late-Baroque edifice from the 18th century on Széchenyi Square.

The courtyard is adorned with steles and sarcophagi unearthed from numerous Roman excavations throughout the city.

One of the museum’s premier exhibits is the Zengővárkonyi Madonna, a Neolithic female idol estimated to be around 6,000 years old.

Explore the Bronze Age artifacts that date back approximately 3,000 years and were discovered at a settlement on Jakab Hill nearby.

Among the more unusual items is a Bronze Age pot sculpted in the shape of a bird from Zók, located about 15 kilometers to the west.

12. Synagogue

The Jewish community in Pécs experienced significant growth starting in the 18th century, peaking with a congregation of 4,000 by the 1930s.

However, after deportations and the Holocaust, this number has declined to fewer than 300 today.

Constructed in 1869, the synagogue features a fusion of Neoclassical and Moorish Revival architectural styles.

The inscription atop the facade above the clock reads “House of Prayer for All Nations,” referencing a verse from the Book of Isaiah.

This building is notably recognized for housing the first organ commissioned to the master organ builder József Angster, which was installed in the operational year of the synagogue. This magnificent instrument comprises two manuals, 24 registers, and over 1,530 pipes.

13. Pécs TV Tower

Rising above the northern part of Pécs, the tallest structure in Hungary is situated on Misina peak in the Mecsek mountain range.

Composed of 18,500 tons of reinforced concrete, the tower was constructed between 1968 and 1973, reaching a height of 197 meters.

A high-speed lift transports visitors to the café and observation deck at 72 meters, where a small exhibition highlights the discovery of the komlosaurus dinosaur within the Mecsek range in 1983. Nevertheless, the primary draw remains the panoramic view of Pécs and the surrounding Baranyai hills to the south.

On clear days, it is possible to see the faint outline of Croatia’s Papuk mountain, situated approximately 100 kilometers to the southwest.

14. Pécs Zoo

En route to the TV Tower, nestled in the initial slopes of the Mecsek range, lies Pécs’ revitalized zoo.

Closed since 2012, the zoo reopened its doors in 2016, introducing many new species and over 1,000 individual animals.

Visitors can observe an aquarium featuring reef sharks and modern enclosures that house zebras, ring-tailed lemurs, cougars, Bengal tigers, Persian leopards, and lions.

The terrarium is designed for tree pythons, chameleons, and seals across a multi-level complex, while brand new facilities accommodate hippos, chimpanzees, crocodiles, and a petting zoo.

Additionally, situated in the Mecsek Mountains, the zoo boasts an eco-park that educates visitors about the native animal and plant species of the region.

15. Wine Tourism

The practice of winemaking was introduced to Pécs by the Romans around 2,000 years ago, and this industry flourished in the early 18th century following the Ottoman period.

Moreover, since the onset of the Third Republic in 1989, a new resurgence has taken place, with the south-facing slopes of the Mecsek mountains to the north being populated with vineyards primarily cultivating white Welschriesling, alongside Chardonnay and Zierfandler.

The Villány region, located near the Croatian border, enjoys a more favorable climate, enabling the production of Blaufränkisch, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet grapes, which yield some notably potent red wines.

Look out for the “Classicus” and “Premium” classifications, which represent the highest quality standards.

If you wish to explore southern Hungary’s viticulture, several wineries in the area offer tours (Hetényi, Radó Pince, István Pince Borozó, and Matias).