Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Győr, Hungary

At the confluence of three rivers in northwest Hungary’s Western Transdanubia region, Győr is a city rich in Baroque architecture.

The focal point is Káptalan Hill, positioned at the junction of the Danube, Rába, and Rábca rivers, where landmarks such as the episcopal castle and cathedral basilica have been erected and subsequently demolished by invading forces throughout history.

These two monuments currently stand as Győr’s primary highlights, featuring Baroque design complemented by remnants of older architecture on the castle’s lower levels.

Surrounding the hill are cycle-friendly squares and streets adorned with Italianate churches and houses in warm yellows, many of which house museums deserving of exploration.

Let us delve into the best attractions in Győr:

1. Győr Old Town

Following Budapest and Sopron, Győr ranks as the third wealthiest city in Hungary in terms of historic monuments.

Most of the Old Town’s streets align in straight lines within an irregular grid system, leading to grand squares such as Bécsi Kapu Tér (Viennese Gate) and Széchenyi Tér.

The architectural styles here include Baroque and Neoclassical, predominantly from the 18th and 19th centuries, characterized by elegant stucco facades in soft yellows and pastels.

The Káptalan Hill area represents the oldest, most intricately arranged, and densely accumulated quarter of Győr, encompassing the cobblestone episcopal district at the convergence of the Rába, Rábca, and Danube rivers.

It is here that you will discover the cathedral and the Püspökvár (bishop’s palace), easily identifiable by its flat-topped tower.

2. Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady

The magnificent Baroque church situated on Káptalan Hill has experienced a tumultuous past since its consecration at the beginning of the 11th century by King Stephen I. The original Romanesque structure was devastated by the Mongols in 1241, necessitating its complete reconstruction in the 1630s following a brief Ottoman occupation.

The design of this church is credited to the Italian architect Giovanni Battista Rava, with construction extending into the 1770s.

The statue of the Virgin Mary on the altar in the north nave is recognized as one of Hungary’s revered pilgrimage destinations.

Additionally, the altars were crafted in Vienna, with prominent painters like Franz Anton Maulbertsch and his students commissioned to create altarpieces and the exquisite frescoes adorning the barrel vault.

3. St Ignatius of Loyola Benedictine Church

Situated adjacent to a connected grammar school and monastery on Széchenyi Tér, this Italian-designed church represents the earliest example of Baroque ecclesiastical architecture in Hungary.

Originally founded by the Jesuits, the church was completed between 1634 and 1641. Those keen on Baroque design will notice that its architectural inspiration stems from Rome’s Church of the Gesù, the prototype for Jesuit churches globally.

Inscribed on the lintel is the date confirming the church’s dedication in 1641. The interior decoration, completed in the 18th century, features dramatic trompe-l’œil ceiling frescoes by the Rococo master Paul Troger.

The altarpiece, depicting The Glorification of St Ignatius of Loyola (founder of the Jesuits), is framed by marble columns adorned with extensive gold leaf.

4. Püspökvár (Episcopal Castle and Palace)

Perched atop Káptalan Hill is the fortified residence of Győr’s bishops, characterized by an amalgamation of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural styles.

The heart of the complex is its robust keep, with Gothic features on the lower levels built in the aftermath of the Mongol invasion in the 13th century, complimented by a Baroque pediment and balustrade atop.

Dating back to the 15th century, the chapel interconnected with the east wall of the keep presents as an unusual multi-level structure.

Earlier still is the “runaway corridor” from the 1300s, which connects to an impressive hall boasting groin vaults.

The palace and castle underwent their last restoration in 1984, and guided tours are available hourly from Tuesday to Sunday.

5. Városháza (Town Hall)

Located in the busiest area of Győr, the Town Hall occupies the intersection of Szent István Út and Baross Út.

This monument is an instantly recognizable landmark in Hungary, featuring a neo-Baroque design created by architect Hübner Jenő in the 1890s.

The building encompasses over 200 rooms, spans 85 meters in length, and boasts a central tower that rises 59 meters above the quaint formal gardens in the square.

Győr’s coat of arms is visible on the facade, and upon entering the lobby, visitors can see life-sized Carrara marble sculptures of the 13th-century King Stephen V, who conferred town privileges upon Győr, alongside the esteemed 19th-century local businessman József Bisinger.

6. Bécsi Kapu Tér (Vienna Gate Square)

Situated just south of Káptalan Hill, this narrow square is celebrated as one of Hungary’s most exquisite Baroque squares.

The western side of the square offers a view of the Rába River, which was once graced by the imposing Renaissance Vienna Gate.

Along the riverbank, a section of the 16th-century ramparts remains, although much of it was dismantled in the 19th century to facilitate the city’s expansion.

The principal monument in the square is the Carmelite Church, which is discussed further below. Adjacent is a small chapel housing a magnificent Baroque image of the Virgin Mary, sculpted in 1717 by Italian artist Giovanni Giuliani.

East of the Carmelite Church lies the Altabak-ház, established in 1620 for canons, featuring charming bay windows and a substantial wooden gate that conceals a courtyard and loggia.

7. Kármelita Templom (Carmelite Church)

The yellow-painted Carmelite Church is a prominent feature on Bécsi Kapu Tér, distinguished by its singular onion-domed tower.

The Carmelite order established a presence in Győr at the close of the 17th century, and this Italianate church was constructed in the first half of the 1720s.

The facade, adorned with characteristic Baroque volutes and pilasters, features an image of the Virgin Mary in a pediment crafted by another Italian artist, Diego Carlone.

Flanking the entrance are statues of the renowned Carmelites, Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross.

Inside, the most noteworthy features include the main altar and side altars, designed in the 1720s by Carmelite monk Ferenc Richter.

The altarpieces of the side altars are remarkable, created by the Naples-born painter Martino Altomonte.

8. Diocesan Treasury, Library and Lapidary

Located just a street away from Káptalan Hill, this visually appealing 17th-century palace houses the treasury and library of the Győr Diocese.

The residence was commissioned by Bishop Széchényi György in 1688, and in 1992, the diocese’s extensive collection of books and artworks was relocated here. Among the numerous ecclesiastical objects are 18th-century vestments, bishops’ mitres, polychrome statues, paintings, and goldsmith works including crosses, chalices, and tabernacles.

The atmospheric library is replete with incunabula, codices, and early Hungarian literature.

The lapidarium exhibits Romanesque fragments salvaged from the foundations of the episcopal complex and basilica.

9. House of the Iron Stump

Situated at no. 4 on Széchenyi Tér is a fascinating early Baroque house dating back to the 17th century.

On one corner, a tree trunk embedded with nails represents a tradition where each tradesman passing by was required to hammer in a nail for good fortune.

Above this, a circular bay window is supported by artistically carved corbels.

The house now serves as a museum showcasing the Imre Patkó Collection, which features avant-garde art from notable artists such as Victor Vasarely, Béla Kondor, Endre Bálint, and Lajos Kassák.

Additionally, the collection includes Chinese art as well as ethnographic artifacts from Africa, Oceania, and the Far East.

10. Esterházy Palace

This elegant late-Baroque mansion located on Király Utca houses the headquarters of the municipal art museum, which operates branches throughout Győr.

The palace took on its contemporary design at the end of the 18th century while owned by Count Gábor Esterházy, who unified a series of smaller medieval properties into a singular opulent residence.

Within, the permanent exhibition showcases the collection of Dr Béla Radnai, a prominent figure in the 20th century.

He gathered a remarkable collection of works from members of the Gresham Circle, a Budapest-based Modernist movement from the 1920s.

Artists represented in the collection include sculptor Ferenc Medgyessy, and painters such as István Szőnyi, József Egry, and István Nagy.

11. Synagogue

Across the Rába River, in an industrial area, Győr’s Neolog synagogue is notable for its impressive grey dome.

This monument, constructed at the end of the 1860s in the neo-Romanesque style, reflects the financial prosperity of the city’s industrialists at that time.

Although the synagogue shows signs of wear, restorations are currently underway.

This structure holds significant architectural importance, as it served as a model for synagogues across Central Europe throughout the late 19th century.

Since 1990, the venue has hosted concerts and various cultural events, including the Mediawave Film Festival, and showcases the art collection of 20th-century entrepreneur János Vasilescu.

A small Jewish cemetery stands behind the synagogue, maintained carefully by the caretakers.

12. Xántus János Múzeum

Located on Széchenyi Tér, this museum resides in another one of Győr’s charming Baroque mansions.

The Apáturna House, identifiable by its bay window with mullions, dates back to the early 1740s and was commissioned by Sajghó Benedek, the archbishop of Pannonhalma.

Founded in 1849, the museum is recognized as one of Hungary’s oldest public collections.

Exhibits include artifacts from Roman times, the Migration Period (4th to 6th centuries), and Pannonian items, as well as coins and objects related to Győr’s medieval guilds.

Visitors can also encounter exhibitions featuring traditional tiled stoves from the region, postage stamps, and various medical artifacts donated by the Petz family.

The museum is named after John Xantus, who was exiled from Hungary during the mid-19th-century War of Independence and gained recognition as a zoologist while traveling across North America.

13. Castle Casemates and Lapidarium

Located in Bécsi Kapu Tér is the entrance to the casemate within Győr’s ramparts on the right bank of the Rába.

The protection of the episcopal palace on Káptalan Hill has been historically significant since the reign of King Stephen I in the early 11th century. Their importance surged in the 16th century when Győr emerged as a pivotal fortification safeguarding the approach to Vienna against the Ottomans.

These walls contained casemates replete with artillery.

Only a small segment of the ramparts and the Sforza demi-bastion remain today, while this corridor and courtyard feature a quaint lapidarium.

Visitors can explore fragments from the dismantled Vienna Gate, designed akin to a Roman triumphal arch, alongside damaged pieces from the Fehérvár Gate, Roman-era steles, sarcophagi, milestones, and an intriguing assortment of antique bricks.

14. Pannonhalma Archabbey

A must-visit day trip from Győr is the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Pannonhalma Archabbey, located approximately 20 minutes by road to the south.

This hilltop monument is recognized as one of the oldest in Hungary, with roots tracing back to the late 10th century.

It is believed that Martin of Tours, the revered 4th-century bishop, was born at the foot of this hill.

Pannonhalma Archabbey ranks as the second-largest territorial abbey globally, showcasing a variety of architectural styles in its basilica, cloisters, and monastic buildings ranging from Romanesque to Neoclassical.

Three essential experiences include the early-Gothic basilica, the Baroque Refectory adorned with elaborate trompe-l’œil frescoes, and the remarkable Neoclassical library containing 350,000 volumes.

15. Xántus János Zoo

A perfect destination for families, this small yet well-maintained zoo specializes in African animals.

Visitors can observe giraffes, lions, zebras, pygmy hippos, chimpanzees, sitatungas, and baboons, alongside a diverse range of African birdlife including trumpeter hornbills and African grey parrots.

Moreover, the zoo offers opportunities to see jaguars, white Bengal tigers, black bears, Asian small-clawed otters, anteaters, and more from close proximity.

The terrarium and reptile house features monitor lizards, pythons, various tortoises and turtles, and dwarf crocodiles, all while flamingos enjoy their dedicated pool.