Pécs (E8) This, the largest town of Pannonia, is known as a town of “Mediterranean moods”, not just because in summer social life in the cafés goes on into the night, but also because of its sub Mediterranean climate. Figs grow in the gardens here – quite unusual in Hungary – and in spring plants typical of southern countries bud on the southern slopes of the Mecsek, the hill which rises over the city.
There was a flourishing city in this place two thousand years ago, when the main east-west route of the Roman Empire, known as the “Mediterranean Road” passed through here. Sopianae (Pécs) was built in the first century, and its last great era was in the fourth century, when Christianity had already appeared in the empire. It was at this time that the ancient Christian tombs were constructed, the first of which was discovered at the end of the 18th century.
The excavations are being carried out in a built-up area of the city, under Dóm tér (Cathedral Square), at a depth of five or six metres. Several of the frescoed, vaulted mausoleums, grouped closely together, can now be visited. This unique group of monuments has been declared a part of World Heritage by UNESCO.
It was in Pécs that the first university in the country was founded in 1367, and the first public library in 1774. It also saw one of the first bishoprics, in 1009. Not long afterwards construction was begun on the cathedral, which has been rebuilt several times over the centuries; from the crypt upwards one can trace the additions of various ages, in different styles. Interestingly, the cathedral stood on piles, because the soil was constantly washed away by the underground flow of water from the Mecsek Hills. The most important monuments of the 150-year Turkish occupation of Hungary are to be found in Pécs. Amongst other things are the mosque of Pasha Iakovali Hassan, and the round domed Catholic church in the main square, which was formerly a Turkish mosque. On its roof, the cross fixed above the crescent proclaims the victory of Christianity in this region. Pécs has several world-famous factories. The oldest sparkling wine factory in Hungary operates here, and the oldest brewery. In the 150-year-old Zsolnay Porcelain Workshop, apart from beautiful china dishes and ornaments, pyrogranite is also made. A special feature of the face of the city of Pécs is the ceramic decoration on buildings, employed not only in designs of the art nouveau period, but also for the ornamentation of the most modern buildings of today.

Pécsvárad (F8) This castle, which stands at the foot of the Mecsek Hills, is one of the most important buildings from the Middle Ages in Hungary and is of special significance in the establishment of the kingdom. The first abbot of the former Benedictine monastery, Asztrik, brought the crown from the Pope in Rome to Stephen, Hungary’s first king.

Mecseknádasd (F8) The ruins of two medieval castles can be seen beside this village. One of them, the Réka Castle, is the birthplace of the Scottish St. Margaret. Her mother was the daughter of St. Stephen, King of Hungary, and her father was Edward, King of Britain. Her parents returned to Scotland with Margaret, who was born in 1046. The princess later became the wife of Malcolm, King of Scotland, and a benefactor of her people. The Church of Scotland donated a painting of St Margaret to the village church in 1975.

Orfű (E8) Consists of five small villages, in a picturesque location, in a lakeside resort. Its lakes are a paradise for enthusiasts of bathing, fishing and water sports, and it is a centre for cross-country horseriding. The cave of the Vízfő spring is a destination for adventurous tourists looking for extreme excitement, while those of a calmer nature can see Pannonia’s only stalactite cave in Abaliget, with 20 species of bat.

Abaliget (E8) One of the most important tourist centres in the Mecsek grew up around Abaliget and Orfű, and the caves at Abaliget played a significant part in this development. These were discovered at the end of the 1700s. The babbling of a stream can be heard along almost the whole length of the section which is open to visitors and makes up 500 metres of the nearly 1400-metre-long passage. The cave is dust-free, and the high vapour and radon content of its air makes it ideal for the treatment of those suffering from respiratory problems.