Kőszeg (B5) In this, the loveliest small town in Pannonia, you cannot find a straight road, for the layout of streets has not changed since medieval times. The colourful Baroque and Classicist residential buildings of the 17th and 18th centuries were built along the streets of the old medieval town. Europe learnt the name of Miklós Jurisics, the captain of the castle (more of a mansion than a fortress) in the historical centre, in 1532 when, in command of small forces, he stopped the Turkish army on its way to Vienna. The Turks left the city walls at 11 o’clock, and ever since bells are rung in Kőszeg at eleven to commemorate the Hungarian victory.
Not only is the town famous, but so are its vineyards and wines. The owners of the vineyards of Kőszeg–Hegyalja follow the uniquely local custom of parading into town in spring to make a ceremonial presentation of the new vine shoots. After this, they register the shoots in what is known as the "Book of Arrival of the Vines", which has been kept since 1740. The book is a rarity in European cultural history.

Írott-kő Nature Park From Kőszeg, the road leads up through forests to the highest peak of Pannonia, an 883-metre summit called the Írott-kő (Written Stone). From the top you can see the Austrian–Hungarian border. This hill, rich in rare plants, conceals the first fortress of the region, the Upper Castle, from Árpád’s time, built on a six-hundred-metre high rocky outcrop.
Beautiful villages were built on the banks of the streams running down from the hill. In Velem (B5) an old wooden bridge spans the stream. On top of the hill on the village border stands the famous thirteenth-century St. Vid Chapel. In neighbouring Bozsok (B5), the air is especially clear and healthy, not only because of the proximity of the Alps, but also because of the abundance of water in this area.
The village is famous for its seventeenth-century mansion and its ancient park. The nearby village of Cák (B5) is famed for its thatched, whitewashed cellars, which are listed monuments.

Szombathely (B5) Of all the cities and towns of Pannonia, perhaps Szombathely is the proudest of its two thousand year history. It is here that the Roman name of the city is used most often, and cultural events, international dance competitions, a hotel and a square all bear the name of Savaria. In fact, the “largest legion” in Europe, the Savaria legion, operates in Szombathely. Its members are citizens with a sense of local patriotism, and in various events parade in ancient soldiers’ uniforms, with exact replicas of old weapons. (The authentic costume weighs in at 45 kilos.) Savaria was founded by Claudius Caesar in 43, along the northward bound Amber Road, and the city soon grew rich from the traffic. Four hundred years later an earthquake destroyed everything, putting an end to its splendour. Parts of ancient buildings, fragments of statues, a 50-metre section of the famous Amber Road, and details of the mosaics from the Governor’s palace can be seen in what is known as the garden of ruins, and the largest museum in Pannonia, the Savaria Museum. Another interesting point: in the 2nd century, Pannonia was conquered by the cult of Isis, of Egyptian origin. The ancient shrine to the goddess stands close to one of the best-kept synagogues in the country. Medieval Szombathely was insignificant, and the town only began to flourish once more in the 18th century. Empress Maria Theresa founded a bishopric in the town, and with this, large-scale building started. So, at the same time, did the discovery of the Roman past: the first finds were made when foundations were being laid for the new cathedral. The face of Szombathely was determined by eighteenth- and nineteenth-century baroque and classical buildings, such as the canon’s house, the Bishop’s palace in rococo style, and the cathedral. The first depiction of the town (1749) can be seen by one of the side-altars of the church of St. Erzsébet.
There was a church in the 9th century on the site where the church of St. Márton now stands. According to the legend, this is the birthplace of the beatified bishop of Tours in France. The town was referred to centuries ago all over Europe as a place of the cult of St. Martin.

Sárvár (C5) This town along the River Rába is home to one of the most beautiful museums in the country. Besides the luxurious furnishings, a special feature of the castle are the seventeenth-century frescos depicting battle scenes in the wars against the Turks. The town is famous far and wide for its medicinal and leisure baths, and the medicinal water containing mineral salts is particularly recommended for rheumatic illnesses, convalescence after bone fractures, and gynaecological complaints.

Somló This 433-metre high volcanic hill is to be found close to Sárvár, and high quality grapes are grown on its slopes. Here you can taste a wine named "juhfark" ("ewe's tail"), recommended for wedding nights. According to popular belief, it increases the likelihood of male heirs. It is said that Maria Theresa, the Austrian Empress, always drank a glass before retiring to bed. She gave birth to sixteen children. From the centre of this wine region in Somlóvásárhely (D5), you can make a trip not only to the wine cellars, but also to the fifteenth-century chapel of St. Margaret, or to the ruins of Somló Castle.