Several values of the Roman times, the Middle Ages, the Turkish occupation and the development of the middle-class are built on one another or next to each other such as Gothic, Renaissance and baroque dwelling houses, Christian churches and Islamic houses of prayer, djamis and minarets, baths and public buildings. The period of early Christianity is evoked by the Roman and early Christian relics and painted crypts that were excavated around the Cathedral. The early Christian cemetery complex, that is the second most significant after the Italian necropolises, was registered in the list of UNESCO World Heritage in 2000.

After the period of migration, St. Stephen founded an episcopate in Pécs around 1009. During the reign of Lewis the Great, in 1367, the town of Pécs became the seat of the first university of Hungary. The University of Pécs is still a dominant cultural and scientific centre. In addition, the development of the city was shown by the foundation of new factories: the Zsolnay ceramics, the Littke champagne and the Angster organ, all became world-famous.

Pécs is famous for its museums, rich art life, art festivals and artists in Europe. The long list of outstanding museums include the Treasury of the Basilica of Pécs, Janus Pannonius Museum, Exhibition of Ethnography, Csontváry Museum, Vasarely Museum, Amerigo Tot Exhibition, Museum of Natural Sciences, Modern Hungarian Gallery I and II, galleries (link1, link2). The gastronomic specialities and the famous wine of the Mecsek hills called cirfandli should also be mentioned among the peculiarities of the city.

Pécs attracts numerous visitors due to its intellectual, cultural and historical values. Due to this, it will deservedly bear the title of the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2010.

To learn more about Pécs and the programs of the Pécs2010 - European Capital of Culture project, we recommend to read the following brochure prepared by the Hungarian Tourism Office.

You can also get a glimpse of Pécs through the photos taken by the photographers and citizens of Pécs!