Eger (Hungary)

Eger is mainly known for its castle, thermal baths, historic buildings (including the northernmost Turkish minaret) and, above all else, the best Hungarian red wines in the "Valley of the beautiful women". When you plan your trip, it looks like a small town for which half a day is more than enough, but 3 days may not even be enough to enjoy it fully, even in the winter.

Tourist mix

The majority of travelers come for a single day (mostly Slovakians), not staying overnight. Ukrainians and Russians frequent the Castle, along with many Italians. Around the town you may run into many German-speaking travelers as well.

By train

Trains leave the Budapest Keleti station each hour. The ones leaving at odd hours are direct, the ones leaving at even hours require you to change trains in Füzesabony. Most of these trains are gyors (fast) trains and will take about 2 hours and 20 minutes to arrive. Hourly IC trains will take you directly to Füzesabony, cutting the total travel time to just under 2 hours, but a reservation is required.
If you come from Miskolc your options are similar, except there is no direct service and you will have to change trains in Füzesabony. IC trains take just under an hour to arrive.

Train station

By bus

Buses leave the bus stop behind Budapest's Stadionok station for Eger twice an hour and the trip takes a little over two hours. The quarter past bus takes the highway and takes two hours, and the quarter to bus takes smaller roads and takes two and a half hours. You can buy a ticket on the bus itself. The buses take only cash in the local currency. Get there twenty minutes early during peak times, as there might be a queue and you might not get a seat. Most major cities in Hungary also have direct bus connections to Eger.

By car

The easiest way to arrive is to take the M3 as far as Füzesabony, then continue north on route 25. For a more scenic route from Miskolc you can drive through the windy roads of the Bükk mountains.

The train station is located about a 10-minute walk from the downtown area and most attractions. Walk over to Deák Ferenc út and walk north until you reach the Basilica. You can also take buses #10, 11, or 12. If you arrived by bus, the town bus station is located downtown directly behind the basilica.
Once downtown, the city is small and best walked on foot. You won't need alpine boots, but high-heeled shoes are still not good as there is much cobblestone pavement downtown.
However, the town has a taxi service which is especially useful if you arrive by train or if your hotel is outside of the town center. (phones: 555-555; 333-333).
Also, if you go for some outdoor activities near the town there are some buses connecting the town with the suburbs. Check at the main bus station for schedules.

Castle area

• Castle of Eger

  phone: +36 36 312744
  address: Vár 1
  The second floor of the Gothic Palace or Bishop Palace houses an excellent permanent exhibit on the history of the castle, the Turkish siege, and aftermath, on the first floor temporary exhibition can be seen. The Art Gallery (Képtár) contains artwork from different Hungarian artists, most notably Munkacsy. The Castle's Prison open only between May and September and located also on the first floor. Finally there is a tour of the Underground Passageways. The tour will take you first to the Heroes' Hall, with a replica of the tomb of István Dobó. The passages themselves contain several different examples of archaeological finds, as well as reenactments of events from the Turkish siege (a cannon being fired, an underground explosion, and a makeshift motion detector that uses peas). The passages can only be visited by tour, in Hungarian only. Also more sights are the Lapidarium in the halls of Caserne and casemates. In Dobó Bastion is also a space to temporary exhibitions, the Bastion’s open terrace offers breathtaking views. The castle has several other attractions which are not included on the main ticket. Specifically, you will have to pay extra for: Panopticum exhibits of a dozen wax figures based on characters from the book "Eclipse of the Crescent Moon" by Géza Gardonyi. Winter time: open 09:00-15:00. Entrance fees: adult/reduced Ft 500/250. The Castle Cinema shows the Eger in the 1500s movie in 3D (Ft 400, Tu-Su 09:00-16:00, summer till 17:00). Beyond historic sights there are excellent views of the entire city as well as several hobbyhorses inside the yard that even adult tourists enjoy playing with/on. The temperature of Dungeon constant throughout the year, 10-12°C, so bring some warm clothes.

Churches

• Servite Church and Cloister

  phone: +36 36 518652
  address: Servita 21
  They also revived the traditional religious procession in honour of Mater Dolorosa according to the spirituality of the order. The monastery and church in Eger is the only one of the eight belonging to Serves Mariea (Servants of Mary) order. The church was built in Baroque style in 1728-32, the towers completed only in 1754. During the construction walls of the former Turkish mosque and school were embedded, too. The monastery was erected in 1780.

• Roman Catholic church of the one time Clements

  phone: +36 36 326592
  address: Knézich Károly utca 1
  The complex include the church, the hospital and the buildings of the monastery. Built in Classicist style.

• Rókus (St. Roch) Chapel

  phone: +36 36 420317
  address: Entrance at Rókus Lane opened Maklári Street ?
  At the eastern end of the former Roch Cemetery. A Roman Catholic Church. The one nave votive chapel was built in 1709-14 after that plague epidemic in Baroque. Statue niches are divided the Gabled main facade of its. Original interior destroyed in the 1950s.

• Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church

  phone: +36 36 312227
  address: Kossuth Lajos utca 14
  The church of the Franciscan order, also called the church of monks, has a unique altar with a canopy, giving the construction an extremely light, dynamic character. The church of the Franciscan friars was built between 1736-1755 in baroque style, according to plans of the Italian architect, G.B. Carlone. The Church of St. Demetrius used to stand here. The church's doorways and the Mater Dolorosa statue, made in 1793,are works of Giovanni Adami. The Baroque altars and the pulpit, and the Rococo style main altar were made between 1735-1756. The statues and the side altarpieces are works of local masters.

• Basilica of Eger

  phone: +36 36 420970
  address: Pyrker tér 1
  The third largest in Hungary (the other two are in Esztergom and Budapest). The Basilica was built between 1831 and 1836 in classical style. It was built by the plan of József Hild,-most famous neo-classicist work the Saint Stephen's Basilica located in Budapest,-between 1831 and 1836, ordered by archbishop Pyrker. The statues standing outside the cathedral are works of Marco Casagrande. The organ of the Basilica was made by company Moser in Salzburg at the end of 19th century. In the main season (15 May-15 Oct) visitors can listen to organ concerts every day (30 min., 15 May-15 Oct: M-Sa 11:30; Su 12:30). The frescos decorating the domes of the church were painted by an artist from the nearby small town, Mezőkövesd, typical folk art motives can be discovered in his paintings.

• Evangelical Church

  phone: +36 36 313119, +36 20 8248381
  address: Vörösmarty 29
  The Hungarian Lutheran church (community) is the third largest historic church in Hungary. This church includes Folk, Historicist and Neo-Romanesque architectural elements.

• Saint Bernát Church

  phone: +36 20 3561471
  address: Széchenyi utca 15
  This Roman Catholic Church was owned by the Jesuit monks who in 1644 appeared in Eger. The Order house of the Jesuit built between 1700-1727. The church was only started around 1730, and completed in 1743, designed by a local the Jesuit architect. The church interior design is also time-consuming because only completed in 1772. A year later Joseph II. banned from the empire of the Jesuit order, so they are must to leave the church. The treasures transported to Buda, the buildings was received to the Cistercian Order. In 1800, this building is damaged by fire, and a number of small natural disaster, finally the church was restored in 1888 and then rebuilt again between 1900-1902 designed by Ignac Selves. The alcoves of the façade made in rococo style, which housed of four Jesuit saints: St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, St. Francis Régis, and St. Stanislaus Kostka. The building is part of the high school, which was founded in 1754 and has since changed its name several times and now Istvan Dobo (former Captain of Eger Castle) is named. The main altar built in 1769 by Anton Kraus is an outstanding work of Hungarian Baroque sculpture. Here you will find the Vitkovics Family House, not far from the Serbian church. The House of Vitkovics coined Vitkovics Mihaly, a Serbian and Hungarian poet, translator and lawyer, who wrote poetry in Serbian and Hungarian, in 1778 was born in this house.

• Saint Nikolaus Orthodox Church

  phone: +36 36 320129, +36 20 4702376
  address: Vitkovics Mihály u. 30
  The Serbian and Greek families having fled the Turks and settled in Eger in the 17th century, and they had the late Baroque Greek Orthodox, or Serbian church built. The church features baroque and rococo architecture. Its wall of icons rich in carvings and gold plating make the church one of the nicest ones in Hungary, painted by Miklós Jankovich. There is a small museum with religious collection.

• Saint Anna Church

  phone: +36 36 515178, +36 36 322455
  address: Széchenyi utca 29
  A Roman Catholic church. Built in Baroque style. It was part of the former hospital of Catholic Merciful order

• Saint Anton Church

  phone: +36 36 516613, +36 36 516615
  address: Dobó tér 4
  One of the most beautiful baroque churches in Central Europe. The Church has a unique church interior. Built in 1758-1773. A nice work of the architect Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer. Especially valuable woodwork of the church's furnishing. Every day at 11:00, 15:00 and 18:00 chimes can be heard from the church.

• Former Trinitary church in Eger

  address: Eger, Trinitárius u. 5
  A monument in Hungary, Identifier: 5602. Partially restored, occasional exhibition space. Single nave church extended with semi-circular shaped transept and chapels. The sanctuary of its is with line closure. Gabled, twin towered, unfinished main facade. The middle part of temple space covered with dome vaults. It was built between 1725-1771 by a Bohemian architect. the order dissolved in 1784, the furnishing of the church was sold by auction and the building used for storage. Now here is the Temple Gallery (see more down) exhibit space.

• Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Eger

  address: Eger, Kisasszony utca
  Former cemetery chapel of the same named Kisasszony Cemetery.

• Saint Rosalia Church of Felnémet

  address: Eger, Szarvaskői Road off, Sánc street 5/a
  A monument in Hungary, Identifier: 5627. This is the Parish church of Felnémet. The church was built,- on the site of Medieval church,- ordered Gabor Erdődy and Ferenc Barkóczy Bishops, in 1715, and from 1746 to 1750, the architect was an Italian painter. A nave nave, towered church. The main facade look toward west. On sides of the tower are St. Roch and St. Sebastian sculptures made by Mihaly Singer. At north side of the sanctuary is a two-storey vestry with circular floor plan staircase. The nave covered with 'Chests barrel' vault. The choir. located on th western side of the nave. Equipment made in 18th century. Organ was taken in 1896 by an Austrian firm of organ builders, known generally as Rieger. The forests of Bükk National Park can be found in the border of the village. The park headquarters is in the old parish building (next to north from the church).

• Saint Louis Church in Eger

  address: Eger, Köztársaság tér
  A Roman Catholic church. In April 1937, began construction on the church. The church was designed by engineer and developer was local persons. In August 1937, consecrated by the local papal prelate. The founding charter of church is located on the wall on the left side of the entrance. The church has one nave, Neo-Baroque style.

Museums

• Synagogue

  address: Kossuth Lajos Street
  A Jewish temple.

• Small synagogue

  address: Dr. Hibay Károly Street
  Contemporary art exhibition space.

• Kopcsik Marzipan

• Gárdonyi Géza Emlékmúzeum

  address: Gárdonyi u. 28

• Bell Foundry House

• History Repository

• Firefighter Museum

• Synagogue Gallery (Temple Gallery, Zsinagóga Galéria, Templom Galéria) Kossuth Lajos Street #17. - Open: Tu-Su 10:00-18:00. Admission: Adult/Reduced Ft 300/150
• Memorial Collection - History of Eger Tobacco Factory (Emléktár – Az Egri Dohánygyár Története) - Eger, Törvényház u. 4. - Open: Sa 10:00-16:00. Free of charge
• Vitkovics house (Vitkovics-ház)
• the Baroque Exhibit Hall of Diocesan Library (Főegyházmegyei Könyvtár Barokk terme) located in Karoly Esterhazy College
• the Spekula Observatory and the Camera Obscura (Spekula Csillagvizsgáló és a Camera obscura) located in Karoly Esterhazy College
• Géza Gárdonyi Memorial Museum (Gárdonyi Géza Emlékmúzeum) - Eger, Gárdonyi u. 28. - Admission: adult/reduced Ft 500/250 (2014)
• Paloc Folk Art Exhibition (Palóc Népművészeti Kiállítás) - Eger, Dobó u. 12.; Open: 17 May-28 Sep. Tu-Su 10:15-16:15 - Admission: adult/reduced Ft 200/100 (2014)
• Sports Museum (Sportmúzeum) - Eger, Kossuth u. 9. Inner yard of County House.
• István cellar and National Wine Museum (István pince és Nemzeti Bormúzeum) -The wine museum, not very big but pleasant
• Telekessy Pharmacy Museum (Telekessy Patikamúzeum) - Open: M-F 10:00-16:00 - Free of charge
• Trickery exhibition (Szemfényvesztés kiállítás) - presents a vision for the world of the blind

• Town under the town

  address: Pyrker tér
  It's the former archiepiscopal wine cellar. Under the Basilica, you can visit the cellar and taste some fine wine.

• Egri Road Beatles Museum

  address: Csiky Sándor utca 30
  Guests can get a glimpse of the life and career of the band and its members in the frames of a guided tour. Films and contemporary newsreels are played on screens and the songs of the band can be listened to through headphones, whereas over 1500 contemporary media publications, garments, models and limited edition rarities are displayed in the showcases.

Other attractions

• Bajcsy-Zsilinszky street buildings: #6 Grober House (Grőber-ház), #17 Sághy-Steinhauser House (Sághy–Steinhauser-ház)
• Almagyar street buildings: #13 Hauser Bodnar House (Hauser-Bodnár-ház), #15 Plitzner-Buday House (Plitzner–Buday-ház), #16 Hagen-house (Hagen-ház)
• Széchenyi Street is the main pedestrian shopping street which features a variety of shops and restaurants.

• Fazola House

  address: Bródy Sándor u. 4

• Minaret

  phone: +36 70 202-4353
  address: Knézich Károly str.
  The northernmost medieval minaret in Europe (i.e., the northernmost one except those built by immigrant communities in the last decades) and the tallest in Hungary (the other two are in Pécs and 'Érd' the minaret is a 42 meter high symbol of the Turkish occupation. It is 97 steps to the top, but be warned, the climb up is in an incredibly enclosed space on uneven and slippery steps and there is little room to move around up top so those who are afraid of heights or tight places should just enjoy it from the outside. Muezzin singing: Aug 17, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 at 17:00.

• LyceumIt's a baroque building opposite the Basilica that functions as a college. The Archbishop's Library inside is home to various frescoes, including one of the Council of Trent, as well as the only handwritten letter by Mozart in Hungary. The Observatory in the tower features a mirror telescope, a cannon sun dial which announces midday with a small explosion, and a camera obscura which projects an image of the city skyline on the wall. Very few of it is free, but you can buy a ticket for all the exhibitions for Ft 800. You can also find free Internet on some computers within the building.

Further afield

• SzilvásváradLocated at foothills of northwest of Bükk Mountains, in the Bükk National Park, above sea level to about 345 m. Its name comes from the Slavic earth castles. The town is the second most well-known Bükk resort next Lillafüred. Here is the world-famous Lipizzaner stud include the strain stallion stables, the Carriage Museum, equestrian stadium, exhibition of the history of the horse, the grazing herd. To stay: more than two dozens guesthouses, pensions apartmants and a couple three-four star hotel. To eat: in hotels or two or three restaurants and taverns. Try the local trout, truffle specialties. To do: auto racing, skiing, mountain outdoor sports. Take a tour to Szalajka Valley (main sights of its are the Fátyol (Veil) Falls, the Forest museum, Istállós-kői cave, Szilvásváradi Forest Railway, and more waterfalls, Trout Lakes in primeval forest), other good trek going on the Millennium Trail to Kalapat lookout (follow the blue diagonal stripes signs) open Jun-Aug: every day 10:00-19:00, other part of the year shorter opening times, not daily. If you need some adrenalin: Visit the Adventure Park or the Bob sled game park. Museums/galleries: 'Szilvásváradi-Gal' Ceramic Gallery, 'Orban-house' Museum, 'Debreczeni-Pelcz' Ceramic Gallery, 'Géza Révész' Saddlery-Leather-wright gallery. More sights: Reformed Round Church, Erdődy Pallavicini Mansion.

• Eger Thermal Bath

  phone: +36 36 510-558
  address: 2 Petőfi Square
• Motor paragliding by Eger Aero Club and others.
• Paintball

• Gárdonyi Géza Theater

  phone: +36 36 310-026
  address: Hatvani kapu tér, 4
  Probably the only theater in town, quite modern and comfortable; attracts cream of the city, especially on holiday concerts.

• Mount Eged CrossIf the weather is nice, you can hike up to the hill looming above the town, the Nagy-Eged. The lookout tower is in bad condition and closed, but the view is still excellent. The trail starts on the left, before the end of Eger sign, on VécseyVölgy street. Follow the red marks, count with 3 hours up and down from the trailhead.

• Horseback riding by Mátyus Udvarház

  phone: +36 36 517-937
  Can offer good gallops and intense rides if guide can tell that you have enough experience. There is breathtaking scenery even in winter time: along and across vineyards; up the hills; through the forest; in beautiful fields. Ride whatever the weather, even in winter. Recommended by Senator Ház. Among personnel, only 1 or 2 speak basic English (neither can be a guide); in off-season, English emails are not responded tocall instead. The only shortcoming: guiding rider smokes on the route. Have some Panzio of the same owner next to the stalls (closed in winter). Horses: Fantom (1994): too slow as a leader on a gallop. Sigi (1996): trials rider in the first minutes, restless and fast through the route, but rarely keeps the distance. Hadfi (1996): need constant attention of rider on a route.

Events

• Eger Spring Festival - late March to early Apr
• Agria Summer Games (Agria Nyári Játékok) - all summer
• Erlau Dance Festival (Erlau Táncfesztivál) - end of July, beginning of Aug
• The Bull's Blood Wine Feast (Az Egri Bikavér Ünnepe) - mid-Jul
• Medieval Marketplace (Középkori Piactér) - end of Jul
• Castle Festivities (Végvári vigasságok) - end of July
• Baroque Festival of Eger (Fesztivál a barokk Egerben) - Jul-Aug
• Festival of Szépasszonyvölgy (Szépasszonyvölgyi Fesztivál) - mid-Aug
• Wine Competition of Eger (Bormustra az egri Piacz-on) - mid-Aug
• Slow Film Festival - August
• Agria International Folk Dance Meeting (Agria Nemzetközi Néptánctalálkozó) - end of August
• Eger Festival (Eger Ünnepe) - mid-September - Civil festival
• Eger Castle Day (Egri Vár Napja) - October 17 - all museum of the Castle can be visited free of charge
• Every summer there is a small acrobatics workshop-week in Mikófalva, a village not far north from Eger (click on Mikófalva) .

Definitely a good place for wine shopping. You can buy directly from the makers.
Other places for shopping:

• Agria ParkA modern shopping mall which opened in March 2008.

• Borkereskedés (wine shop) in Dobò Utca 3 has a wide assortment of Eger wines at reasonable prices.

Visit some csárdas in Valley of Beautiful Women (Szépasszony-völgy), some of them are constantly overcrowded as tourists are brought there by buses of partner agencies.
One of the specialties is pancake balls.

Budget

• Govinda Vegetarian Restaurant

• Gyros

  address: Széchenyi út 12
  They serve a mix of Hungarian and Greek cuisine. It's not very expensive, rather oily, but the portions are quite big.

• Il Padrino Pizza Club

  address: Fazola Henrik utca 1
  They advertise themselves as having premium Italian pizzas with the cheese and ham coming from Italy.

Mid-range

• Palacsintavár

  phone: +36 36 413-980
  address: Dobó u. 9
  All main dishes are served in pancakes, are very large. Good selection of wines. Regulars seem to come here for desserts--and look really enthusiastic about them. Artistic interior feels like inspired by Andy Warhol. A bit off the beaten path. :Onion soup is disappointingly non-traditional, but still good. Conqueror's soup is served in bread, and definitely worth tasting. Be careful with Sombrero-- extremely hot, which is not indicated in menu.

• Senator Ház

  address: Dobó tér 11
  Decent place to eat if you stay near Dobó tér. Owned and managed by the same people as Senator Ház hotel. Before 11:00, part of the restaurant is used for breakfast for guests staying at Senator Ház hotel. During the daytime, it attracts many non-residents even in winter time.

• Fehér Szarvas Vadásztanya

  phone: +36 36 411-129
  address: Klapka út 8.
  Offers excellent game dishes. Not the cheapest in town, but the meals are excellent and the atmosphere is unique--although locals are rare here, compared to tourists. Interior is full of mounted animals--which not everyone may like. Menu in English, Finnish, French, Italian, Polish, Russian (translations may vary in minor aspects). Saddle of venison (Ft 3150, cooked with truffles) is very tender, absolutely recommended. The hunter's favourite (Ft 2680) is amazing in matching four sauces to four kinds of meat. Goose Ragout Soup (Ft 680) is quite interesting, and served in a bread.

Splurge

• Macok Bisztró

  address: Dózsa György tér 4.
  Previously known as Imola Udvarház, it was selected as one of the top 12 restaurants in Hungary in 2009. A good selection of wines from Eger and Tokaj wine regions.

Confectioneries

• Dobos Cukrászda

  phone: +36 36 413 335
  address: Széchenyi utca 6
  Very good choice of artistic (and custom-made?) cakes and marcipans of every size. In non-summer time, don't take seriously plastic seats you see right after entrance--there is a large hall with old-school furniture behind the counter (as shown on panorama on the web site). Serves only Lipton tea, but Segafredo coffee. For the New Year season, a Christmas tree is decorated with real sweets and marshmallows. It has been in operation since 1966 and the interior seems to have remained the same since then.

• Marján Cukrászda

  phone: +36 36 312 784
  address: Kossuth u. 28
  Much more modern compared to Dobos, still quite luxurious interior with striped chairs and marble tables. Be careful with the cocoa--really large cups.

Wine

Eger is the centre of one of the top wine regions in Europe. Egri Bikavér is most famous cuvee here, but there are several others definitely worth a sip.
Egri Bikavér (Bull's Blood) is a strong red Hungarian wine which supposedly saved a clever Hungarian girl from her fate with a Turkish sultan. During the time of the Turkish occupation, it is said a young girl was summoned to become a member of the local sultan's harem. Not wanting this fate for his daughter, her father gave her a bottle of Egri Bikavér to take to the sultan. He told her to tell the ruler it was bull's blood, and would make him invincible. The sultan, being Muslim, was unaccustomed to alcohol, and proceeded to pass out, leaving the daughter unharmed. That's a legend -- but in real life, also be careful with Egri Bikavér. It's excellent, but strong stuff!
The real story is an important piece of Hungarian history:
the "bull's blood" made there - is a cuvee (two types of red wine mixed). This name was given by the Turkish horde trying to conquer Eger - and then proceed towards Austria, etc. They failed: there were approx. 2000 Hungarians inside Eger, and 200,000 Turks outside. They had always seen the Hungarians drinking red wine, but they did not know what it was, and they assumed this must be bull's blood which makes these warriors so strong and fearless.

Wine shops

• Wine shopNice place to taste and try wines. Walls and windows are all packed with wine bottles, there are even some mounted in the floor. Offers selection of wine-tasting menu, with full range of cheese and snacks.

• Fúzió

  address: Csiky Sándor utca. 10.
  Wine bar, wine shop and lounge. A place to taste the wines of Gál Tibor, advertised as a "Design Cellar".

Valley of Beautiful Women (Szépasszony-völgy)

• Szépasszony Valley

  address: Eger, Szépasszonyvölgy
  Szépasszony Valley is the main place to go for winetasting in the town. This having about 200 small wine cellars have strongly become connected to the fame of the wines of Eger in the past centuries. Here sell local wines with very good prices. There is no inambiguous explanation for the origin of the name, neither for the date of the construction of the first cellars. The cellars were cut into rhiolit tufa of volcanic origin very easy to shape and which can be found under and around the town several hundred meters thick. Another advantage is that the wines are stored in them at constant, 10-15 °C temperature all the year around. Moreover, the moss, fungi living in the cellars create a special atmosphere, their pleasant smell supports aging of wine, developing their bouquet. Vendors will fill whatever container you have with you, so bring along some extra pop bottles. Most vendors also sell plastic jugs that you may take with you. Sometimes you pay for the glasses you drink there, though occasionally you will only be charged for the wine you take with you. Some wines are only available in bottles, and may be a little more expensive. A few of the places have hosts with very good English, though many do not.

• Bíró BorozóElderly women are great hosts, outgoing but not annoying, with good English and a sense of humor. Some wine is poured from a barrel through a decanter--it's a nice show, ask for a demonstration. Some is provided from bottles.

• Helyben FogyasztasSome hosts speak English well, others not so well. Most wines are poured from barrels, not from bottles.

• Farsang Tibor

  phone: +36 30 263-4478
  Some hosts speak English very well, wine comes from the barrel, and they have a restroom, which is not true of every cellar.

Several camp sites are available along with plenty of small and larger hotels and private rooms all over the town. You will not have a problem finding accommodation there.

• Arany TrófeaHotel, at the feet of the Bükk National Park. All the rooms are equipped with a private bathroom, a color TV, telephone and minibar.

• Hunguest Hotel Flóra, at the centre of thermal springs, among hundred-year-old trees.

• KoronaIn the most quiet green area of the centre, near the pedestrian street.

• RomantikFamily-oriented cozy 11-room hotel in the centre, 100 meters from main pedestrian street.

• Imola Udvarház Hotel. Modern and comfortable hotel in a quiet little square at the foot of the castle. There is a garage for guests cars.

• Hotel Senator Ház

  phone: +36 36 320466
  address: Dobó tér 11
  Has a restaurant in the same building; breakfasts are served there. Breakfast include a hot meal which changes every day; home-made jams; fruit salad; variety of Pickwick teas. Owner: András Cseh--very helpful in person, which is not obvious from emails until you arrive. Website says horseriding at Mátyus Udvar Ház can be arranged, but don't expect much help from Senator - you'll need to contact them directly. The hotel itself is an old building right at Dobó tér so prepare to enjoy sounds of the town's main clock tower every quarter. Reception area is full of small antiques..

• Pátria Panzió

  address: Szúnyog köz 3
  Overall, it is very good for its 3-star rating. A small patio with a shared table and several two-room apartments with balconies facing the hotel's private patio all make it perfect place for a company of 3-6 people spending much time together (judging by how it looks in winter--ask if table & patio are used in some way in summer). Apartments are one double-bed room plus a salon room with a balcony and a couch that can accommodate 1 or 2 people, all sharing same bathroom. Apartments are visited by maid every day; they have a good internet cable connection (ask if it applies to your apartment; LAN cable is not provided; bedroom maybe not connected while living room is), modern windows and balcony doors; bathrooms are fully equipped with Grohe and brand-name basin and bathtub, have heated floor, a bidet built into a toilet--even automatic light switches in the corridors of the panzio. In winter time, Pátria Panzió shares Senator Ház reception and place for breakfast--and every room is given a key to lock the common gate for a night time.

• Villa Völgy3-star hotel in the Valley of Beautiful Women. The hotel is next to a 109-year old chapel and a delightful park.

• Garten Vendégház

  phone: +36 36 420-371
  address: Legányi u. 6.
  The "Garten" Guesthouse is placed in the green area nearby the historical downtown and the thermal bath and beach.

• Agyagos Vendégház

  phone: +36 30 532-0264
  address: Agyagos u. 11/A
  The "Agyagos" Guesthouse is in green area only for 5 minutes from the thermal bath and from the castle. Surrounded by Mediterranean made environment for guest to have rest.

• Visit castles in Sirok and Kisnána
• Bathe and have a glass of wine in Egerszalók
• Visit the open air museum in Mezőkövesd
• Hike in Bükk mountains
• See the romanesque abbey in Bélapátfalva