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Győr and Pannonhalma for Seniors - 5 days

Győr and Pannonhalma
How long it takes?
5 Days
Best vehicle choice for this plan:
public transport
car
bus
This region is famous for:
World Heritage Sites
Baths, Spas  and Beaches
Thermal baths, Spas and Healing resources
Museums and exhibitions
Castles, Forts, Palaces
Culture and monuments
Religious sites
Győr and Pannonhalma
Seniors
Day 1
It’s worth taking your time to explore the Baroque city centre of Győr – a real jewellery box.

The Baroque city centre of Győr

The Old Town, the historical town centre is situated at the junction of the Danube and Rába rivers. The town centre has managed to protect its historical character, and you’ll find most of the monuments and tourist attractions here.

Bécsi kapu tér is one of the most beautiful Baroque squares in Hungary and also one of the oldest squares in Győr. All of its buildings qualify as listed buildings of national heritage. The town square of Győr is Széchenyi tér, which has been functioning as a market square since the 14th century. In the past, it served as home to an Ancient Roman civil town. The square is also where the Saint Ignatius of Loyola Benedictine Church and Monastery and the Széchenyi Pharmacy Museum are located.

The streets, squares and the old company signs on the houses take us back in time: the Zichy Palace, the Esterházy Palace, the museums and churches are full of ancient treasures.Let yourself be guided back in time in this awe-inspiring city centre.

The Bishop’s Castle with the Bishop’s Palace

Káptalandomb has been Győr’s town centre for centuries, and home to the Bishop’s Castle and the Bishop’s Palace. The palace is the most perfectly preserved bishop’s residence from the Middle Ages in all of Hungary. One of the most sacred relics of Hungary, the Holy Crown had numerous stays here.

 

The Bishop’s Palace, which is connected to the tower house, has some valuable details to offer. The marvellous Baroque staircase was built in the second half of the 18th century, while the palace’s chapel was built by Bishop Orbán of Nagylucse in 1487. The neo-Gothic features were added later, however, the building survived in its original form. Its three tracery windows and the fine star-shaped ceiling is an aesthetic creation of Gothic architecture.

Cathedral – St Ladislaus' herm

Győr Cathedral was founded during the reign of Saint Stephen. It holds our most important ecclesiastical relic – other than the Holy Crown – the herm of St Ladislaus.

The foundations of the oldest church in Győr originate from the time of the reign of Saint Stephen but it has been refurbished and renovated on various occasions.

The herm, our most important national and ecclesiastical relic other than the Holy Crown, stands in the Gothic-styled Héderváry Chapel situated on the south-west side of the church. The herm itself is a detailed portrait sculpture of King Saint Ladislaus. It is a masterpiece by Transylvanian Hungarian goldsmiths and one of the first Hungarian examples of the filigree technique.

Day 2
If you are making it a two-day trip in Győr, be sure to also visit the nearby Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma.

Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma

Pannonhalma is just half an hour from Győr. Once you arrive, head straight to the Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The monastery’s buildings guard messages passed down from bygone ages. The monastic community currently living here continues to use the surviving buildings in line with their original purpose.

The parts of the monastery open to visitors include the church, the undercroft, the cloister, and the library, where the earliest Hungarian language artefact, the founding charter of the Abbey of Tihany, is kept. The building houses the Benedictine High School of Pannonhalma.

On the abbey’s premises, you’ll find an arboretum, an unparalleled herb garden, a high-class winery and restaurant as well.

Day 3
Once you have seen everything in the city, the Lipót Thermal Bath and Pool Complex situated between Győr and Mosonmagyaróvár is the perfect relaxation spot.

Lipót Thermal Bath and Pool Complex

The Lipót Thermal Bath and Pool Complex is situated in a wonderful environment in the vicinity of both Győr and Mosonmagyaróvár. Its thermal water has been certified as medicinal water since 2004. Visitors will find two thermal water pools, a swimming pool, a lazy river pool, whirlpool bath, a pool full of massage elements, a beach pool with a surface area of 1,200 m2 and a Finnish sauna built on a separate island in a watermill.

The beautiful 10-hectare beach area covered with living grass provides a whole host of other opportunities in addition to bathing.

Day 4
Pay a visit to the Hanság Museum, and check out the Mosonmagyaróvár Castle!

Hanság Museum

Hanság Museum

The museum in Mosonmagyaróvár has been the most comprehensive collection of the city’s and the former county’s cultural heritage for more than 130 years. This is one of the oldest-established museums in Hungary, where you can see exhibitions portraying the archaeological and ethnographical characteristics and the local history of the Moson Plain and Hanság.

The museum has also been home to the Cselley House for a few decades now, where you can find an exhibition of applied arts, an Ancient Roman lapidary and the Gyurkovich collection of Hungarian paintings dating back over the past 200 years.

 

Mosonmagyaróvár Castle

Mosonmagyaróvár Castle was founded by Saint Stephen on the low hill now known as Királydomb. The castle is built on the remains of an Ancient Roman settlement, and was rebuilt multiple times during its existence, as you can tell from its irregular rectangular layout.

During the Middle Ages, the owners of the castle – which played a strategic military role – changed frequently. Later, the emphasis was put on protection against the Ottoman Empire. The castle then lost its military strategic importance and became a prison for a few years, before finally becoming a significant educational building.

 

Day 5
Visit the Lébény Apostle Parish Church of St Jacob, a remnant of medieval architecture.

Lébény Apostle Parish Church of St Jacob

From Mosonmagyaróvár, head towards Lébény, where you can visit the Parish Church.

The Apostle Parish Church of St Jacob in Lébény is built in a Romanesque style and used to be a Benedictine abbey and a medieval monastery, as well as one of the most significant medieval architectural monuments in Hungary. The church, standing on the main square in Lébény called Church Square, is an astonishing building both inside and out, thanks to the generous donations of the upper-class aristocratic family and the expertise of the master architect.

Water and bicycle tours in Szigetköz

With an area of 375 square kilometres, Szigetköz is the biggest island in Hungary, making it the ideal destination for nature-lovers and fans of active tourism.

Szigetköz is characterised by rich flora and fauna, which you can easily explore by kayak, canoe or bike.

The Mosoni-Duna River spreads here in Szigetköz and breaks down into a thousand smaller branches, forming islands and narrow channels. The landscape offers a romantic view, while the meandering river branches are home to thick reed beds, where you may also spot rare birds, otters and beavers.

You can also bathe in the water. The river bank is forest-covered with a gravelly, sometimes sandy or muddy bed. Let’s go hiking and seek adventures!

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