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Pécs region for Explorers - 1 day

Pécs region
How long it takes?
1 day
Best vehicle choice for this plan:
public transport
bicycle
bus
This region is famous for:
Museums and exhibitions
Culture and monuments
Religious sites
Pécs region
Day 1
Treasure-filled Baranya comes from the combination of mountains, lakes and natural values. The centre of the county is Sopianae, a must-visit item on the bucket list of all gourmet globetrotters.

Train tour from downtown of Pécs to Zsolnay Quarter

If you prefer to take your tours with a ‘professional’, just hop on to the little sightseeing train on wheels and listen carefully. The Dotto train is not just comfortable, but is genuinely local, and may even know things that people from Pécs may not be aware of. It takes you around Pécs in 50 minutes, and during your journey you’ll meet many smiling and waving locals, as well as covering a large part of the town: the tour starts on the main square and runs up to the Zsolnay Quarter through the narrow streets so typical of Pécs, and some busy roads as well. The train on wheels operates every day between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and leaves on the hour every hour from right in front of the Nagy Lajos Secondary Grammar School, returning to the same place. The terminus could not be in a better place, since from here you can start your trip around Pécs and discover the city’s World Heritage relics.

World Heritage relics of the City

As you pass through Káptalan utca, you will see one of the favourite sights of the people of Pécs, the first padlock fence in the country. There are only legends about how it came into being in Pécs and no-one knows anything for sure, but what we do know is that every local youngster and their love put a padlock on the fence. The Cella Septichora Visitor Centre is not far from here. The ancient tombs, which are protected as World Heritage sites, are one of the most important places in Pécs. You are advised to book a guided tour in advance, so that you can learn more secrets about the relics of Pécs.

The Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul

And while on the topic of interesting buildings, we should also mention one of the symbols of Pécs, the Cathedral. When you arrive at Dóm tér, take a moment to appreciate the four-towered symbol of Pécs: the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul. Few people know that you can climb up into the lookout tower of the Cathedral – not on your own though, but as part of a guided tour. The view is simply unforgettable. If you can tear yourselves away from the enchanting building, walk down the stairs into the secret Bishop’s Cellar. Legend has it that if Bishop József Cserháti had something secretive to discuss, he invited his confidants to the ‘Texas bar’, which meant the cellar that they accessed through a tunnel. During the era of the party state, this was the place to where they retreated from the palace full of bugs, and where they could discuss issues concealed from the state administration. The passage opens into the garden of the Bishop’s Palace, and you are advised to book your place for the guided tour in advance.

During your visit

Wine

People from Baranya county will claim that their land produces the best wines in the world. Though you cannot persuade them otherwise, you should definitely try the wines! For instance, the internationally recognised Villányi Portugieser, a variant of which is matured in new barrels and is tapped at the St Martin’s day wine festival. Villányi Franc is another must-taste wine. The Villány wine region seems to be the natural habitat of Cabernet franc, and a premium quality wine is produced here.

Gastronomy

Wild garlic is a very healthy and tasty spice. Locals love the aromatic leaves and in season, they are literally used in everything. The ‘wild garlic ice cream’ might not be to your taste, but cream soup is a popular dish in most restaurants in the town. Swabian communities moved to the region in the 18th century, bringing some excellent recipes with them, such as ‘sufnudli’ (potato dumplings with poppy seeds), and the plum jam you can try in many places in Pécs.

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