Sopron / Bük & Sárvár region for Families - 3 days

The Macskakő Children’s Museum is a veritable treasure in the middle of Sopron. The museum, set up in the Eggenberg House, teaches kindergarten and primary school children about the way people lived in the past. Old articles of everyday use from Roman times to modern days open up a whole new world for children, and they can even try and experiment with the items on display on their own.

In the Middle Ages, Sopron was one of Hungary’s seven most important free royal cities. It was not only a coronation city but also a border town, which, given its geographical position, always played an important role in facilitating intercultural dialogue throughout history. Ancient Roman roads lead through it, while the buildings, houses and narrow streets in the town centre are an embodiment of history, and many of the buildings here today are home to different museums. The Fabricius House, the Pharmacy Museum, the Scarbantia Forum, the Old and New Synagogues, the Eggenberg House, the Lábas House and the Cézár House are all within a short walking distance of each other.

The Storno House is one of the most beautiful buildings in the town. This is a palatial corner house built in the Baroque style, a monument to the history of the town between the 17th and 20th centuries. Ferenc Storno, after whom the building was named, came to Sopron as a result of being given wrong directions. He started working here as a chimney sweep and soon discovered real treasures in the attics of certain houses in and around Sopron. Interesting fact: this same building was also used by King Matthias as accommodation in the winter of 1482-1483.

The Goat Church looks back on an ancient past: manuscripts first make mention of it in 1280. Above its entrance, you can see the coat-of-arms with the goat, alluding to the benefactor of the church. The story of the Goat Church will tell you who that benefactor was, why the church is called the Goat Church and what historical events and coronations took place here.

Finally, discover the streets around Fő tér: Szent György utca, Új utca, Kolostor utca and Templom utca have many beautiful buildings and monuments.

The building of the Esterházy Castle in Fertőd we see today was designed and created in the 18th century and the castle – with its 126 rooms – is a worthy match for Schönbrunn Castle in Vienna or Versailles in Paris. ‘The Hungarian Versailles’ was a place of music and splendour. It was regularly home to parties, and even Maria Theresa took part in one such magnificent ball. By the end of the 18th century, the castle became one of the cultural centres of the country, so it’s no wonder that even Joseph Haydn lived and worked here for two decades. Walk through the exhibition of the history of the era on display in the rooms of the castle, then take a long walk in the castle park and imagine how the members of the prince’s family lived here.