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Sopron / Bük & Sárvár region for Families - 1 day

Sopron / Bük & Sárvár region
How long it takes?
1 day
Best vehicle choice for this plan:
public transport
car
bicycle
This region is famous for:
Museums and exhibitions
Culture and monuments
Sopron region
Families
Day 1
You can complete the tour of the old town in Sopron in one day. It’s a perfect family activity and you will also have time to visit the Lővérek.

The Fire Tower is the first thing that comes to mind when one mentions Sopron

The tower is the symbol of the town, and had great practical use in the past: the guards who once served in the Fire Tower warned the citizens of the town if there was a fire, if enemy was approaching or if someone wanted to enter the town with foreign wine. Once you have seen enough of the old Roman city walls, walk up to the top of the 58-metre tall Fire Tower. The staircase that takes you up to the top consists of 200 steps, which are easily climbed if you stop for a few short rests. Once you reach the top, walk all around the tower and enjoy the wonderful view of Sopron, Lake Fertő and neighbouring Austria. 

Macskakő Children’s Museum in the Eggenberg House

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.

Károly Lookout Tower / Boszorkány educational trail

Head to the forest of the Lővérek, where you’ll find a story trail of eight stops that starts from the car park on Károly Hill, and takes children along the trails of local legends with the help of a map. Children can collect stamps at each of the stops and get a reward when they get to the last one if they have all the stamps. As soon as you get to the Károly Lookout Tower, you’ll know why locals like to come here. The walk in the forest of Lővérek is very pleasant: the air is clean, and you will see plants such as cyclamen and animals including squirrels and, if you are lucky, deer along the way. There is a museum at the foot of the lookout tower, while the view of Sopron from the top is amazing. From the direction of Lővérek, you can see Lake Fertő, neighbouring Austria and Schneeberg.

The old town of Sopron

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.

During your visit

Wine

If you ever find yourself in the Sopron wine region, you should certainly try the Sopron Kékfrankos (Bläufrankisch) or the Sopron Zenit. The town of Sopron has a long tradition of viticulture and winemaking, and is famous for its Kékfrankos wine. At one time, it comprised a single wine region with the city of Rust in Austria, as well as the surrounding areas. Legend has it that the local Ponzichters (local German-speaking producers) would only sell this wine to Napoleon’s soldiers in exchange for their valuable ‘blue francs’, hence the name. It is a full-bodied wine, sharing this characteristic with the Zenit, also a local wine.

Gastronomy

Babsterc (also known as Bohnensterz) is a dish native to Sopron. It got its name from the Ponzichters, local producers who would grow beans between the rows of grapevines. Beans were a thrifty choice, as they did not cast shade on the vines, did not disrupt the harvest, and were also not taxed. Babsterc is prepared the same way today as it always has been: made with flour, fat or oil, and salt. It is best enjoyed with pörkölt (a Hungarian beef and onion stew), but is also excellent with sour cream, cucumber salad, or even as a sweet dish with any kind of jam.

Move Around like a Hungarian

Sopron and surrounding