Győr (German: Raab, Slovak: Ráb) is a small city on the northwestern part of Hungary, at the confluence of the Danube, Rába and Rábca rivers. It is the capital of the Győr-Moson-Sopron county in Western Transdanubia. The city is exactly half way between Budapest and Vienna.
Győr covers 174.61 sq km (67.4 sq mi) and has a population of 131,000 (2011 estimate). That makes it the sixth largest city in the country, and one of its seven main regional centers.
Győr is an ancient city. A settlement has been created there by the Celts. It was originally called Arrabona. It is a contraction of this name that Győr derives its name in German, Raab, and Slovak, Ráb. By the 1st century BC, the Romans have arrived in Győr, and was a presence until the 4th century.
Different groups settled in Győr including the Slavs around 500, the Lombards around 5478 and the Avars from 568 to around 800. The Magyars occupied it around 900 and fortified an existing Roman fortress. In their wake came the Ottomans, who ruled the area from 1541 until the late 17th century. They were replaced by the Hungarians and Austrians in 1598, and were ruled by the Austro-Hungarians since then, except for brief periods when the Turks returned in 1683 and Napolean also briefly occupied it in the early 19th century.
Győr suffered severe damage during the Second World War, after which is was behind the Iron Curtain until the collapse of the Soviet Union. Today it is once again a vibrant city with many interested historic buildings - rebuilt after the war - waiting to be discovered by tourists.
Győor Carmelite Church Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gyor_Carmelite_Church.jpg Author: Funke
Visiting Győr
Győr's location close to the border of Slovakia and Austria means that it is easy for you to get there from either countries. You can also take a train from Budapest. The fast train gets you there within an hour and 15 minutes. There are train services from Bratislava and Vienna as well.
Places of Interest in Győr
Ark of the Covenant (Frigyláda emlékmű) This is a Baroque monument built by Charles III in 1731 as an act of atonement for the violation of the Blessed Sacrament.
Bishop's Palace (Püspökvár) Well-restored historical building dating to the 14th century. It has a museum dedicated to Hungarian priest Vilmos Apor.
Győr Cathedral (Székesegyház) Cathedral of the Győr Episcopate dating to the early 11th century. The original three-aisle church was destroyed by the Mongols in 1240 and rebuilt in the Gothic style, and remodelled in 1580 after a fire.
Carmelite Church & Monastery (Karmelita templom) Church that fuses elements of Baroque with Italianate was built in 1721-5 for the Carmelites who settled in Győr since 1697.
Győr Diocesan Treasury and Library and Lapidary (Győri Egyházmegyei Kincstár, Könyvtár és Kőtár) A treasure trove holding some of the finest liturgical manuscripts in Hungary, including an 11th century codex.
Margit Kovás Exhibition (Kovács Margit Állandó Kerámia Kiállitás) A beautiful 16th century mansion displaying its exquisite collection of ceramics by Margit Kovács, a famous Hungarian ceramic artist.
Pannonhalma Abbey Built in 1002, thus making it as old as Hungary itself, this abbey located 20 km to the southeast of Győr is a World Heritage Site since 1996.
Széchenyi Square This is the former market square of Győr, lined with imporant historic buildings such as the Iron Stump House, the Xantus János Museum, the Baroque Ignatius Benedictine Church and the Pharmacy Museum.
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