Located at the junction of the Raba, Rabca and Danube rivers, Győr is a major regional city in the north-west of Hungary. It was first settled by the Celts and has had a tumultuous history ever since, with the invading armies of the Mongols, Czechs and Ottomans all leaving their mark on the city.
Things to do in Győr
Spend an afternoon exploring Győr’s Old Town, which centres around the cobblestoned streets of Kaptalan Hill. It’s here that you’ll find the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady, a beautiful Baroque church designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Battista Rava. Also of note is the elegant Bishop’s Palace, which combines Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architectural styles.
Dominating Szechenyi Square are the twin towers of St Ignatius of Loyola Benedictine Church, which lies wedged between a school and a monastery. Its exterior design was inspired by Rome’s Church of the Gesù while the interior features trompe-l’œil ceiling frescoes by Paul Troger. This celebrated Viennese artist was also responsible for the gilded altarpiece.
On the west side of Szechenyi Square is the House of the Iron Stump, an attractive 16th-century residence with a stump covered in iron and blacksmith nails. According to local legend, every tradesman who passed by the stump would hammer in a nail for good luck. Today, the building houses the Imre Patko Collection. In addition to works by Victor Vasarely and Bela Kondor, ethnographic objects from Africa and the Far East are on display.
Getting around Győr
Győr is just over an hour’s drive from Budapest and 1.5 hours from Budapest International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Győr railway station and buses travel throughout the city. The centre of Győr can easily be explored on foot.