Thermal baths, historic buildings (even a Turkish minaret and a stone castle up on the hill), oh, and wonderful red and white wines. The charming city is the second largest city in northern Hungary, where the most famous Hungarian red wine, pride of local winemakers Egri Bikavér (Bull’s Blood) is produced.
Eger has a long and dramatic history that has left the city with various architectural reminders of the events that have shaped it. One of the most delightful reminders of the Turkish occupation in the city is the Turkish bath. The 31ºC medicinal water of the bath has the highest radon content in Hungary. The special arches of the Turkish bath are covered with Zsolnay ceramics, the dome above the central pool is decorated with 200,000 small golden plates. The soothing half-light, the glimmering, dancing surface of the water, and the modern massage and mud treatments will make your hamam experience truly extraordinary.
The Castle of Eger sits on a hill overlooking the entire city. There is much to explore in the castle: from canons perched along the stone walls, to church remains and a garden, you’ll get a feel of what it all might have been like centuries ago. There is also a great museum, the István Dobó Castle Museum, where you can find a number of permanent and temporary exhibitions. From waxworks of famous characters to baroque paintings to tombs and castle history, there is something for everyone.
Eger has a beautiful, vibrant centre overlooked by a massive castle. The main square with its shops and restaurants is worth strolling about. Marvel at the well preserved buildings in the side streets, each embodying charming characteristics. The centre of town is where you can find numerous museums telling the story of the region from different viewpoints and based on various themes.
When visiting Eger, it is a must to walk over to the Szépasszonyvölgy (Valley of the beautiful woman).
Here you will find a green valley covered with grapevines with wine cellars built into the hillside one after the next. Visitors can freely enter the cellars and taste the various producers’ wines, enjoy a bite to eat and speak directly with the makers. Be prepared to spend some time there, as you will want to try the wines from numerous cellars.