About Hungary

Culture and history

The question ‘What are Hungarians like?' is not an easy one to answer. They are colourful and diverse. According to visitors, Hungarians are talented, romantic, happy and above all warm-hearted. Hungary is a mixture of eastern and western cultural influences together with the traditions of a 1000-year-old state. Pagan tribes arrived in the Carpathian Basin around 896 and assimilated the smaller and greater local tribes. Later on, throughout their history, Hungarian rulers invited priests, artists and teachers to enrich Hungarian culture. Monuments of the Roman Empire as well as spas from the age of the 150-year-long Turkish rule, medieval castles and magnificent cathedrals all bear witness to a stirring history. The four royal cities of Esztergom, Székesfehérvár, Buda and Visegrád are all worth a visit, as are Debrecen, the eastern European centre of Calvinism, the Mediterranean city of Pécs and the artistic centre of Szentendre.

Facts and figures