Sopron tourist information
The town richest in monuments in all of Hungary lies near the Austrian border, surrounded by vineyards and the pine-covered Lővér Hills. Its enchanting architecture, beautiful surroundings and subalpine climate make it a “must see”. It was awarded the Europe Nostra prize in 1975.
The Roman Scrabantia was an important station on the “Laurel Way” crossing Europe from north to south.. The 61-meter-high Fire Tower (Fő square 1), the symbol of the town, offers a wonderful, panoramic view and houses exhibitions about the history of the town. The Benedictine Church (Templom Street), also known as “Goat Church”, with its Gothic vault and baroque interior dominates Fő Square. This church was also the place for coronations and parliaments in the 17th century.
One of the country’s most frequently visited museums is the baroque Storno House with its distinctive corner balcony. It is filled with the interesting antiques of the Stornó family, a famous family of collectors. The General’s House (7) was the residence of the seventeenth-century mayors and military commanders. Fabricius House, one of the town’s most valuable worldly monuments, is 300 years older. Its interior reflects the seventeenth-eighteenth century style, and in the Roman stone collection in its medieval cellar, we can see the Trias sculpture group that decorated the Capitolium in Rome. Certainly worth a visit is Gambrinus House, built in Gothic style (3.).
The nicest furniture and pharmaceutical book curios are collected in the Pharmacy House (2.), and the Trinity Monument is a prominent work of 17th century Hungarian baroque sculpture.
Organ concerts are regularly held in the Evangelist Church; it is decorated with a gilded wooden altar and a carved pulpit (Templom Street). One of the nicest neo-Gothic architectural monuments of the 19th century is the Orsolyita Church (Orsolya Square 2). In front of the church, we can find the eighteenth-century Maria Well, and in the oratory we can see nice woodcarving and the Soproni Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Art Collection.
In Caesar House, recognisable for its Renaissance corner balcony (Hátsókapu Street 2), there’s a pleasant tavern with a watercolour exhibition. The Mediaeval Old Synagogue exhibiting the religious mementoes of the Jewish people of Sopron was built at the end of the 13th century (Új Street 22). Eggenberg House (Szent György Street 12) is characterised by the late-Renaissance style of the 17th century. Above the gate we can see the Brandenburg coat of arms, and in the courtyard the Hohenzollern coat of arms. The 600-year-old Saint George Church, originally Gothic, was renovated in baroque style; its frescos are from the 18th century.
The street and square system surrounding the downtown is very inviting. Tourists find the small trade-houses and the elegant new shops very attractive. Maria Column is a beautiful monument in the Castle District. The Zettl-Langer collection has a special atmosphere (Balfi street 9-11). Tourists can see furniture, archaeological finds, arms and paintings.
One of the town’s most valuable monuments is the Holy Spirit Church (Szentlélek Street) which is a Gothic masterpiece from the turn of 15th century. The ornamented 300-year-old Two Moors’ House is a prominent masterpiece of civil baroque architecture (Szent Mihály Street 9). The ledge is held by two Moor figures and there is a gate with twisted columns. The fifteenth-century Gothic Saint Michael’s Church, built on Roman foundations, rises over the town. Its most valuable masterpiece is a wooden Madonna sculpture
The town’s “museum-street” is Templom Street, where the valuable collections come one after another. There’s the once Franciscan and later Benedictine monastery with its Mediaeval Chapter Hall, a monument of matchless value from the 13th century; its rich ornamentation, sculptures and paintings unique in Hungary. In the Museum of Mining (2-4) in the former Eszterházy Palace, a working model is used to demonstrate the development of mining, and we can see mining represented in fine and applied arts.
The 17th century Eszterházy Palace also holds The Museum of Forestry, Surveying and the Timber Industry. In the arcaded late-Renaissance Lábasház (Orsolya Square 5), goldsmith’s works and textiles can be seen. The only Bakery Museum (Bécsi Street 5) showcases a bakery and confectionery workshop, a baker’s flat, a bakery and a confectionery. The objects of the Ethnographic Exhibition (Deák Ferenc Square 1) represent the folk arts of Sopron County. We can find the Liszt Ferenc Museum’s exhibitions of urban history, ethnography and fine art at the same place.
The Lővér Hills rising over the town are part of the Soproni Reservation Area, an ideal place for hiking. In the forests we can see cyclamens blooming. The area’s highest hill is Károly Peak (398 m), with a 23-meter-high lookout tower providing a full panorama. Its indoor and outdoor swimming pools were built in a wonderful environment among pinewoods (Lővér Boulevard 82).
The popular Tómalom Baths can be reached by local bus. Nearby, in the residential area of Sopronbánfalva, we can see the impressive Carmelite Church with its baroque stairs and monastery.
Fertő-Hanság National Park with its water site and quarry resembling Egyptian rock churches is a bird paradise. Several buildings in Vienna were built of stones from these quarries. Today there is a cave theatre here. An opera performance in summer in this grand environment is an unforgettable experience. Spiral stairs run to the roof where we can admire the full panorama overlooking Lake Fertő.
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