Gyor tourist information
"The town of rivers", or Arrabon, as the Romans called it, is a nearly 1000-year-old bishopric where Napoleon won a battle in 1809. Győr is famous for its schools and industry. It has a nice downtown and it is liked because of its baroque buildings.
The ancient “heart” of the town is at the junction of three rivers – the Danube, Rába and Rábca - at Káptalan Hill. Püspükvár (Káptalan Domb 5/a.), the residence of the bishops of Győr, can be easily recognised by the Csonka Tower. Its oldest buildings are Lakótorny, built in the 13th century, and the Gothic Dóczy Chapel, built in the 15th century.
The Roman Era predecessor of the Bishop’s Cathedral already stood at the site in 1030. The Gothic Saint Laszló Chapel (HéderváryChapel), added 400 years later, was built for the canonisation of King Laszló I (1077-95). This chapel contains the masterpiece of Medieval Hungarian goldsmith’s work, the Saint László Herma, a gilded silver masterpiece. The special ornaments of the church, the frescos of the black altar, were painted by A. F. Maulbertsch. The frame of the painting showing the Blessed Virgin and the infant Jesus is a rococo masterpiece.
Two Baroque masterpieces - the Saint Michael Archangel Statue (Martinovics Square) and the Ark Monument (Gutenberg Square) - were built in 1731. In the Seminary building (Káptalan Hill 26.), the Bishopric Collection, Treasury and Library hold the religious masterpieces of 1000 years. The most precious pieces are the ivory triptych, the Lord picture from the 16th century, the ostensory from the 18th century, the Zichy collection containing liturgical objects, and the biggest codex in Hungary.
One of the most prominent sculptors of the 20th century is Miklós Borsos (1906-93); his creations can be seen in the Museum named after him (Bishop Apor Vilmos Square 2). In the Casemate-Stone Collection (Bécsi kapu Square 5) we can see cenotaphs from the Roman and Modern ages in this typically classicist building. In the attic of A. Kreszta House (Rózsa Ferenc Street 1.), we can see charming figures of Margit Kovács (1902-77) in the Ceramics Exhibition.
The symbol of the town, the Iron Cock, created to demonstrate that the Turkish army had taken the fortified castle in 1594 (the castle was later destroyed by Napoleon ), is a depiction of the ornamented well in Duna-kapu Square. The famous monuments of Széchenyi Square are the setting for the performance of the “Baroque Marriage”, a re-creation of an old-fashioned, baroque Hungarian wedding ceremony which is part of the Summer in Győr Festival. In the Vastuskós House (no. 4) we can see the 20th century art creations of the Imre Patkó Collection, featuring African and Oceanic works of applied art. The log spiked with nails standing in the corner of the house was the trade-sign of the 19th century’s spice-shop.
Apátúr House, the former main abbot’s residence, is a brilliant Baroque palace that provides a place for the rich urban, medical, applied art and postage-stamp materials of Xantus János Museum.
Three prominent buildings of the Benedictine Order can be found in the square. The courtyard of Saint Ignatus of Loyola was formed after the pattern of Il Gesú Church in Rome. Its most precious ornament is the pulpit. On the ground floor of the monastery (9.), we can see the Széchenyi Pharmacy Museum with its contemporary baroque furnishings and wonderful frescos. The Benedictine Grammar School (8.) enriched Hungarian culture with its prominent graduates. .
While sightseeing, we can admire the hall of Zichy-Palace (Liszt Ferenc Street 20), where wedding ceremonies and concerts are held, along with the wrought-iron ornaments of the old Town Hall (Rákóczi Street 1), the impressive neo-baroque new Town Hall, the Tuscan columns of the Magyar Ispita (Rákóczi Street 6) and the richly-ornamented closed balcony in the Rosália-House (Kazinczy Street 21).
The Town Museum collection (Rákóczi Street 6) exhibits Greek and Roman ornaments, furniture in Renaissance and baroque style, sculpture, paintings and Chinese porcelain. In addition, there are contemporary graphics, the sculptures of Miklós Borsos and the ceramics of Margit Kovács. The “Hab Maria” statue from the 18th century in the Carmelite Church (Bécsi kapu Square) is one of the greatest Hungarian statues. The Monastery operates as a hotel today, and concerts are held in its yard. The Town Gallery can be found in the Esterházy Palace (Király Street 17). It has a rich collection of works by 20th century painters.
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