Szombathely tourist information
The rights the inhabitants of Savaria (established in 43 AD) enjoyed were identical with those of the citizens of Rome. The Romans used the tax revenues from the “Amber-Road” going through Savaria to build a town the sophistication of which can only now be envisioned, after two archaeological excavations.
The memorials of the Roman forum can be seen in the Ruin Garden excavated by archaeologist Járdányi Paulovics István (Templom Square 1-3): the governor’s palace, Pannonia’s biggest single mosaic work, the foundations of the ninth century castle built of Roman stones, nearly 50 meters of the 2000-year-old Amber Road and the Mercury Sacrarium. The findings of the excavations – a public bath, customs house and money-changing house - can be seen in the Savaria Museum (Kisfaludy Sándor Street 9).
The second-century Isis Sacrarium of the Iseum Ruin Garden (Rákóczi Street 1) is the site of the Summer Iseum Open-Air Plays. Hungary’s biggest baroque church, the two-steeple Bishop’s Cathedral (Templom Square) was built in 1791. The spacious interior was ornamented with frescos, paintings and sculptures created by great artists. The masterpieces were heavily damaged in 1945; they are presently being restored. The cathedral’s assembly hall, Sala Terrena, is one of the nicest baroque halls in the country. The rich ecclesiastical art collection can be seen in the Bishopric Museum.
In the Dorfmeister Hall of the Bishopric Library and Archives (Szily János Street 1), we can see the famous artist’s paintings. The Gothic Saint Elisabeth Presbytery is known for its nice baroque gate (Aréna Street 1). Next to it, we can find the building of the former Franciscan Monastery. In the Gothic wall-paintings of the former Dominican Saint Martin‘s Presbytery, we can see the Szombathely native and eponym, Saint Martin.
The Private collection of the Smidt Museum (Hollán Ernő street 2) indicates the collector’s manifold interests, and the exhibition features incredibly rich examples of applied arts. The Gallery in Szombathely (Rákóczi Street 12) represents contemporary Hungarian art.
To preserve the characteristic artefacts of folk architecture, 37 buildings from 27 settlements were placed in the Vasi Village Museum (Árpád Street 30), established in the proximity of the Szombathely Lake System (suitable both for rowing and angling). We are reminded of village lifestyle by the wooden bell-tower, forge and water-mill. Fairs and crafts demonstrations are often held here.
The Kámoni Arboretum (Szent Imre Herceg Street 7) is the biggest arboretum in the country. We can find more than 1,000 species of pine trees, 2,000 species of deciduous trees and, the pride of the arboretum, the 50 species of rhododendron bushes blooming in May.
Szombathely aerial map
Please click on any icon on the Szombathely aerial tourist map, to find close by places, offering hotels and tourist information. You can zoom in and zoom out our touristical map as well as switch between satelite and map view of Szombathely.
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