SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY

GYŐR AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

Győr is situated half-way between Budapest and Vienna, at the junction of the rivers Moson-Danube, Rába and Rábca. In the Roman Times there was a significant settle-ment here called Arrabona. The founder of the Hungarian State, King Stephen (St. Ste-phen) declared it a bishopric and a bailiffric. The monuments of the historical inner city are mainly from the Baroque period. The city has always been a commercial cen-tre at the crossing of important roads, railways and rivers. In the last century it became one of the most important industrial centres (machine, textile, food and building in-dustries). Today the city has a population of about 140,000 and, due to its geographical situation, favourable infrastructure and human capital, it is the centre of the most pros-perous region in Hungary after Budapest. For more information: http://www.gyor.hu

Pannonhalma is within its easy reach, just 20 kilometres by car. There you can see a Benedictine monastery. The church, in Gothic style, its undercroft was built in the 13th century. The famous archives and library of the abbey and many monuments were created over the centuries by the people living here.

Nagycenk is 75 km from Győr. There is an exhibition of the life-work of István Széchenyi in the castle, at the former estate of the Széchenyi family.

Some pictures of the life in Győr:

Bisinger Alley Catherdal