Arrival in an ancient and quiet town

The city of Eger (pop. 56,000) dates back to the 10th century, when St. Stephen, the first king of Hungary, founded an episcopal see on the site & established a cathedral where the castle now stands. The cathedral was destroyed during the Mongol invasion of 1241, but the fortress/castle still looms above the town center.

The Mongols stay in the area was comparatively brief, but destructive nonetheless. The real trauma came when the Turks began invading the area in the 1500s. The town achieved fame when Captain Dobo and a small contingent of soldiers survived a siege by a much larger Turkish force. Unfortunately, the Turks returned a few decades later, and the ruler responsible for the region essentially just handed it over to the Ottoman Empire.

As was par for the course in such situations, churches then became mosques and the Turks established their own architectural monuments, such as public baths.

The minaret that dates from that time still stands, the northernmost example of Ottoman architecture in Hungary.

The area is known historically for its wine making, its fine agricultural produce, and the natural hot springs. The city still has considerable religious importance, named a Metropolitan archdiocese in 1804. The Eger Cathedral is grand, and home of the second largest organ in Hungary.