Szeged is the third largest city of Hungary, the largest city and regional centre of the Southern Great Plain and the county town of Csongrád county, located at the confluent of the Tisza and Maros rivers.
Szeged is a phoenix town. It survived the ravages of the Turkish wars, it survived the great flood of 1879, it survived WW1 when the Serbian army claimed the city. Szeged is also a hot town. Competing for the title of the warmest city with the largest number of sunny hours, usually with Pécs, it often comes in first. Szeged is also a scholarly town. The University of Szeged is one of the most distinguished universities in Hungary. The Biological Research Centre built with the help of UNESCO funds is also a considerable source of advanced research. So, knowledge, students, parties, celebrated edibles and good food, mild weather, riverside, what elso do you need for a nice holiday?
In 1879, the Tisza River spilled over its banks and almost washed the city off the map. Later Szeged was re-designed with concentric boulevards and radial avenues, sections of which are named after the cities that provided aid after the disaster, including Vienna, London, Paris, Berlin, Bruxelles and Rome. As a result, the city is architecturally quite homogeneous, with just a few new constructions intruding on the stately city centre. Fairly large and lively with lots of students, it comes alive even on hot summer days.
When arriving from Budapest, it may be a good idea to make a pit stop in
Kecskemét, city of 20th composer Zoltán Kodály and home of the famous ’Fütyülős’ (whistling) apricot pálinka, straight access to Serbian regional centre
Novi Sad and capital
Beograd.
