About
Pécs
Mediterranean type
of city in Southern Transdanubia
Pécs is the fifth largest town in
Hungary with a population of about 158,000. It lies in the South-East of
Transdanubia at the south side of Mecek Hills. Pécs is the seat of Baranya
County, which covers an area of 4500 km2 and has a population of 400,000.
Besides its outstanding regional
role, the town is also the gateway of Hungary to Croatia, the Balkans and the
North-Italian region. The vicinity of the Adriatic Sea, the town's
Mediterranean-type climate, the picturesque streets of its historical centre and
the teeming summer evenings all evoke the atmosphere of the Mediterranean
countries.
A town known for
its’ wine and culture
Pécs is also the
town of vineyards and good wines: one of the first champagne producing companies
was established here. Vine growing, and wine making have long traditions in the
area. The museums in the town like the Csontváry, Vasarely and the Zsolnay
collections are well known all over Europe. The artistic life of Pécs, its
exhibitions and festivals attract a lot of visitors.
A town of
education
Pécs has been an educational
front for centuries. It is also a centre for higher education and scientific
research. In addition to the university departments, there are three independent
research institutes in the town: the Regional Research Centre of the Hungarian
Academy of Sciences, the Research Institute of Viticulture and the Experimental
Institute of Dairy Farming.
The research institutes, the scientific events, and international conferences
held here also contribute to the reputation of the town. The development of
R&D capacities and the industrial application of research findings may open
up new opportunities for international co-operation.
The town may be 2000 years old, but the 25,000 students who live here, find it a pleasant place to live in. The high level of education that characterises the population is an important asset for economic development: 40% of the population over the age of 18 has at least secondary school education and 15% of the population over 25 years of age has college or university degrees. The number of people speaking foreign languages in Pécs is double the national average.
A multicultural
city
The settlement of
Germans, Croatians, Serbs and other communities here during the centuries has
lead to a continuous mixture of the population. The peaceful coexistence of
these minority groups has greatly contributed to the rich cultural traditions of
the area. This is well illustrated by the fact that the country's only Croatian
theatre is found here, in addition to the National Theatre of Pécs, the Third
Theatre and the Bóbita Puppet Theatre. In 1998 the town was awarded the UNESCO
Peace Prize in recognition, among others, of its minority policy and the
activities of its civil organisations.
The town is deeply
committed to developing its international relations, as proved by the number of
its twin cities (Fellbach, Graz, Osiek, Cluj, Kutahya, Lahti, Seattle,
Terracina, Tuscon, Tuzla, and Lyon). These relationships enhance participation
in international projects, and help in the co-ordination of economic development
projects. With the honorary consulates of Austria, Croatia, France, Germany,
Great Britain and Italy located here, the town is considered to be a sub-centre
for diplomacy.
Pécs - the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2010!
The Hungarian
Government announced its decision on 19th October that Hungary appoints Pécs to
be the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2010.
The Government considered the ranking of the international council including 14 acknowledged professionals who had visited all the 7 applicant cities (Budapest, Debrecen, Eger, Győr, Miskolc, Pécs, and Sopron) and examined their projects carefully: 10 votes supported overwhelmingly our city. Evaluating our application, they emphasized the substantial structure of plans and ideas, the wide-range partnerships on national and international scale, and the devoted vocation of the people of Pécs. Pécs is going to bear this honouring title together with a city in Germany.
For more information, please,
visit: pecs2010.hu
Pécs is a
city of cultural heritage as well as cultural innovation. It is a city of
artistic innovation with a 2000-year history.
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