Kőszeg

Kőszeg (German: Güns, Prekmurian: Küseg, Slovene: Koseg, Croatian: Kiseg) is a historical town in Vas county, in Hungary. Another beautiful town beside Sopron (the big rival in tourism), it is often referred to as the "jewellery box of the country". Like Sopron, it is very close to the Austrian border.

Understand
The origins of this town go back to the third quarter of the 13th century. It was founded by the Volfer family. In 1327 it was granted Royal status.

In the third wave of the great wars against the Turks in the 16th century, Kőszeg became the major flashpoint of the campaign of 1532. Under the leadership of the town and fort captain, Miklós Jurisich, a small garrison repelled the multiple outnumbered Ottoman army.

In 1695 the garrison and surrounding areas of Kőszeg fell into the hands of the Esterházy dukes, where it remained until 1931.

Kőszeg lost its leading role in the garrison county of Vas by the mid-19th century. In 2012, it was home to 12,000 people.



By air
The nearest airports are in Vienna and Graz, each less than 100 km away.

By car

 * By road from Szombathely (south), take highway 87. From Budapest first motorway #1 to Győr further to Kapuvár and Fertőszentmiklós. From Vienna, the A3 motorway further S31 highway. From Felsőpulya take B61 road and via Felsőőr and Rohonc coming to town.

By bike

 * From north the bike paths are on the western shore of Lake Neusiedl.
 * From Őrség ride on Ják-Vas mountain-Bucs-Bozsok-Cak route.
 * From Bük via Csepreg on the roadside or from Olmod on the bike path.

By bus

 * Suburban bus service operates between Szombathely and Köszeg, stopping every city stop on the route.

Parking

 * Parking payment is established in downtown and neighbourhood. Three zones. Ft 160-250 per hour per car, for bus pay extra. More about parking on web

In Burgenland

 * Lockenhaus (Léka), castle of robber barons
 * Eisenstadt (Kismarton) - gorgeous Eszterházy Palace
 * Landsee (Lándzsér), huge castle ruin
 * Forchtenstein (Fraknó) wonderful castle
 * Skiing options in Austria (near tracks): Monichkirchen (55 km), Semmering (89 km), St. Corona (58 km)

In Vas County

 * Bozsok, visit the Sibrik-Palace and ruins of the Batthyány Castle
 * Cák, famous for wine cellars
 * Csepreg, visit the St. Catherine's Chapel and Convent and the Schöller Castle
 * Holdfényliget Adventure Park: 8-hectare fun sports and adventure park. 1200 m forest cableways, archery, horse riding, quad bike, rowing, nordic walking, playground, small train (Kőszeg 7 km)
 * Kőszegszerdahely is a nice villege and the Gate of Irottkő Nature Park
 * Spa Activities: Sarvar (42 km), Buk (23 km) spa and thermal baths, Lutzmannsburg (17 km) family Amusement Bath
 * Tömörd connected with Kőszeg by the Countrywide Blue Tour to the Chernel Mansion and its park
 * Velem main sights is the remains of medieval and ancient fortifications and the oldest fresco fragment in St. Vitus Chapel

Walking
Near to Kőszeg start the Countrywide Blue Tour (in Hungarian: Országos Kéktúra, Kéktúra or OKT) is a part of the Hungarian section of the European Long Distance Walking Route E4. The route starts atop the Irottkő Mountain (884 m) on the Austrian-Hungarian border then cuts across Hungary eventually ending 1,128 km later at the village of Hollóháza by the Hungarian-Slovakian boundary.

Events

 * Concordia ball - Concordia bál - (on the last Saturday of carnival). Located: Kőszeg Castle
 * Carnival tail - Farsang farka - (Shrove Tuesday). Location: Fő Street and the surrounding area. Costume contest, street party, fireworks night
 * St George's Day - Szent György nap - (April 23). Craft fairs and musical show
 * The Day of Birds and Trees - Madarak és fák napja - (April 22) Tours in the Nature
 * Castle Theater - Várszínház - Opera, operetta, classical music concerts, street theater productions, dance performances and folklore programs
 * Eden Day - eden nap - Alpannonia Hiking boots Meeting(May)
 * Historic siege game - Félhold és telihold ostromnapok - (Augustus). Located: Fő Street and the Castle
 * Seven Springs Picnic - Hétforrás Piknik - (Jul)
 * Historia Memorial Marathon - História emlék futás - 1532 m and 10 km distances
 * Harvest and International brass band Meeting - Kőszegi Szüret és Nemzetközi Fúvószenekari Találkozó - (three day s long, last weekend of Sept). Helye: fair area of Jurisics Square and events tent of Károly Róbert Square. Musical parade, fireworks
 * Ursula's Day Fair - Natúrpark ízei, Orsolya-napi vásár - (Autumn, two days). Located: Kőszeg Castle. Local products fair, local specialties, chestnuts roasting, tasting
 * Savaria Historical Carnival (August): Roman costume parade for 3 days
 * Itottkő trek -Írottkő Vándorlás - International Trekker Weekend (Sept).
 * Kőszegi harvest - Köszegi szüret - (Sept): 3-day program series, vintage carnival, music programs
 * Velem village chestnut Days - Velemi Gesztenye Napok (October): folk art exhibition and fair, chestnut roasting, arts and crafts exhibition
 * Martin's geese daily routine - Marton Nap -(November)
 * Advent in Köszeg Natur Park - Advent a Natúrparkban - (Nov-Dec)
 * Current events

Stay safe
Emergency Call:
 * Police 107 or 112
 * Ambulance 104

Go next

 * Sopron, the "jewellery box of the country"
 * Szombathely, the centre of Vas County