Székesfehérvár

Székesfehérvár is the largest city and the county seat of Fejér county, Hungary. It's roughly 60 km southwest of Budapest, and is considered Hungary's first, as this was the royal seat of King Szent István (also known as Saint Stephan). Though most of the medieval city was destroyed by the Turks, it was rebuilt to glory under Maria Theresa Habsburg. The city is between Lake Velence and Lake Balaton, making it an ideal stop-off between the two.

Places outside of the city that are in the district of the same namexare listed in the and Székesfehérvár district article.

Understand
Székesfehérvár (Latin Alba Regia) is one of the most ancient towns in Hungary.

During his principality (972 - 997) Géza, the Grand Duke, established Székesfehérvár as his princely dwelling on the hills surrounded by swamps and therefore considered safe. His palace was fortified by ditches and ramparts, and the Byzantine-style, quatrefoil church, which was one of the first Hungarian stone built churches and later served as his resting-place.

During the reign of King St Stephen (1001 -1038) it was a populous and extended settlement, surrounded by palings and walls built of soil. King Stephen's basilica was built in this time. It was one of the most monumental buildings in Europe at that time.

In the 12th century there were great building operations in Székesfehérvár. The monks settling in the city and the inhabitants enriched Alba Regia by building pompous churches, monasteries, and dwelling houses. The construction of Saint Peter's cathedral - next to Saint Peter's church, built under the principality of Géza - was started in the 13th century. King Béla IV was crowned in this cathedral. The city was fenced with walls in the 14th century.

The Turks occupied the strategically important town in 1543 and kept it under their rule for 145 years.

In 1703 the city regained its title as a free royal city. In the 1720s major construction were started: first the Franciscans then the Carmelites built churches, and under the rule of Maria Theresa there were Baroque-, rococo-, and so called copf-style town-houses built.

In 1800s the first Hungarian and German primary school opened its gates, the education was started at the Jesuits' secondary school, and this town was the first to embrace the cause of the Hungarian theatrical art.

In 2014, it was home to 98,000 people.



By car
The M7 runs just south of Székesfehérvár and is the fastest way to arrive. From the exit merge onto 63 which will eventually take you into Piac Square.

By taxi
Because the city is 60 km out of Budapest this is by far the most expensive option. If, however, you are arriving at Ferihegy and are going directly to Székesfehérvár, Zona Taxi offers a fixed rate of Ft 20 000.

Get around
Buses only accept cash on board.

If you are going to Bory's Castle you will need to travel either by car or bus. From the bus station take bus #26 or #26A and from the train station #32. Make sure to tell the bus driver you're going to Bory Vár because none of the buses will take you directly there and you won't know otherwise when to get off.

Further afield

 * Csók István Memorial House (Cece, Arany J. u. 1.) Closed due to technical reasons.
 * Csók István Memorial House (Cece, Arany J. u. 1.) Closed due to technical reasons.
 * See more: Transdanubia Fejér County part.
 * See more: Transdanubia Fejér County part.

Do

 * Football: Fehérvár FC play soccer in NB 1, the top tier. Their home ground Sóstói Stadion (capacity 14,200) is by the lake 1 km southwest of the railway station.
 * American football: Fehérvár Enthroners play in the European League of Football at First Field.

Events

 * Királyi Napok Nemzetközi Néptáncfesztivál
 * Öreghegyi Mulatságok
 * Fehérvári Zenei Napok - FeZeN
 * Musica Regia (Aug)
 * Királyi Borlakoma - Virágálom
 * Pünkösdkor (Pentecost)
 * Kortárs Művészeti Fesztivál (May)
 * Fúvószenekari Koncertek a Zichy ligetben (Aug Sunday evenings)
 * Harmonia Albensis templomi koncertek (Jul)
 * Aranybulla Művészeti Napok (Aug)
 * Fehérvári Vigasságok - Lecsófesztivál (end of Sep)
 * Fehérvári Advent - Karácsonyi Sokadalom (Dec)
 * Bolondballagás (end of Apr)

Sleep

 * Hotel Novotel
 * Hotel Novotel
 * Hotel Novotel

Go next

 * Budapest
 * Siófok, Lake Balaton
 * Velence, Lake Velence - 15-20 km of Székesfehérvár. Swimming in a very childfriendly water, angling, boating, bathing, cycling, horse riding, sailing, This is also a popular place for the competitive road and mountain bikers.
 * Veszprém