Veszprém

Infobox Settlement

---

image_caption = Old town
image_shield = WĘG Veszprém COA.jpg
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = HUN
timezone=CET
utc_offset=+1
timezone_DST=CEST
utc_offset_DST=+2
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Veszprém
pushpin_mapsize =
official_name=Veszprém


subdivision_type1=County
subdivision_name1=Veszprém
area_total_km2=126.93
population_total=61472
population_footnotes=
population_as_of=2001
population_density_km2=480
postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code=8200
area_code=88
latd=47.09296
longd=17.91377
website=http://www.veszprem.hu/

Veszprém (German: "Weißbrunn", Croatian: "Vesprim, Besprim" Slovak: "Vesprím", Serbian: "Vesprim" or Весприм), one of the oldest towns in Hungary, is now a city with county rights and lies approximately convert|15|km|mi|0|abbr=on north of Lake Balaton. It is the capital city of the administrative county (comitatus or 'megye') of the same name.

Location

Veszprém lies on both sides of the creek Séd, approximately convert|110|km|mi|0|abbr=on from Budapest (via the M7 highway and Road 8). It can also be reached from Győr via Road 82 and from Székesfehérvár via Road 8.

History

According to local legend, Veszprém was founded on seven hills. The seven hills are Várhegy (Castle Hill), Benedek-hegy (St. Benedict Hill), Jeruzsálem-hegy (Jerusalem Hill), Temetőhegy (Cemetery Hill), Gulyadomb (Herd Hill), Kálvária-domb (Calvary Hill), and Cserhát.

Anonymus, the notary of King Béla III wrote that a castle already stood here when the Hungarians first occupied the area. The castle was probably a 9th century Frankish fortress. The castles of Veszprém, Esztergom and Székesfehérvár, were the earliest Hungarian stone castles, which had already been built during the reign of High Prince Géza, a time when motte castles were much more common.

The name of the city originates from the Slavic word "Bezprym", which was originally a personal name. Ján Kollár derived its name from "Ves Perunova - Perun's village" and mentioned also a German derivation from "Weiss-Brunn - white well". The city was named either after a chieftain, or the son of Princess Judith (elder sister of St. Stephen), who settled here after her husband Boleslaus I of Poland expelled her and her son.

Veszprém had an important religious role during the fight to make Christianity the official religion of Hungary - St. Stephen defeated the armies of his chief opponent, Koppány, near Veszprém. The city became the first episcopal seat of Hungary in 1009 and an archiepiscopal seat in 1993. Comitatus Veszprém was one of the earliest historical counties of Hungary.

Veszprém was the favorite city of Queen Gisela, the wife of St. Stephen. For centuries, the queens of Hungary were crowned by the bishop of Veszprém. The city is still often called "the city of queens."

During the Mongol invasion of Hungary, Veszprém was protected by its castle, which was later demolished on order of the Habsburgs in 1706.

Veszprém was among the first Hungarian cities to have a university - students studied law and arts here. The university was destroyed by fire in 1276, after which Veszprém became a university town again in the 20th century.

Population

Ethnic groups (2001 census)
* Magyars - 94.7%
* Germans - 1.7%
* Others - 1%
* No answer - 2.6% (mainly "cosmopolitan" ethnic Magyars)

Religions (2001 census)
* Roman Catholic - 57%
* Calvinist - 9.7%
* Lutheran - 3%
* Others - 1.3% (mainly Christian)
* Atheist - 19%
* No answer - 10% (mainly Atheist)

Twin towns

Veszprém is twinned with:

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.veszprem.hu Official site]
** [http://www.veszprem.hu/tabid/677/Default.aspx English pages] on official site
* [http://www.uni-pannon.hu/ Pannon University] (formerly University of Veszprém)
* [http://www.civertan.hu/legifoto/legifoto.php?page_level=831 Aerial photography: Veszprém]