Pápa

Infobox Settlement
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = HUN


image_shield = Coat of arms of Pápa.pngtimezone=CET
utc_offset=+1
timezone_DST=CEST
utc_offset_DST=+2
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Pápa
pushpin_mapsize =

official_name=Pápa


subdivision_type1=County
subdivision_name1=Veszprém
area_total_km2=91.47
population_total=33214|population_footnotes=
population_as_of=2004|population_density_km2=363.11
postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code=8500
area_code=89
latd=47.32373
longd=17.46802

Pápa is a historical town in Veszprém county, Hungary, located close to the northern edge of the Bakony Hills, and noted for its baroque architecture. With its 33,000 inhabitants, it is the cultural, economic and tourism centre of the region. Pápa is one of the centres of the Reformed faith in Transdanubia, as the existence of numerous ecclesiastical heritage sites and museums suggest. Due to the multitude of heritage buildings the centre of the town is now protected. Pápa has a large historical centre, with renovated old burgher's houses, cafes, and museums, including the Blue-Dyeing Museum (Kékfestő Múzeum), set up in a former factory which produced clothes and other textiles dyed with indigo blue under a unique method. The town is also noted for its thermal baths, particularly a newly constructed swimming complex, the Esterházy family's palace, its grand Roman Catholic church, and Calvinist secondary school; the town is an important religious centre. It also boasts a large park near the centre of town. The town has been the main center of trade in the wines of the Somló wine region. Pápa was an administrative regional capital from 1945 to 1983.

On 18 November 2007, Pápa Air Base was selected to host 3-4 C-17 NATO Globemasters. This is expected to create 500 jobs in the area.

History

It is a historic town first mentioned in records in 1061. Its importance and development is proved by the fact that in the 14th century the town was given civic privileges and at the beginning of the next century it became a market-town. The town evolved from the 11 villages that occupied the current territory of the town during the dwelling houses. In the historical part of the town there is a considerable number of monuments and locally protected buildings.

Twin towns

Pápa is twinned with:

Gallery

Millenary Memorial Park

Notable people from Pápa

*Ferenc Gyurcsány Hungarian PM
*Fülöp Ö. Beck (1873-1945) - sculptor
*Rabbi Dr. Joseph Breuer
*Rabbi Dr. Jacob Hoffman
**Rabbi Dr. Isaac Breuer -Hungarian-Jewish Philosopher