One of the oldest cities in Hungary, rich in history and culture.
Sopron is a picturesque, old, and uncrowded city that, despite its charm, leaves you wanting a bit more.
It is also home to the Soproni Brewery—one of the largest beer producers in Hungary—so I expected a kind of Hungarian Munich, or at least something like Cieszyn.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Sopron seems indifferent to beer, if not outright uninterested.
I didn’t find any real beer halls, but there are plenty of cafés and pastry shops where locals, dressed in their Sunday best, gather with their families to enjoy a slice of cake and a glass of wine. If you order a beer there, you’ll feel like a leper.
Sopron is famous for its well-preserved medieval city center, known as Óváros or the Old Town. Within the original city walls, you'll find several historical landmarks, including the Romanesque Church of St. Michael and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, dating back to the 13th century. Among the many historic buildings, the Town Hall and the Firewatch Tower stand out—the latter being the tallest building in the Old Town and offering beautiful views over the city.
Sopron is also well known for its vineyards and wine. The surrounding region is renowned for wine production and is home to many vineyards that visitors can tour and sample local wines. Every year, the city hosts the Sopron Wine Festival (Soproni Borfesztivál), where guests can enjoy regional wines and traditional cuisine.
Firewatch Tower â TƱztorony
The symbol of Sopron. Its Baroque onion dome, crowned with a double-headed eagle, rises to a height of 58 meters, making it visible from several points in the city. The lower, cylindrical section of the tower was built in the 13th century on the remains of Roman walls. The Renaissance-style circular balcony was completed after a devastating fire in 1676. Above it, the tower takes on an octagonal structure. The sculptural ensemble above the gate is the work of Zsigmond Strobl Kisfaludy and depicts Hungary surrounded by the citizens of Sopron, declaring their loyalty.
Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sopron
Also known as the Goat Church (Kecske-templom), it was built by the Franciscans in 1280 and is the oldest church in the city. The Church of the Assumption is considered one of the most outstanding examples of Gothic architecture in Hungary. Between 1379 and 1409, the pillars of the main nave, the vault, and the tower were constructed, funded by Henrik Geisel. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Hungarian Parliament met here five times, and it was the site of the coronation of King Ferdinand and Queen Eleonora of Palatinate-Neuburg. Emperor Joseph II dissolved the Franciscan order in 1787. For over a decade, the church stood unused until it was taken over by the Benedictines.
Holy Trinity Column in Sopron
One of the most precious works of Hungarian Baroque sculpture. This richly decorated sculpture complex, built in 1701, stands in the middle of FĆ tér (Main Square). The votive column was erected by Katalin Thököly and her third husband Jakab Löwenburg to commemorate their survival of the great plague epidemic of 1695–1701. It was the first spiral column of its kind in Central Europe. On the tall pedestal, kneeling statues of the two donors are also depicted.
Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary in Sopron
The convent of the Ursuline Order in Sopron was founded in 1746 by Maria Niggl from Vienna. Nuns arrived from GyĆr and soon began educating young girls. The first convent church, dedicated to the Holy Cross, was built at that time. In 1773, Queen Maria Theresa visited the church and attended Mass. The original wooden church with a shingled tower turned out to be too small and fell into disrepair. It was replaced by the current Neo-Gothic church, designed by Nándor Handler. The rebuilding was sponsored by Countess Emilia Széchenyi and the Flandorffer family.
