Sopron

Sopron is a city in northwestern Hungary, near the Austrian border, on the eastern shore of Lake Fertő. It lies in the Transdanubian region at the foot of the Sopron Hills and is known for its compact historic core and well-preserved medieval and Baroque architecture.

The historic center preserves a concentration of architectural styles and landmarks, including the Fire Tower (Tűztorony), the Old Town Hall, and several churches such as St. Michael’s. The city’s layout and monuments reflect centuries of urban development, fire rebuildings, and later Baroque influences that shaped much of the townscape.

The area around Sopron has been inhabited since ancient times and was known in Roman times as Scarbantia. In the Middle Ages it developed as an important trading town and received town privileges. Across the centuries it endured various events and rebuildings but retained a dense historic core that remains a major draw for visitors.

Following World War I, most of the Fertő region was awarded to Austria; however, in a 1921 plebiscite, Sopron and several nearby villages voted to remain part of Hungary. Since then, Sopron has functioned as a border city with cultural and economic ties to both Hungary and Austria.

Sopron is associated with viticulture, situated in the surrounding Sopron wine region, which produces a range of white and red wines. The city lies near the Fertő (Neusiedler See) Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared with Austria, and adjacent to Lake Fertő, an area important for tourism, nature, and regional identity.