megye

Megye is the Hungarian term for a county, the main territorial and administrative unit used to organize local government in Hungary, alongside the capital city Budapest. The country is divided into 19 counties and the capital Budapest, which holds county rights and operates as a separate administrative entity. Each county has its administrative center, typically the largest or most central city within the county.

Governance and functions: Counties have their own elected bodies and administrative leadership, and they coordinate regional matters such as health care, education, social services, culture, transport planning, and land use in collaboration with national government. They also administer various cross-municipal services and manage certain funding streams, including programs from the European Union. Since 2013, the county level works alongside districts (járások) to provide local administration, while municipalities (towns and villages) handle many local affairs.

Subdivisions: Counties are subdivided into districts for the purpose of public administration, and within counties there are municipalities varying in size and status. Large cities may hold special status with county-level rights, reflecting their regional importance.

History: The megye system has deep historical roots in the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, where counties were known as vármegye, meaning “castle county.” The modern Hungarian counties retain the name and function as the principal subnational units, used in official law, statistics, elections, and everyday reference to a region.

In summary, megye denotes Hungary’s principal administrative regions, balancing local autonomy with national governance and serving as a key framework for regional administration and planning.