szeged

Szeged is a city in southern Hungary, situated on the Tisza River. It is the seat of Csongrád-Csanád County and one of the country’s largest municipalities, with a population around 160,000.

Szeged originated in the Middle Ages as a trading settlement and grew into a regional cultural and economic center. In 1879, a catastrophic flood of the Tisza destroyed much of the old town, and the subsequent reconstruction gave the city its current broad boulevards and substantial Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings.

Among its landmarks are the Votive Church of Szeged (Dóm), a large Neo-Gothic cathedral built after the flood; the Dóm Square, the Móra Ferenc Museum, the Reök Palace, and the Szeged National Theatre. The University of Szeged (SZTE), founded in 1921, is one of Hungary’s leading higher education and research institutions and considerably shapes the city’s intellectual life. The Szeged Open-Air Festival, held each summer, is a major cultural event centered near the Dóm Square.

The city plays an important role in Hungary’s economy and cuisine; the surrounding region is known for paprika, a spice strongly associated with Szeged and its culinary traditions.

Szeged is a transport hub in southern Hungary, with rail connections to Budapest and other cities and served by major highways linking to the Romanian border and the rest of the country. The city’s cultural and academic institutions attract students and visitors from across the region.