Sopron

One of the seven major royal boroughs of Hungary, Sopron was also a venue of coronation. The historic core of the town since the 17^th century has been preserved in an almost intact condition. After the capital city, Budapest, the largest number of historic buildings are found here; roaming the streets of the town centre is time travel back to the Middle Ages. Recorded as a municipium called Scrabantia, Sopron traces its history back to the Roman Empire. The first golden age of the town was in the 16^th-17^th centuries thanks to Parliaments and Crowning Events organised here. The modern history of the town has been determined by its proximity to the border. After World War II, the Iron Curtain isolated Sopron not only from the neighbouring Western area but also from Hungary for decades. The Pan-European Picnic, a peace demonstration held on 19^th August 1989 in Sopronpuszta, saw the town gates symbolically open to the Western world. The wine-growing area of Sopron is a historic one in Hungary. Traditions of vine-dressing date back to the Roman period; the most prevalent varieties here are red wines, primarily Blaufränkisch. No stroll in Sopron is complete without taking a break in one of the local traditional Poncichters (wine shops).

Further information: http://turizmus.sopron.hu/