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Veszprém

Coordinates: 47°05′35″N 17°54′50″E / 47.09296°N 17.91377°E / 47.09296; 17.91377
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This article is about the city. For the current county, see Veszprém County. For the historical county, see Veszprém County (former).
Veszprém
City with county rights
Veszprém castle.jpg

From top, left to right: Castle Hill, County Library, Statue of King Stephen I and Queen Gisela, Fire-watch Tower, Veszprém Cathedral and Castle Gate
Flag of Veszprém
Flag
Coat of arms of Veszprém
Coat of arms
Nickname: 
City of Queens
Veszprém is located in Veszprém County
Veszprém
Veszprém
Veszprém is located in Hungary
Veszprém
Veszprém
Coordinates: 47°05′35″N 17°54′50″E / 47.09296°N 17.91377°E / 47.09296; 17.91377
Country Hungary
RegionCentral Transdanubia
CountyVeszprém
DistrictVeszprém
Established9th century AD
City status1870
Named forBezprym of Poland
Government
 • MayorGyula Porga (Fidesz–KDNP)
 • Deputy Mayor
List[2]
  • Mária Brányi (Fidesz–KDNP)
  • Lajos Némedi (Fidesz–KDNP)
 • Town NotaryDr Gábor Mohos
Area
126.93 km2 (49.01 sq mi)
Elevation
266 m (873 ft)
Population
 (January 1, 2017)
56,927[1]
 • Rank16th
 • Density448.49/km2 (1,161.6/sq mi)
 • Urban
133,880 (13th)[3]
Demonymveszprémi
Population by ethnicity
[4]
 • Hungarians83.9%
 • Germans2.4%
 • Gypsies0.7%
 • Romanians0.1%
 • Serbs0.1%
 • Slovaks0.1%
 • Armenians0.1%
 • Bulgarians0.1%
 • Polish0.1%
 • Ukrainians0.1%
Population by religion
[4]
 • Roman Catholic38.9%
 • Greek Catholic0.3%
 • Calvinists7.0%
 • Lutherans2.1%
 • Other1.4%
 • Non-religious20.6%
 • Unknown29.6%
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
8200
Area code(+36) 88
AirportVeszprém
MPPéter Ovádi (Fidesz)
Websitewww.veszprem.hu
Map

Veszprém (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈvɛspreːm]; German: Weißbrünn, Czech: Bezpřím, Slovak: Bezprím, Slovene: Belomost) is one of the oldest urban areas in Hungary, and a city with county rights. It lies approximately 15 km (9 mi) north of the Lake Balaton. It is the administrative center of the county of the same name.

Etymology

[edit]

The city's name derives from the West Slavic-language personal name Bezprem or Bezprym (Proto-Slavic Bezprěmъ) which translates literally to "stubborn", "self-confident, not willing to retreat".[5] Besprem (before 1002), Vezprem (1086), Bezpremensis (1109).[5] The form Vezprem originates in early medieval scribal habits and frequent exchange of B and V under the influence of the Greek language.[5]

Location and legend

[edit]

The city can be reached via the M7 highway and Road 8. It can also be reached from Győr via Road 82 and from Székesfehérvár via Road 8. According to a local legend, Veszprém was founded on seven hills. The seven hills are Várhegy (Castle Hill), Benedek-hegy (St. Benedict Hill), Jeruzsálem-hegy (Jerusalem Hill), Temetőhegy (Cemetery Hill), Gulyadomb (Herd Hill), Kálvária-domb (Calvary Hill), and Cserhát.

History

[edit]
Veszprém in the Kingdom of Hungary in 1913

Anonymus Belæ Regis Notarius (the anonymous notary of King Béla III) wrote that a castle already stood here when the Hungarians first occupied the area. The castle was probably a 9th-century Frankish fortress. The castles of Veszprém, Esztergom and Székesfehérvár, were the earliest Hungarian stone castles, which had already been built during the reign of High Prince Géza, a time when motte castles were much more common.

Veszprém had an important religious role during the struggle to make Christianity the official religion of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary—Stephen I, Grand Prince of the Hungarians, was crowned King in 1000 or 1001, and defeated the armies of his chief opponent, Koppány, near Veszprém. The city became the first episcopal seat of Hungary in 1009 and an archiepiscopal seat in 1993. Comitatus Veszprém was one of the earliest historical counties of Hungary.

Veszprém was the favorite city of Queen Gisela, the wife of Stephen I. For centuries, the queens of Hungary were crowned by the bishop of Veszprém. The city is still often called "the city of queens". In the year 1294 Queen Fenenna confirmed that, at that time, the former Queen Elizabeth had the privilege to collect the donations of the church in the Veszprém County.

Veszprém was among the first Hungarian cities to have a university—students studied law and arts here for several centuries. The university was destroyed by fire in 1276, when Peter I Csák invaded and devastated the Diocese of Veszprém. Veszprém became a university town again in the 20th century.

The town was taken over by the Ottoman Turks during the Hungarian–Ottoman Wars in 1552, but was lost to the Habsburgs in 1566. The Ottomans once again successfully besieged the town in 1593 during the Long Turkish War.[6] The castle was demolished in 1706. Until 1918, VESZPRIM (also named WESZPRIM and WESPRIM near 1850, and WEISSBRUNN in German) was part of the Austrian monarchy/Austria-Hungary, Kingdom of Hungary;[7] in Transleithania after the compromise of 1867 in the Kingdom of Hungary. Between 16 August and 4 October 1919, Romanian troops occupied the city under colonel Constantin Neagu and major Alexander Totescu.[8]

During World War II, Veszprém was captured by Soviet troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front on 23 March 1945, in the course of the Vienna Offensive.

Economy

[edit]

The Hungarian automotive plastic spare parts manufacturer Videoton Plastic[9] (part of Videoton), the Hungarian kiosk manufacturer Kiosksystems,[10] the Hungarian shutter manufacturer Roll-Lux,[11] the Hungarian label manufacturer Imprenta,[12] the Hungarian tool manufacturer Solidsteel,[13] the Hungarian technical ceramics manufacturer Bakony Ipari Kerámia,[14] the Hungarian furniture manufacturer Balaton Bútor,[15] the Hungarian machine manufacturer Flexmont,[16] the Hungarian watermanagement company PureAqua,[17] the Hungarian automotive spare parts manufacturer Win-Pres,[18] the Hungarian construction company VEMÉVSZER,[19] the Hungarian metal manufacturer Ferro-Trio,[20] the Hungarian OOK Printhouse,[21] the Hungarian toolmanufacturer Plasticor,[22] the Hungarian machine manufacturer Transmoduls,[23] the Hungarian Prospektus Printhouse[24] have both their headquarters and main production facilities in Veszprém.

The French pharmaceutical company Citoxlab,[25] the Austrian plaster manufacturer Lasselsberger-Knauf,[26] the Swiss electric motor manufacturer Maxon Motor,[27] the Austrian tile manufacturer Bramac,[28] the French automotive spare parts manufacturer Valeo,[29] the German electromagnetical controlsystems manufacturer nass magnet,[30] the German automotive spare parts manufacturer Continental AG,[31] the German automotive spare parts manufacturer Thun,[32] the German sensor manufacturer Pepperl+Fuchs,[33] the Austrian chimney and ventilation system manufacturer Schiedel,[34] the American power supply security company CoreComm,[35] the German sensor manufacturer Balluff,[36] the German automotive spare parts manufacturer Jost,[37] the German health devices manufacturer Beurer,[38] the British-Dutch food producer Unilever[39] and the Hungarian dairy product manufacturer Pannontej[40] operate production plants in the city.

The Dutch General Logistics Systems,[41] the Hungarian Magyar Posta, the German Penny Market,[42] the Hungarian Locargo[43] and the Austrian Persped[44] have logistics centres there.

The Hungarian owned Vöröskő electrical retailer (holder of the brand Euronics in Hungary) is also based in the city.

The Veszprém Aréna provides place besides sport events for exhibitions and conferences.[45]

Demographics

[edit]

According to the 2011 census beside the 83.9% Hungarian majority the city has a historical German minority numbering 2.4% of the population. The second largest ethnic group is the Roma with 0.7%. The others are all marginal.[4]

The religious affiliation of the citizens has a Catholic majority with 38.9% Roman Catholic and 0.3% Greek Catholic. The Calvinists (7.0%) have the second, the Lutherans (2.1%) the third largest denomination in the city. 20.6% are not religious.[4]

Volvo 7700 on Line 11 operated by V-Busz

Politics

[edit]

The current mayor of Veszprém is Gyula Porga (Fidesz-KDNP).

The local Municipal Assembly, elected at the 2019 local government elections, is made up of 18 members (1 Mayor, 12 Individual constituencies MEPs and 5 Compensation List MEPs) divided into this political parties and alliances:[46]

Party Seats Current Municipal Assembly
  Fidesz-KDNP 11 M                    
  Opposition coalition[a] 7                      

Public transport

[edit]

The city's public transportation consists exclusively of buses, which are run by the city-funded company V-Busz. 30 bus lines run throughout the city, including lines 44 and 45 which are night buses. All buses are easily recognizable even from a distance due to their purple livery. Tickets can be purchased on the buses, from ticket machines across the city and at bus stations from the ticket desks. V-Busz took over the city's public transportation in 2018 from the regional, state-funded bus company (ÉNYKK) due to a lack of funding and an old rolling stock of buses, some of which were from the mid 80s.

Szent István valley bridge and surroundings

Notable people

[edit]
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1870 14,279—    
1880 14,726+3.1%
1890 14,807+0.6%
1900 16,223+9.6%
1910 16,864+4.0%
1920 17,513+3.8%
1930 19,991+14.1%
1941 24,025+20.2%
1949 20,682−13.9%
1960 28,222+36.5%
1970 40,415+43.2%
1980 57,249+41.7%
1990 63,867+11.6%
2001 62,851−1.6%
2011 61,721−1.8%
2022 56,262−8.8%

Twin towns – sister cities

[edit]
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Hungary

Veszprém is twinned with:[47]

Tourism

[edit]
[edit]
  • View of the city
    View of the city
  • Fire-watch tower
    Fire-watch tower
  • Holy Trinity Column
    Holy Trinity Column
  • View from the Castle Hill
    View from the Castle Hill
  • St. Michael's Cathedral, Veszprém
    St. Michael's Cathedral, Veszprém
  • Castle Hill
    Castle Hill
  • Episcopal Palace
    Episcopal Palace
  • City hall
    City hall
  • County hall
    County hall
  • Castle gate
    Castle gate
  • Holy Trinity Square
    Holy Trinity Square
  • Nagypréposti Palace
    Nagypréposti Palace
  • Library of Veszprém
    Library of Veszprém
  • Séd Stream
    Séd Stream
  • Gisela Capel
    Gisela Capel
  • The Holy Trinity Square behind St. Michael's Cathedral, Veszprém in the Castle Hill
    The Holy Trinity Square behind St. Michael's Cathedral, Veszprém in the Castle Hill
  • Bone of Queen Gisela kept in a church in Veszprém
    Bone of Queen Gisela kept in a church in Veszprém
  • Statue of King Stephen I and Queen Gisela
    Statue of King Stephen I and Queen Gisela

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 2017. év: Magyarország állandó lakosságának száma az év első napján (2017. január 1.) XLS táblázat. Nyilvantarto.hu (Hozzáférés: 2017. április 6.)
  2. ^ Veszprém - Alpolgármesterek
  3. ^ Eurostat, 2016
  4. ^ a b c d KSH - Veszprém, 2011
  5. ^ a b c Krajčovič, Rudolf (2005). Živé kroniky slovenských dejín [Living Chronicles of the Slovak History] (in Slovak). Bratislava: Literárne informačné centrum. p. 61. ISBN 80-88878-99-3.
  6. ^ Ágoston, Gábor (2021). The Last Muslim Conquest: The Ottoman Empire and Its Wars in Europe. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. p. 251. ISBN 9780691159324.
  7. ^ Handbook of Austria and Lombardy-Venetia Cancellations on the Postage Stamp Issues 1850-1864, by Edwin MUELLER, 1961.
  8. ^ Nagy, S. (2010). The Romanian occupation of Veszprém in 1919. Veszprémi Szemle, 12(3-4), 30.
  9. ^ Videoton plastic
  10. ^ Kiosksystems - Cégünkről - Bemutatkozás
  11. ^ Roll-Lux - Történetünk
  12. ^ Imprenta - Cégtörténet
  13. ^ Solidsteel - Főoldal
  14. ^ Bakony Ipari Kerámia - veol.hu - HIRDETÉS March 1, 2018
  15. ^ Balaton Bútor
  16. ^ - Flexmont
  17. ^ PureAqua
  18. ^ Win-Pres
  19. ^ VEMÉVSZER
  20. ^ Ferro-Trio
  21. ^ OOK Nyomda - Rólunk
  22. ^ Plasticor - About Us
  23. ^ Transmoduls - About Us
  24. ^ Prospektus Nyomda - Company profile - History
  25. ^ Citoxlab - Contact Us
  26. ^ Lasselsberger-Knauf - Húsz éve nem ugrott ekkorát a veszprémi építőipari gyártó - August 3, 2017
  27. ^ Maxon Motors - Production sites
  28. ^ Bramac - Rólunk - Cégkrónika
  29. ^ Valeo
  30. ^ nass magnet
  31. ^ - Continental AG - Veszprém
  32. ^ Thun - Locations
  33. ^ Pepperl-Fuchs
  34. ^ Schiedel
  35. ^ CoreComm - Cégünkről
  36. ^ Balluff
  37. ^ Jost - Vállalat - Cégtörénet
  38. ^ Beurer - Company - sites
  39. ^ Unilever - Ice Cream Factory
  40. ^ Pannontej - Rólunk
  41. ^ GLS
  42. ^ 59 üzletet szolgál ki új veszprémi logisztikai központjából a Penny Market - October 17, 2017
  43. ^ Locargo
  44. ^ Persped - Rólunk
  45. ^ Veszprém Aréna
  46. ^ "Városi közgyűlés tagjai 2019-2024 - Veszprém (Veszprém megye)". valasztas.hu. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
  47. ^ "Nemzetközi kapcsolatok". veszprem.hu (in Hungarian). Veszprém. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
Notes
  1. ^ Coalition of DK-Jobbik-LMP-MSZP-Momentum-Dialogue.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Veszprém (category)
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Veszprém.
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