Eger is a couple of hours from Budapest and best done as a day trip. It was a cold Budapest morning when I left from the Stadion bus stop and I was glad to be welcomed by glorious sunshine in Eger, which would make exploring the town a pleasant experience.
The sight of the tourist toy train standing alongside cars on the main roads is really funny !
The old town has a lot of historical buildings & the basilica was the first point of interest.
Most of the town was deserted, too early for tourists & locals alike. Even the shops and restaurants were closed.
Well that was a first - spelled backwards.
Eger was formed in the 10the century - the first cathedral was built in what is today the Eger castle. It is the most famous landmark here. The town flourished around the cathedral and it still retains a bit of the old charm. Life is so peaceful and slow here, unlike the hustle and bustle of Budapest.
The Mongols invaded Eger in 1241 and destroyed pretty much everything. But once they withdrew, the town flourished slowly and in the 14th and 15th century, it was at its peak. Even the forests were cleared to make way for vineyards. It was under Ottoman siege in 1552, when Istavan Dobo and a handful of soldiers successfully repelled a strong Ottoman army. Istavan is fondly remembered by the locals and there are statues dedicated to him in the centre of town.
However, in 1596, the fortress fell to the Ottoman Turks and this, began their 91 year rule. The Eger minaret is the best reminder of that period. The area is also famous for its wines and no wonder then that there is a wine shop every few metres.
Near the castle, I found a souvenir shop which had brilliant items on sale. It was a treasure trove and I was delighted to get my hands on old currency notes, which will go really well in my collection!
There is an underground tunnel close to the fortress, which has some nice graffiti lining the walls.
After all this walking, I was very hungry and my biggest task was finding a good vegetarian lunch. I was in luck when I discovered a restaurant which served local cuisine. My taste buds were in seventh heaven when I sampled the garlic cream soup served in a bun and broccoli pancake.
After the delicious lunch, it was time to hit the streets once again. I was most astonished to see a Beatles museum in Eger, of all places ! The museum is located in Hotel Korona, just a short walk from the town centre. There are films documenting the life and career of the band, memorabilia including clothes and original posters, life sized models of the Fab Four and concert recordings. It is a must visit if you love music.
My final stop was the minaret. It is a fascinating climb of 97 steps and I loved it - maybe the ones who are claustrophobic would not like it so much.
You get a 15 minute window to admire the views. Once you reach the top, you realize that there is no room to stand side by side - it is just enough for one person to do the entire round ! In a matter of seconds, I had the entire tower to myself as the 4 British girls who came up with me left in a jiffy because it was too much for them to handle. I utilized my 15 minutes and more to admire the scenery -one of the best minaret adventures, for sure !
When this Ottoman era minaret was constructed is unknown but it is believed to have been built in early 17th century. It was built as a minaret of the mosque to call out the Islamic call to prayer five times a day. When the Ottomans were driven out by the Austrians, the mosque was converted to a church
After Ottoman rule ended, an attempt was made to tear down the tower as a symbolic closure of the past. After human force failed, an attempt was made pull it down using 400 oxen with ropes fixed to the structure. When the tower proved too resilient, it was allowed to remain after placing a cross. The Eger minaret is the only minaret remaining of an estimated 17 that were built in Eger during the 91-year Ottoman rule of the city.
It was time to head back to the bus station and take the bus back to Budapest. After the hectic days in Budapest, this day trip was a good way to relax and unwind.
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