The last of Hungary

Pécs  (pronounce like “page”)

We picked Pécs as a logical stop on our way back to Budapest from Sarajevo, but it was more than just a place to stop.  The old town area is very charming, with the large Széchenyi Square and a mixture of eastern and western architecture, and stores and restaurants scattered on the side streets.

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We visited the Pecs Cathedral, with it’s beautifully painted interior, similar to Matthias Church in Budapest.   

Next we saw something truly unique: early Christian mausoleums from the 4^th century.  The excavations are still below ground level, but a series of plaforms and ramps runs through the site.  Some crypts still have remnants of mosaics on the inside.

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We also visited the 15^th century Mosque of Pesha Qaisam, that sits at the top of the downtown main square.  Several different Christian churches were on the site prior to the Mosque.  The mosque was later converted to a Catholic Church (complicated history here….), and presently has a combination of Muslim and Christian architectural details. 

On the way out of town we visited a former Zsolnay ceramics factory that now houses a variety of shops and attractions, including a collection of pieces from that factory.

Budapest

We had one more full day in Budapest. We visited the House of Terror, a museum located in the building used for torture by Nazi-sympathizing Fascists and later, by Communists. Enough said. We also visited the large Dohány Street Synagogue and learned about the suffering during the time of the Jewish Ghetto in Budapest towards the end of WWII.

We had some great Paprika chicken at a food truck in the Ruins Bar section of town, and also had some very good hot chocolate at the posh New York Cafe. It was also time to say goodbye to our rental car, a Suzuki Swift. It was perfect for navigating the narrow and windy roads during our travels for the past month. Thanks again to Nate and Victoria Sipherd for their wonderful hospitality during our stays in Budapest.

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Next up, warmer weather in Greece!