Pécs (pronounced PAYTCH in English, [ˈpeːt͡ʃ] in Hungarian) is the fifth largest city in Hungary. It is located on the slopes of the Mecsek Mountains in the southwest part of the country, near the border with Croatia. Pécs is the administrative and economic center of Baranya County and serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pécs.

The city has a long history, dating back to ancient times when it was settled by the Celts and Romans. In early medieval Hungary, it became an important religious center. Pécs is home to the oldest university in Hungary and is one of the country's major cultural hubs. The city has a rich cultural and architectural history influenced by 150 years of Ottoman rule. It contains the largest number of Turkish Ottoman buildings in any city in Central Europe. Over 2,000 years, Pécs has been a place where many different cultures have lived and interacted. In recent years, the city has been recognized for its cultural heritage, including being named one of the European Capitals of Culture. The Roman-era Christian burial site in Pécs was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 2000.

Name

The area was first known by its Roman name, Sopianæ. This name might come from the Celtic word "sop," which means "marsh," and is in plural form.

In 871, the city was first recorded as Quinque Basilicae, which means "five cathedrals." This name comes from the use of materials from five old Christian chapels when building the city's churches. Later Latin documents called the city Quinque Ecclesiae, meaning "five churches." This name is similar to the German Fünfkirchen and the Slovak Päťkostolie.

In 1235, the name Pécs appeared in the word "Pechyut," which is now spelled "pécsi út" and means "road to/from Pécs." This name probably comes from the Proto-Slavic pęčь or the Illyrian penče, both meaning "five." In other languages, the city is known as Quinque Ecclesiae in Latin, Cinquechiese in Italian, Pečuh in Croatian, Печуј (Pečuj) in Serbian, Päťkostolie in Slovak, Pětikostelí in Czech, Pečuj in Bosnian, Vijfkerken in Dutch, Fünfkirchen in German, and Peçuy in Turkish.

Geography

Pécs is located in the Carpathian Basin of Central Europe, in the center of the southern Hungarian county of Baranya. The city is surrounded by the Mecsek hills to the north and a flat plain to the south. Pécs has an important history of mining. The water from the Mecsek hills is known for its high mineral content, which remains consistent and balanced.

The city of Pécs is near the border of Croatia. Its southern area is mostly flat, while its northern part is close to the slope of the Mecsek mountains. Pécs has a pleasant climate and is bordered by an area with many trees. During hot summer nights, cool air flows down from the Mecsek hills, helping to refresh the city’s air.

To the south of Pécs are plains that range in elevation from 120 to 130 meters. Behind the city, the Mecsek mountains rise to heights of 400 to 600 meters. Jakab-hill in the western Mecsek is 592 meters tall, Tubes, which is directly above Pécs, is 612 meters tall, and Misina is 535 meters tall. Higher parts of the city reach elevations of 200 to 250 meters, including areas like Pécsbánya, Szabolcsfalu, Vasas, and Somogy. Tree-covered areas typically begin at elevations of about 300 meters. The Mecsek hills have many valleys that help improve the city’s climate, especially since there are no lakes or rivers nearby. Water from the Mecsek hills flows into the Pécsi stream, which runs under the east-west railroad, eventually reaching the Danube.

History

The area has been home to people since ancient times. The oldest artifacts found there are 6,000 years old. Before the Roman Empire existed, the area was lived in by people called the Celts.

The city of Sopianae was built by the Romans at the start of the 2nd century. It was located in a place where Celts and Pannoni tribes lived.

In the early 2nd century, much of today’s western Hungary was part of a Roman province called Pannonia. The Romans created several wine-producing colonies in this area, which were all named Sopianae. This is where the modern city of Pécs is now located.

The center of Sopianae was where the Bishop’s Palace now stands. Some parts of the Roman aqueduct are still visible today. When the Roman province of Pannonia was divided into four parts, Sopianae became the capital of one called Valeria.

By the 4th century, Sopianae was the capital of the Valeria province and an important early Christian center. A Christian burial ground, called a necropolis, existed in the city during this time. The tombs there are unique because they have underground chambers and above-ground chapels decorated with Christian art. These tombs were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in December 2000. By the end of the 4th century, Roman control in the area weakened because of attacks by groups like the Huns.

In 791, when Charlemagne arrived in the area, it was ruled by the Avars. After conquering the region, Charlemagne added it to the Holy Roman Empire, where it belonged to the Diocese of Salzburg.

A document written in Salzburg in 871 was the first to mention the early-medieval city by the name Quinque Basilicae. During the 9th century, the city was home to Slavs and Avars and was part of the Balaton Principality, a Frankish vassal state.

According to György Györffy’s theory about place names, after the Hungarians took control of the Carpathian Basin, they lived a semi-nomadic life, moving between winter and summer pastures. Árpád’s winter camp, likely after he took over Pannonia in 900, may have been in Pécs. Later, when the Comitatus of Baranya was created, its capital was not Pécs but a nearby castle called Baranyavár. However, Pécs became an important religious center and the seat of a bishop. In Latin documents, the city was called Quinque Ecclesiae. Around the year 1000, the area was inhabited by the Black Magyars. The Diocese of Pécs was established in 1009.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pécs was founded in 1009 by Stephen I. In 1367, Louis I the Great created the first university in Hungary in Pécs. (Today, the largest university in the city has about 34,000 students.)

Peter Orseolo, the second king of Hungary, was buried in the cathedral in 1046. His grave’s location is unknown because the cathedral burned down after Pécs hosted the 1064 Easter celebrations. The cathedral was rebuilt in the second half of the 11th century and still stands today.

Several religious groups settled in Pécs. The Benedictine order arrived first in 1076. By 1181, there was already a hospital in the city. The first Dominican monastery in Hungary was built in Pécs in 1238.

In 1367, King Louis I the Great founded a university in Pécs, following advice from the city’s bishop, William, who was also the king’s chancellor. This was the first university in Hungary. The founding document was nearly identical to that of the University of Vienna, stating that the university could teach all subjects except theology.

In 1459, Janus Pannonius, a famous medieval poet, became the bishop of Pécs. He helped make the city a cultural and artistic center.

After the 1526 Battle of Mohács, where the Ottoman army defeated King Louis II, the Ottomans occupied Pécs. At the same time, there was disagreement about who should rule Hungary. Some supported Ferdinand of Habsburg, while others crowned John Zápolya. The people of Pécs supported Ferdinand, but most of Baranya county supported John. In 1527, Ferdinand defeated Zápolya and became king. He rewarded Pécs by giving it tax exemption. The city was rebuilt and made stronger.

In 1529, the Ottomans captured Pécs again and marched toward Vienna. They forced the city to accept King John as its ruler. John died in 1540. In 1541, the Ottomans took control of Buda and ordered Pécs to be handed over due to its strategic importance. The people of Pécs resisted and pledged loyalty to Ferdinand. The emperor helped defend the city but focused more on other cities like Székesfehérvár and Esztergom instead of Pécs. Before a planned siege, mercenaries fled the city and attacked nearby lands. The next day, the bishop surrendered the city to the Ottomans.

After taking over, the Ottomans made Pécs a true Ottoman city. Churches were turned into mosques with minarets, Turkish baths were built, Qur’an schools were created, and a bazaar replaced the old market. For 100 years, the city was a peaceful place in a war-torn region. It became the central city of a sanjak, first in the Budin Eyalet and later, as "Peçuy," in the Kanije Eyalet.

The Ottoman period left many landmarks, such as the mosque of Pasha Qasim the Victorious at Széchenyi Square, the tomb of İdris Baba, and the Yakovalı Hasan Paşa Mosque.

The Ottoman chronicler İbrahim Peçevi, whose writings are key to understanding Ottoman history between 1520 and 1640, was born in Pécs.

In 1664, Croat-Hungarian nobleman Nicholas Zrínyi attacked Pécs with his army. Knowing they could not hold the city long, they planned only to destroy it. They burned the city but failed to take the castle. Much of medieval Pécs was destroyed, except for the wall around the old city, one bastion (Barbakán), tunnels and catacombs beneath the city (some now used by the Litke champagne factory), and a few Turkish structures like three mosques, two minarets, parts of a bath over ancient Christian tombs near the cathedral, and some houses, one with a cannonball embedded in its wall.

In

Main sights

The main square of Pécs shows the city's rich history. The Gazi Kasim Mosque still stands there. Long ago, after the Ottoman Turks left, the building was used as a church. However, the crescent moon symbol of Islam can still be seen on the top of the building, which also has a cross. Pécs has many examples of Turkish architecture. These include the ruins of Memi Pasha's Baths and the mausoleum of Idris Baba. The Yakovalı Hasan Paşa Mosque, built in the mid-1600s, is still used as a mosque today. It is open to the public except from 2:30 to 3:30 pm on Fridays.

• The Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs includes many Roman tombs and mausoleums from around the 4th century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Cella Septichora (4th century)
• The Cathedral (11th century, renovated in the 19th century)
• Hungarian Bishop's Palace (12th century)
• University of Pécs (1367), with buildings for the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Humanities on Ifjúság Street. It has a Botanical Garden.
• Klimo Library (1774). This was the first public library in Hungary, created by Bishop George Klimo.
• Barbakán "Tower" (15th century)
• Ruins in Tettye (1505–1521)
• Széchenyi Square (main square)
• Mosque of Pasha Qasim (1543–1546). It was originally a Gothic church called St. Bertalan Cathedral from the 13th century.
• Yakovalı Hasan Paşa Mosque (17th century)
• Downtown area (Houses from the Middle Ages, including Baroque, Classicism, Rococo, and Art Nouveau styles)
• Nádor Hotel (1846) in Széchenyi Square
• County House in Széchenyi Square
• City Hall in Széchenyi Square
• Synagogue (1869)
• Building of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (1884)
• National Theatre of Pécs (Nemzeti Színház), opened in 1895
• Eosin glaze of Zsolnay fountain
• Posta (Post) Palace
• Hungaricum House
• Janus Pannonius Museum
• Renaissance Museum
• Csontváry Museum
• Zsolnay Museum
• Zsolnay Mausoleum
• Victor Vasarely Museum
• Amerigo Tot Museum
• Ethnographic Museum in Pécs
• Natural History Museum in Pécs
• Szerecsen Chemist's Museum
• Gallery of Pécs
• Museum Street
• Zsolnay Mausoleum
• Bóbita (punch and judy show)
• Janus (Pannonius) Theatre
• Croatian Theatre in Pécs
• Third Theatre
• Zoological Garden in Pécs
• Love padlocks
• Magasház (previously there, but removed in 2016)
• TV-Tower in Mecsek Mountain (1960)

Demographics

According to the 2011 census, 84.0% of the city's citizens are Hungarians. Germans make up the largest minority group at 4.2%, followed by the Roma at 2.0%, Croats at 1.2%, and Romanians at 0.2%.

The largest religious group is Catholics, with 39.7% identifying as Roman Catholic and 0.3% as Greek Catholic. Calvinists are the second largest religious group at 5.2%, and Lutherans are third at 1.3%. Approximately 27.8% of the population does not follow a specific religion.

Because many international students live and study in Pécs, a noticeable variety of non-permanent citizens can be clearly seen throughout the city.

Climate

Pécs has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). The average temperature each year is 11.5 degrees Celsius, which is about 52.7 degrees Fahrenheit. The hottest months are July and August, with temperatures reaching 30.0 degrees Celsius (86.0 degrees Fahrenheit). The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of 0.4 degrees Celsius (32.7 degrees Fahrenheit). Each year, Pécs receives about 670.9 millimeters (26.41 inches) of rain. June is the wettest month, with 82.8 millimeters (3.26 inches) of rainfall, while January is the driest, with only 31.2 millimeters (1.23 inches) of rain. The highest temperature ever recorded in Pécs was 41.3 degrees Celsius (106.3 degrees Fahrenheit) on July 7, 1950. The lowest temperature was −27.0 degrees Celsius (−16.6 degrees Fahrenheit) on January 23, 1942.

Economy

Historically, Pécs was well known in Hungary for its industry, which included many factories. However, after the political changes in Eastern Europe, many of these factories struggled to adapt to the new economic system and closed down (e.g., Pécsi Kesztyűgyár, Pécsi Bőrgyár, Littke Pezsgőgyár, etc.). Until recently, Pécs had a coal and uranium mine, but now only its sand mine remains. This mine is operated by the Hungarian-owned Quartz mining company.

The nationally famous (and somewhat known internationally) porcelain factory, Zsolnay Porcelain, is a source of pride for Pécs. The walls and roofs of many public and private buildings in the city are decorated with the company’s porcelain products, contributing to Pécs’s unique appearance.

The Pécsi Sörfőzde (Pécs Brewery) is one of four major breweries in Hungary (the others are Dreher Breweries, Borsod Brewery, and Heineken Hungária). It is the only one fully owned by Hungarians. This brewery produces a special type of beer that is not filtered before being bottled.

Several companies have their production facilities in Pécs, including the Hungarian textile manufacturer Rovitex Hungária, the American crane manufacturer Terex, the Hungarian scale manufacturer Pécsi Mérlegstúdió, the Hungarian furniture manufacturer Megyeri Bútor, the Hungarian cutting-tool manufacturer FORSZ, the German switchboard manufacturer HB-Kapcsolószekrénygyártó (part of the Bader Gruppe), the Hungarian recycling company Alcufer, the Hungarian agricultural vehicle manufacturer HIDROT, the Hungarian animal husbandry tool manufacturer Önitató, the tobacco factory Pécsi Dohánygyár (owned by British American Tobacco), the Hungarian automotive spare parts manufacturer Matro, the Hungarian safe manufacturer Strauss Metal, the Hungarian packaging machine manufacturer SOMAPAK, the Hungarian plastics producer Termoplast, the Bocz Printing House, the Hungarian pickles manufacturer Babina, the Hungarian plastic product manufacturer Karsai Pécs, the Hungarian metal manufacturer Riner Metal.

Pécs is gradually developing a modern high-tech industry. The largest industrial employer in the city is the Finnish electronics manufacturing company Elcoteq. Other companies include the Hungarian Z Elektronika electronics manufacturer and the Hungarian TG Netcom IT network manufacturer.

The German transportation company Dachser has a logistics center in Pécs.

The Biokom waste management and recycling company (owned by the city) is responsible for transporting and recycling waste in Pécs and its surrounding areas. Most of the energy used in the city is produced by two biomass power plants operated by Pannonpower (part of Veolia). These plants use wood chips and agricultural by-products to generate electricity. A 49.9 MW wood chip-fired plant and a 35 MW agricultural by-product-fired plant provide power. The city also has the country’s largest solar power plant, which produces about 10 MW of energy annually. This plant is operated by MVM Hungarowind (part of the MVM Group).

The Expo Center Pécs Exhibition and Conference Centre is a venue for international exhibitions and conferences.

Education

The University of Pécs was established by Louis I of Hungary in 1367. It is the oldest university in Hungary and one of the first universities in Europe. In the past, it was divided into two separate universities: one focused on Medicine and Orthodontics, called POTE, and another for other subjects, called JPTE (Janus Pannonius Tudományegyetem). POTE, now known as the Medical School, offers large English-language programs for general medicine and dentistry, with students from America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, including many from Scandinavian countries. It also has a new German program. On January 1, 2000, these two universities merged to form the University of Pécs, also called PTE (Pécsi Tudományegyetem). Today, the University of Pécs is the most international university in Hungary, with about 5,000 international students out of a total of approximately 20,000 students (around 25%).

Politics

The current mayor of Pécs is Attila Péterffy (Pécs Jövője, Öt Torony).

The local government group, chosen in the 2019 local elections, has 26 members (1 mayor, 18 members from individual areas, and 7 members from compensation lists). These members are divided among political groups and alliances. In Pécs, policies from Fidesz have included a law that made homelessness illegal in 2014 and an official request to property owners not to provide space for an NGO supported by OSF in 2017.

List of City Mayors from 1990:

Transport

• The M6/M60 motorway connects Pécs and Budapest. A drive between the two cities now takes about 2 hours. The entire route opened on 31 March 2010. Route 6 crosses through the city, running east to west, and exits toward Barcs near the Croatian border. Other routes include:
• Route 57: Pécs to Mohács,
• Route 58: Pécs to Drávaszabolcs,
• Route 66: Pécs to Kaposvár.

Pécs is linked to Budapest through Pusztaszabolcs and has direct roads to Mohács and Nagykanizsa.

The main railway station, designed by Ferenc Pfaff, was built in 1900. It became a historic building in 2008. The station’s design combines elements of the Renaissance and other styles. It includes carvings of James Watt and George Stephenson, created by Ármin Klein and produced by the Zsolnay factory. A transportation hub, including a bus terminal, bus stop, and taxi area, is located on the square in front of the station.

A tram system operated in the city from 1914 to 1960.

Buses are the main form of public transportation in Pécs.

Pécs-Pogány International Airport opened in March 2006. It mainly serves smaller charter flights.

Sport

• Pécsi MFC, a football club that plays in the Nemzeti Bajnokság III league
• Pécsi Vasutas SK, a football club that plays in the Baranya County regional league
• Pécsi BTC, a soccer team that is no longer active
• Pécs-Baranya FC, a soccer team that is no longer active
• Pécsi Bányász SC, a soccer team that is no longer active
• PEAC-Pécs, a professional women's basketball team
• Pécsi VSK, a men's water polo team
• Pécsi Indiánok SK, a rugby club

Notable people born in Pécs

• Károly Balogh de Mankobük (1848 in Buda – 1920), served as president of the Royal Court in Pécs
• Marcel Breuer (1902–1981), architect and furniture designer
• Pál Dárdai (born 1976), football player
• Dénes Dibusz (born 1990), football player
• Petar Dobrović (1890–1942), Serb painter and president of the short-lived Baranya-Baja Republic
• József Eötvös (musician), guitarist
• Dezső Ernster (1898–1981), Metropolitan Opera bass
• Sigismund Ernuszt, bishop of Pécs
• Dorka Juhász, WNBA player
• Lipót Fejér, mathematician
• Alfréd (Fred) Forbát (1897–1972), Bauhaus architect
• Zoltán Gera (born 1979), football player
• Miklós Hasznos (1931–2014), Hungarian politician
• Martin Helstáb (born 1995), film director
• Leopold Hirschfeld (1798–1893), brewer, founder of the Pécsi Sörfőzde
• János Horvay (1874–1944), sculptor
• Katinka Hosszú (born 1989), swimmer, 3 x gold medallist at the 2016 Olympic Games
• Zsuzsanna Jakabos (born 1989), swimmer
• László Sólyom (1942–2023), president of Hungary
• Jenő Jandó (1952–2023), pianist
• Dorka Juhász (born 1999), WNBA player
• György Klimó, bishop of Pécs, founder of press and public library
• Dezső Lauber (1879–1966), sportsman and architect
• László Lénárd (born 1944), neuroscientist, physician
• Kató Lomb (1909–2003), interpreter, language master
• Maximinus (Praetorian Prefect)
• Farkas Molnár (1897–1945), architect, painter, essayist, and graphic artist
• Janus Pannonius, bishop of Pécs
• İbrahim Peçevi (Ibrahim of Pécs), Ottoman historian and chronicler
• Karl (Freiherr) von Pflanzer-Baltin
• Péter Pócs (born 1950), artist
• Damir Redzic (born 2003), football player
• Anton von Rosas, ophthalmologist
• Joe Rudán (born 1963), singer
• Béla Tarr (1955–2026), film director
• Olga Tass (1929–2020), Olympic gymnast
• Victor Vasarely (1906–1997), artist
• Balázs Zamostny (born in 1992), Hungarian footballer
• Teréz Zsolnay, applied artist, writer
• Vilmos Zsolnay (1828–1900), industrialist, entrepreneur, applied artist

Gallery

• Cathedral
• Archives of Pécs
• Inner City
• Mosque of Pasha Qasim
• Király Street
• University of Pécs
• Király Street
• Posta Palace
• Zsolnay Fountain with Eosin Glaze
• Jókai Square
• City Centre
• Houses in the City
• Nádor Hotel
• Chapel
• Havihegy Chapel
• Ruins in Tettye
• St. Sebastian Church
• Synagogue
• Yakovalı Hasan Paşa Mosque
• Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Pécs
• University of Pécs – Faculty of Humanity and Natural Sciences
• Lajos Kossuth Statue
• Kossuth Square and Great Synagogue
• French (Napoleonic War) Monument
• Tettye
• Aerial View
• Panorama
• Pannonpower Energy Station
• Logo of the 2010 European Capital of Culture