Szeged

Szeged is the third-largest city of Hungary with approximately 161,000 residents, serving as the regional center of the Southern Great Plain and county seat of Csongrád-Csanád County. The University of Szeged is one of the most distinguished universities in Hungary.

City of Sunshine

Szeged is nicknamed the “City of Sunshine” (Napfény városa) due to having the most sunny days annually in Hungary. The city enjoys a pleasant climate with hot summers and relatively mild winters for the region.

Paprika Capital

Szeged is world-famous as the home of paprika — the spice made from dried, powdered capsicum fruits. Paprika arrived in Hungary in the 16th century and became synonymous with Hungarian cuisine. The city celebrates its paprika heritage with annual festivals and the Pick Salami Factory (established 1869), producing the renowned Pick salami seasoned with Szeged paprika.

Traditional Szeged specialties include:

• Szegedi halászlé — fish soup made with carp and catfish
• Szegedi gulyás — goulash with pork, sauerkraut, and sour cream

The Great Flood of 1879

A catastrophic flood in 1879 destroyed most of Szeged — only 265 of 5,723 houses survived, and 165 people died. Emperor Franz Joseph visited and promised “Szeged will be more beautiful than it used to be.” He kept his promise: a modern city with wide boulevards, palaces, and elegant architecture emerged from the ruins, giving Szeged its distinctive 19th-century urban character that remains today.

Historical Significance

Szeged was first mentioned in 1183 in a document of King Béla III. The city gained free royal town status in 1498. During Ottoman rule (1543-1686), Szeged served as an administrative center. The city played an important role in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, where Lajos Kossuth delivered his famous speech, and Szeged was the last seat of the revolutionary government in July 1849.

University City

After World War I, when Hungary lost Transylvania to Romania, the University of Kolozsvár (now Cluj-Napoca) relocated to Szeged in 1921. Today, the University of Szeged is a major research institution attracting thousands of students from across Hungary and internationally.

Episcopal Seat

In 1923, Szeged took over the role of episcopal seat from Temesvár (Timișoara, Romania), becoming an important center of Catholic religious life in southern Hungary.

World War II

Szeged suffered heavily during World War II, with 6,000 inhabitants killed. The Jewish community of 8,500 was confined to a ghetto in 1944, and most were murdered by the Nazis or sent to forced labor camps. Soviet troops captured the city on October 11, 1944.

Modern Szeged

Today, Szeged is an important university town and tourist destination. Key attractions include:

• Votive Church (Szeged Cathedral) — impressive neo-Romanesque church, one of Hungary’s largest
• Szeged National Theater — elegant theater on the Tisza riverbank
• Ferenc Móra Museum — art and regional history
• Szeged Open-Air Festival — annual summer theater and music festival (July-August)
• Szeged Symphony Orchestra — regular concerts
• Tisza riverside promenade — scenic walks along the river

Economy

Szeged developed as a center of light industry and food processing. Oil was discovered near the city in 1965. Today, the economy is diversified with manufacturing, food production, research, and services.

Practical Information

Public transport operates with tram and bus lines (SZKT). Paid parking zones exist in the city center. The city is well-connected by motorways (M5, M43) to Budapest and other regions. Szeged has its own regional airport.