Veszprém

Veszprém (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈvɛspreːm]; German: Weißbrunn, 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 (comitatus or 'megye') of the same name.

Veszprém
Veszprém Megyei Jogú Város

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
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): 
City of Queens
Veszprém
Veszprém
Veszprém
Coordinates: 47.09296°N 17.91377°E / 47.09296; 17.91377
Country Hungary
RegionCentral Transdanubia
CountyVeszprém
DistrictVeszprém
Established9th century AD
City status1870
Government
  MayorGyula Porga (Fidesz–KDNP)
  Deputy Mayor
  Town NotaryDr Gábor Mohos
Area
  City with county rights126.93 km2 (49.01 sq mi)
Elevation
266 m (873 ft)
Population
 (January 1, 2017)
  City with county rights56,927[2]
  Rank16th
  Density448.49/km2 (1,161.6/sq mi)
  Urban
133,880 (13th)[3]
Demonym(s)veszprémi
Population by ethnicity
  Hungarians83.9%
  Germans2.4%
  Gypsies0.7%
  Romanians0.1%
  Serbs0.1%
  Slovaks0.1%
  Armenians0.1%
  Bulgarians0.1%
  Polish0.1%
  Ukrainians0.1%
Population by religion
  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

Etymology

The name of the city originates from a Slavic personal name Bezprem or Bezprym (Proto-Slavic Bezprěmъ) meaning "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 Greek.[5]

The city was named either after a chieftain, or the son of Judith of Hungary, who settled here after her husband Boleslaus I of Poland expelled her and her son.

Location and legend

Veszprém lies on both sides of the Séd creek, approximately 110 km (68 mi) from Budapest (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 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

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 Hungary - Stephen I of Hungary 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 St. Stephen. 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.

Veszprém changed hands between Austrians and Ottomans until 1684 after the Battle of Mohács in 1526. It was known as 'Pespirim' and was a sanjak centre in Budin Province during Ottoman rule.

The town was plundered by the Turks in 1552, but they could not maintain occupation: the region north of Lake Balaton remained in the Kingdom of Hungary (1538–1867) (captaincy between Balaton and Drava). 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;[6] in Transleithania after the compromise of 1867 in the Kingdom of Hungary.

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

The Hungarian automotive plastic spare parts manufacturer Videoton Plastic[7] (part of Videoton), the Hungarian kiosk manufacturer Kiosksystems,[8] the Hungarian shutter manufacturer Roll-Lux,[9] the Hungarian label manufacturer Imprenta,[10] the Hungarian tool manufacturer Solidsteel,[11] the Hungarian technical ceramics manufacturer Bakony Ipari Kerámia,[12] the Hungarian furniture manufacturer Balaton Bútor,[13] the Hungarian machine manufacturer Flexmont,[14] the Hungarian watermanagement company PureAqua,[15] the Hungarian automotive spare parts manufacturer Win-Pres,[16] the Hungarian construction company VEMÉVSZER,[17] the Hungarian metal manufacturer Ferro-Trio,[18] the Hungarian OOK Printhouse,[19] the Hungarian toolmanufacturer Plasticor,[20] the Hungarian machine manufacturer Transmoduls,[21] the Hungarian Prospektus Printhouse[22] have both their headquarters and main production facilities in Veszprém.

The French pharmaceutical company Citoxlab,[23] the Austrian plaster manufacturer Lasselsberger-Knauf,[24] the Swiss electric motor manufacturer Maxon Motor,[25] the Austrian tile manufacturer Bramac,[26] the French automotive spare parts manufacturer Valeo,[27] the German electromagnetical controlsystems manufacturer nass magnet,[28] the German automotive spare parts manufacturer Continental AG,[29] the German automotive spare parts manufacturer Thun,[30] the German sensor manufacturer Pepperl+Fuchs,[31] the Austrian chimney and ventilation system manufacturer Schiedel,[32] the American power supply security company CoreComm,[33] the German sensor manufacturer Balluff,[34] the German automotive spare parts manufacturer Jost,[35] the German health devices manufacturer Beurer,[36] the British-Dutch food producer Unilever[37] and the Hungarian dairy product manufacturer Pannontej[38] operate production plants in the city.

The Dutch General Logistics Systems,[39] the Hungarian Magyar Posta, the German Penny Market,[40] the Hungarian Locargo[41] and the Austrian Persped[42] 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.[43]

Demographics

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

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:[44]

Party Seats Current Municipal Assembly
  Fidesz-KDNP 11 M                    
  Opposition coalition[lower-alpha 1] 7                      

Public transport

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.

Notable citizens

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%
2019 59,738−3.2%

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Veszprém is twinned with:[45]

Tourism

References

  1. Veszprém - Alpolgármesterek
  2. 2017. év: Magyarország állandó lakosságának száma az év első napján (2017. január 1.) XLS táblázat. Nyilvantarto.hu (Hozzáférés: 2017. április 6.)
  3. Eurostat, 2016
  4. KSH - Veszprém, 2011
  5. 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. Handbook of Austria and Lombardy-Venetia Cancellations on the Postage Stamp Issues 1850-1864, by Edwin MUELLER, 1961.
  7. Videoton plastic
  8. Kiosksystems - Cégünkről - Bemutatkozás
  9. Roll-Lux - Történetünk
  10. Imprenta - Cégtörténet
  11. Solidsteel - Főoldal
  12. Bakony Ipari Kerámia - veol.hu - HIRDETÉS March 1, 2018
  13. Balaton Bútor
  14. - Flexmont
  15. PureAqua
  16. Win-Pres
  17. VEMÉVSZER
  18. Ferro-Trio
  19. OOK Nyomda - Rólunk
  20. Plasticor - About Us
  21. Transmoduls - About Us
  22. Prospektus Nyomda - Company profile - History
  23. Citoxlab - Contact Us
  24. Lasselsberger-Knauf - Húsz éve nem ugrott ekkorát a veszprémi építőipari gyártó - August 3, 2017
  25. Maxon Motors - Production sites
  26. Bramac - Rólunk - Cégkrónika
  27. Valeo
  28. nass magnet
  29. - Continental AG - Veszprém
  30. Thun - Locations
  31. Pepperl-Fuchs
  32. Schiedel
  33. CoreComm - Cégünkről
  34. Balluff
  35. Jost - Vállalat - Cégtörénet
  36. Beurer - Company - sites
  37. Unilever - Ice Cream Factory
  38. Pannontej - Rólunk
  39. GLS
  40. 59 üzletet szolgál ki új veszprémi logisztikai központjából a Penny Market - October 17, 2017
  41. Locargo
  42. Persped - Rólunk
  43. Veszprém Aréna
  44. "Városi közgyűlés tagjai 2019-2024 - Veszprém (Veszprém megye)". valasztas.hu. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
  45. "Nemzetközi kapcsolatok". Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  46. Kursk guide
  47. "Miasta Partnerskie". Retrieved 1 May 2014.
Notes
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