This calm Hungarian town near the Austrian border has Roman roots, a medieval castle, and local wine bars. Its museums tell stories of regional art and culture.
Zalaegerszeg, a city of 60,000 residents in western Hungary, stretches along the banks of the Zala River. Walk past the twin-spired Church of Mary Magdalene in the city center, where its white facade dominates the main square. Step inside the yellow-painted Old County Hall from 1730, or watch millers grind grain at the working water mill in the Göcsej Village Museum. At the ZalaZONE automotive test track, engineers develop and test self-driving cars on 265 hectares of specialized testing grounds.
Getting to Zalaegerszeg
The city lies 220 kilometers west-southwest of Budapest. You'll find five international airports within driving distance: reach Graz Airport in 1.8 hours (130 km), Zagreb Airport in 1.8 hours (170 km), or Vienna Airport in 2 hours (180 km). Take the M7 highway and connecting roads to reach the city, or use the railway system that connects Zalaegerszeg to major European cities.
Museums and Cultural Sites
At the Göcsej Museum, examine stone tools from the Upper Paleolithic period and bronze-age jewelry found in local excavations. Walk among more than 30 relocated buildings at the open-air Göcsej Village Museum along the Zala River, where the water mill still produces flour and craftspeople demonstrate woodworking techniques. See original drilling equipment and learn about petroleum exploration at the Museum of Oil Industry. The Kisfaludi Strobl collection displays bronze and marble sculptures by the Hungarian artist who created works for Winston Churchill and George Bernard Shaw.
Modern Developments
Watch autonomous vehicle testing at the ZalaZONE Proving Ground, where a 2-kilometer high-speed oval track and smart city zone simulate real-world driving conditions. The city's four industrial parks employ over 15,000 people in electronics manufacturing, chemical production, and automotive engineering.
Sports Facilities
Join local football fans at the 11,200-seat ZTE Arena to watch ZTE FC play in Hungary's top division, and browse the team museum's collection of jerseys and trophies from their century-long history. Race go-karts or try winter sledding at the Sports and Adventure Park in Alsóerdő, which also includes tennis courts and football fields. Throughout the year, you might catch European championships in fencing, handball, or youth football.
Around the City
Take the elevator up the 95-meter Bazita Peak TV Tower for views across to Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia on clear days. Visit the Gébárt Regional Folk Art and Craft House, where artisans work inside a 12-meter wooden yurt, creating pottery and textiles using centuries-old techniques. The surrounding Göcsej region maintains its own dialect - listen for unique words and phrases, and ask locals about folk tales that originated in nearby villages.
