A Day in Sopron, Hungary

We began our day with the discovery of Fertő-Hanság National Park. After an early breakfast, we got ready and head to the meeting point where our tour started.
The park contains an outstanding fauna and flora and became a landscape protected area in 1966. Finally, in 2001 it received the title World Heritage from the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
We pre - booked a boat tour which was really exciting. As we were strolling across the reed canals, we observed the wildlife of the water. We discovered many aquatic bird species and even mammals such as reed songbirds, herons, ducks, terns, and gulls.
Note: The tour has to be booked in advance. You have to be prepared with appropriate clothing. Also, the tour is depends on the weather. There are also several other tours available, so look around or email them.
More information and bookings available here.

Our next destination is the city of Sopron and its only castle surrounded by a forest. After many years of preparation and studies of the medieval architecture István Taródi began to build his own castle in 1945. In 1951, he moved the building to a new premises and continued to build it until his death in 2010.
We began walking on a flat stoned path which brought us to the castle gate. As we passed the gate, the path was split into two. There are two ceramic reliefs on the sign posts shows where the roads lead. The left one features a wandering bachelor and the other one a loaded medieval chariot. We decide to follow the left path which brought us to an enormous rock pile.
We continue our discovery in the courtyard where we found a large wooden grape press. On its pressing beam you see the date 1811. We also discovered the inhabitants living quarters. On the ground floor it gives home to a guard room with many wine making tools. Next, we went to the upper floor where we learned about the history of the castle through an exhibition. We also admired an antique collection and art works from various hungarian artists.
Then we arrived to the drawbridge which gives way to the gate tower. Both sides are decorated with reliefs. Also above the gate we found two carved stone features from the year 1951 and a symbolic coat of arms. The coat of arms is held by two lions and it has three small fields where we saw the symbolic form of architecture, sculpture and painting.
The castle has two towers. The watchtower (also called Witch Tower) is 20 meters high and on its top there is a witch shaped weathervane shows the direction of the wind. The smaller, 16 meter high tower has two vaulted rooms, a spiral staircase, and a traditional weathervane. In front of the Witch Tower we came across with an inside and an outside pool. As we climbed up, we arrived to a terrace where we enjoyed a spectacular view. As continuing our walk in the courtyard, we discovered a well and a small tunnel.
Finally, we took a walk in the castle garden which has many regular and exotic species such as evergreen plants, sweet chestnut, rhododendrons, and Japanese shrub with fiery red flowers.
Opening Hours Monday - Sunday 10:00am - 6:00pm

Now, it is time for a lunch. This restaurant is famous about their grilled dishes. When we arrived, we experianced a nice and cozy restaurant . As we stepped in I could smell the delicious aroma in the air. The friendly staff and the delicious food gave us a great dining experience. I ordered a grilled chicken fillet with cucumber relish and sweet potato fries. Beside that the dish was a healthy option it was also very tasty. The restaurant offers much more beautiful dishes so feel free to explore them. The staff also gave us drinks advice to compliment our dishes.
Opening Hours Monday Closed Tuesday - Thursday 12:00 - 10:00 pm Friday 12:00 - 11:00 pm Saturday 11:00 am - 11:00 pm Sunday 11:00 am - 17:00 pm

After lunch, it is time for some dessert. So our journey brought us to this unique place which is a chocolate workshop and confectionery specialist. It offers various desserts which are made by traditional family recipes from quality ingredients.
The Harrer Chocolate Factory and Confectionery has a long history. The confectionery began its operation in Austria in 1968. In 1995, the business opened its doors in Sopron, then in 2009 the owner Karl Harrer who is also a pastry chef expanded his business by adding the chocolate workshop. We participated in a chocolate tasting program where we gained an insight into the magical world of chocolate making. We enjoyed these delicious treats which helped us to get lost in the world of sweets. Of course we bought a few box for present as well as for ourselves.
To book a chocolate taste tour here.
Opening Hours here.

The Fire Tower was built between the 13th and 14th centuries on the ruins of the ancient Roman wall which was once surrounded the city. It was completely burned down in 1676, then it was rebuilt and renovated several times. In 2011, the Parliament declared the Fire Tower a historical monument.
As we approached this beautiful building its Baroque features with the onion dome can be identified easily. When we arrived, we discovered the loyalty gate and a group of sculptures. They commemorate the 1921 referendum when the citizens of Sopron decided on the statehood of the city and its surroundings. The result was Hungary.
The loyalty gate was built in 1928. Then the architect Rezső Hikisch added an ornate frame which is created in a Baroque style. Above the gate, we saw a group of statues created by the sculptor Zsigmond Strobl Kisfaludi. It features the Goddess Hungaria wearing the Holy Crown. She is the symbol of Hungary. On the right, we saw a smaller coat of arms of the city (without the eagle), and on the left, the Kossuth coat of arms.
During the last renovation between 2011 and 2012, a tourist centre and tower museum were added. We visited the museum where we learned about the history and the significance of the tower. Then we climbed up to enjoy the incredible panoramic view of the city and the surrounding countryside.
Opening Hours Monday-Sunday 10:00-18:00 July-August Sunday- Thursday 10.00-18.00, Friday and Saturday 10.00-20.00

Our next destination is the 13th-century Goat Church. Originally, it was founded by the Franciscan order in around 1280. In 1787, Joseph II dissolved this order and the Benedictine monks took over the church. During its history, this building gave home to parliamentary sessions and coronations. Its unusual name came from a local legend.
Based on the story, the building of the church was funded by a buried treasure and discovered by a gazing goat. 
This beautiful church is a great example the harmonious combination of Gothic and Baroque design. We began our exploration with the beautiful architecture, which includes Gothic arches and a tall spire. 
Then, we went inside where we found historic frescoes, sculptures, and lancet windows. We discovered the unique Capistran pulpit in the centre of the south aisle with a red marble carving. We also noticed that one of the pillars depicted the legend by featuring the goat held by an angel.
On the south side of the church, we came across a Baroque door which led us to the Chapter House. This building was part of the Benedictine monastery in the 14th century and was used as a prayer house. The room has the most beautiful early Gothic religious architecture. We found Gothic pillars, parts of medieval frescoes from the 14th - 15th century, and beautifully crafted corbels. We also looked at the gargoyle-like animal carvings with human heads. They are hidden in the leaf ornaments of the pillars and represent the seven main sins.
Opening Hours Monday - Sunday 10:00 am - 18:00 pm

As we were walking outside the Goat Church, we came across this spectacular statue, which was built to commemorate the great plague in Hungary in the 17th century. 
The Baroque-style spiral statue stands on pedestal which has three parts. The bottom part is curved and has bevelled edges. The middle level is square with curved-sided and has prisms edges. And the top contains offsets and serves as a pedestal for the column. 
The pedestal also features the inscription of the double Löwenburg-Thököly coat of arms in the Hungarian language, the patron saint figures of the Thököly-Löwenburg families. 
Then finally, the column is decorated with beautiful complex stone carvings of angels, flowers, the statues of the Virgin Mary and the Holy Trinity, the golden sun and the crucifix.

Next it was time for a dinner. We visited this gorgeous restaurant which is situated in a 16th-century building. The inside decoration with the friendly staff gave us a pleasant atmosphere. The menu contained a good variety of Hungarian and international dishes. The uniqueness of this place was every dish had a matching wine. As Sopron is one of the famous wine regions since Roman times, we found a great selection of drinks from different famous wine growers. Which are delicious. But be careful, as some type is strong so if you are driving, just buy a bottle.
Booking a Table here.
Opening Hours Monday – Thursday 11:30 am—10:00 pm Friday – Saturday 11:30 am—11:00 pm Sunday 11:30 am—10:00n pm

Our tour arrived at its end. On the way home, we stopped at this bar. The staff was very friendly and it was a great place to have some rest.
Opening Hours Monday - Thursday 18:00 pm - 10:00 pm Friday - Saturday 18:00 pm - 12:00 am Sunday Closed

And finally, we arrived home. I really enjoyed this four days and I collected a lot of new memories which I will never forget.