Szeged, the City of Sunshine
Szeged is the fourth largest city of Hungary, the county seat of Csongrád County, and the centre of the Southern Great Plain Region. The number of inhabitants is 170 thousand. It is the most important scientific, educational and cultural centre of the region. The city is situated in the Southern part of the country – close to Romania and Serbia – on the route of the European transport corridor IV.
In 1879, the city of Szeged was struck by an immense natural disaster: the river Tisza flooded the whole city, as a result of which 95 percent of the buildings was destroyed. Szeged was totally reconstructed after the great flood, and within 5 years a beautiful downtown with palaces was born.
Our city is the cultural centre of the Southern Great Plain. Here operates one of the most significant theatres of the country, and the Open Air Festival is also held here every summer, the traditions of which date back to the 1930’s, where globally known stars perform noted operas, ballets and musicals in front of an audience of over 4000 people per show. The Szeged Youth Days, at the end of every August, with over 70 thousand participants, have become one of the most significant youth festivals of the country.
Szeged has always been an important educational centre of the region. There are 27 primary schools, with more than 12 thousand pupils between 6 and 14 years of age. There is a wide variety of secondary schools, including vocational institutions and high schools, even those of bilingual education in English, German, French and Spanish languages. The total number of secondary school students exceed 14 thousand.
The University of Szeged, with more than 30 thousand students, is the 2nd biggest university in Hungary. The most significant scientific fields are connected to life sciences. These include genetics, medical and pharmaceutical research as well as plant breeding.
Szeged is famous for the hospitality of its inhabitants, it is one of the most visited destinations in Hungary. Among our specialities there are the well-known Pick salami, the handmade Szeged slippers and ground red paprika. The famous scientist, Albert Szent-Györgyi was awarded the Nobel Prize for extracting vitamine C from paprika during his research in Szeged.
The largest thermal water base of Hungary can be found here as well. Our medicinal springs from the depth of 1000 meters have been the base of development for a wide scale of therapeutical and health-related services continually. Today the biggest therapeutical and wellness centre of the country based on thermal water can be found in Szeged, which from spring 2010 will have a water surface of more than 4400 m2.
In 2006 the city was awarded the Europe Prize, the highest distinction of the Council of Europe, for developing international relations and European awareness.
http://tip.szegedvaros.hu/start_en.php