To tell you the truth, we were completely taken aback by the beauty of the city of Pecs. It’s the fifth largest city in Hungary, and it’s known for luxury vintage brands like the 1861 glove factory and Zsolnay porcelain. The University of Pecs is also here so it’s very much a student town. So visitors can feel a young vibe everywhere.
THE MOST FAMOUS ATTRACTIONS IN PECS
It’s also famous for its early Christian Mausoleum, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is perhaps the most famous tourist attraction in Pecs. Then there’s also the domed mosque of Pasha Gazi Kasim from the 16th century,
THE BEST BRANDS OF PECS
Pecs is also associated with several beautiful brands from the 19th century. First and foremost is the Zsolnay porcelain, made in a factory near the city centre. Fine Zsolnay porcelain has been made here since the mid-19th century. Then, from 1914, Zsolnay stopped making fancy pieces and began making more utilitarian pieces in order to survive the war years.
ABOUT THE ZSOLNAY MUSEUM IN PECS
Nevertheless, many of the 19th century pieces of Zsolnay that have survived through the decades are today exhibited in the Zsolnay Museum of Pecs. And a few rare pieces that are for sale can be found in a handful of fine antique stores around the town of Pecs.
Luckily, I found two beautiful pieces, one of a kind actually, and they are now in my dining room.
THE 1861 GLOVE FACTORY
The other brand associated with Pecs is the 1861 glove factory, which connoisseurs consider one of the finest glove factories in Europe. I tried on some of their best gloves at the 1861 glove factory, and they were truly beautiful.
Seeing the Zsolnay porcelain and the 1861 glove factory alone are wonderful reasons to visit Pecs. But personally, I love Pecs. It’s really an amazing walking town full of beautiful buildings. We all know how Hungary was part of the Socialist bloc for decades, and how this resulted in many Soviet-style buildings in some cities.
19TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURE
However, the city centre of Pecs has largely retained its 19th century charm. We arrived in Pecs late in the afternoon, and as soon as we checked into our hotel, we took an exploratory walk around the city center.
I think I said “What a beautiful place” to my companion about a dozen times. Many of the buildings are colourful, elegant and covered in Zsolnay tiles. This makes the city of Pecs not only a a lovely walking town but a real photographer’s delight.
Read more about the Travelife Magazine team’s visit to Hungary in Travelife Magazine.
