Pécs is located in the south-west of the country. It is the administrative and economic centre of Baranya County. The area of the town has been inhabited since ancient times, with the oldest archaeological findings dating back to a history of 6000 years.
The town lies on the southern slopes of the Mecsek Hills, and has a moderate, almost Mediterranean climate. When Western Hungary was a province of the Roman Empire, the Romans founded several wine-producing colonies at this place.
Pécs has a rich cultural life, hosts a wide variety of galleries and museums as well as boasts of numerous historical buildings such as the Basilica of Pécs, an eleventh century Christian monument. Several Turkish monuments dating back to the age of the Ottoman Empire (16th-17th centuries) give the city a cross-cultural character.
The town of Pécs was selected as European Capital of Culture for 2010.
The surrounding countryside is also well worth discovering: the Villány wine region, the Harkány spa, the Lake Orfű, and the historical fortress of Siklós are all famous tourist attractions.
The University of Pécs was founded in 1367: it is the oldest university in Hungary, and ranks among the first European universities. It has 10 faculties and offers a wide range of training programmes covering nearly every possible field of study.
By car: follow motorway M6 then highway M60. The distance is approximately 230 km.
By train: the journey takes approximately 3 hours by Intercity train from Budapest Déli Railway Station