An aviary with penguins at the Szegedi Vadaspark zoo in real time. Hungary's third largest city, Szeged, is located on both sides of the Tisa River. Thanks to the abundance of sunny days, Szeged is called the "Sunny City."
Settlements in the territory of Szeged have existed since ancient times. First it was inhabited by Avars, then by Slavs, and from the 9th century by Hungarians. According to one version, the residence of the leader of the Huns Atilla was located near Seged.
The city was completely ruined during the Mongol invasion, then rebuilt. In 1543 he became part of the Ottoman Empire, and in 1686 became part of the Habsburg Empire.
The heyday was the 18th century, the city grew rapidly and developed. But in 1879 a new disaster broke out - the flood of the River Tisa almost completely wiped out Szeged from the face of the earth. Of the six thousand buildings, only a little more than two hundred survived. A special programme to rebuild the city, which lasted for several decades, was undertaken.
As a result, today the city has become one of the most convenient and well-planned in Hungary, thanks to the modern solution of the transport system based on ring and radial roads. The city center was rebuilt on the model of major European cities, with wide streets and green boulevards.
Most of Szeged's attractions are concentrated in the city centre, so it's best to see them on foot. An independent walking tour of the city will take you about half a day, and there will still be time to visit one of the famous Szeged baths.