The city of Szombathely is the 10th largest city in Hungary and also the oldest one. It was founded by the Romans in 45 A.D., when it was known as Savaria, the cultural and administrative hub of Roman Upper Pannonia. The city is overflowing with history, from the times of Emperor Constantine the Great and Attila’s occupation to the Ottoman empire and heavy industrialization in the 20th century.
Paying homage to the rich history of Szombathely is the Historical Theme Park (Történelmi Témapark), where you can try out replicas of equipment and tools used by the city’s earlier Roman residents. You can also check out historical re-enactments by the dedicated Savaria Legio Association. The theme park reveals how inhabitants worked with ancient materials and shows their technological breakthroughs.
But wait there’s more…
The Savaria Legio Showroom (Savaria Legio Bemutatóraktár) lies right next to the Historical Theme Park in Szombathely. It exhibits the equipment, accessories, and possessions of the Appolinaris Legio from the 1st century. Furthermore, there are guided tours and special History classes if registered beforehand. The Savaria Museum is also close, displaying the characteristic of the Alpokalja’s (Feet of the Alps) geology, natural resources, and the most important points of history from the antique times.
| Wow factor | Find out what life was like in the oldest Hungarian city |
| Incentive type | Historical experience |
| Best time of the year |
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| Location | Szombathely, Hungary |
| Where to stay | Why not add some relaxation and pampering to your trip. If you’re planning to stay in the interesting region of Western Hungary for longer, we recommend staying in Mjus World Resort & Thermal Park, located in the region of the Raba river, at the junction of three countries, only a few tens of kilometers from Austria and Slovenia. |
