Szeged

Szeged

Szeged is the third largest city in Hungary. It is the biggest city and main center of the Southern Great Plain. Szeged is also the county seat of Csongrád-Csanád county.

The University of Szeged is one of the best universities in the country. It is known for its good teaching and research.

Etymology

The name Szeged may come from an old Roman town called Partiscum. This town was founded in the 2nd century near where Szeged is today. In Latin, Partiscum was used for the city.

Another idea is that Szeged comes from a Hungarian word meaning “corner,” because the river Tisza turns near the city. Some think it comes from a Hungarian word for “island.” Others believe it refers to the dark color of the water where the Tisza and Maros rivers meet.

Szeged has many names in other languages. For example, it is called Seghedin in Romanian, Szegedin in German, and Segedín in Slovak and Czech.

History

Szeged and its area have been home to people since ancient times. The oldest known name of the city is Partiscum, mentioned by the writer Ptolemy. It is possible that Attila, king of the Huns, had his seat somewhere in this area. The name Szeged was first recorded in 1183, in a document from King Béla III.

In the second century AD, there was a Roman trading post on an island in the Tisza River. During the Mongol invasion, the town was destroyed but the people returned and rebuilt it. In the 14th century, Szeged became very important in Southern Hungary. King Sigismund of Luxembourg built a wall around the town, and in 1498, it became a free royal town.

Szeged was taken over by the Ottoman Army in 1543 and became part of the Ottoman Empire. It was taken back in 1686 and regained its status as a free royal town in 1715. In 1719, it received its coat of arms, which is still used today. During this time, new schools and theaters opened.

Szeged is famous for paprika, a spice made from dried capsicum fruits, and for dishes like szekelygulyas and halászlé. The people of Szeged were important in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. After a big flood in 1879, the city was rebuilt with wide avenues and new buildings.

After the First World War, Hungary lost some lands, and Szeged became closer to the border. The University of Szeged was moved there in 1921. During World War II, the city suffered, but it later grew with new neighborhoods and industries. Today, Szeged is a university town and a place where people like to visit. The Szeged Symphony Orchestra gives concerts at the Szegedi Nemzeti Színház.

Geography

Szeged is a city close to the southern border of Hungary. It is near where the Maros River meets the Tisza River, and it lies in the middle of the Carpathian Basin. The border with Serbia is not far away.

The city has warm, humid summers and cold winters. It does not rain much, and the city gets a lot of sunshine. This is why it is called the “City of Sunshine.”

Education

See also: University of Szeged

Szeged has many schools. There are 62 kindergartens, 32 elementary schools, and 18 high schools. Two high schools are among the best in the country.

Szeged is an important place for learning, especially in the Southern Great Plain region. The University of Szeged is one of the oldest and largest universities in Hungary. It was founded in 1581 and is known around the world. Many students from different countries study there. The university offers many subjects.

The Biological Research Centre, supported by UNESCO, does important science work. The Szent-Györgyi Albert Agóra is a place for culture and science with labs and exhibitions.

In 2018, a new science facility called the ELI Attosecond Light Pulse Source opened. It helps scientists study light in new ways. The university also has a campus where students from Europe study medicine.

Demographics

Szeged is a city in Hungary with many different kinds of people. Most people there are Hungarian. There are also smaller groups of Romani, German, Serb, Romanian, Croat, and Slovak people, and some whose background is unknown.

Religion

Szeged has many different kinds of people who believe in different things. In 2001, most people, about 54.5%, were Roman Catholic. Some were Calvinist at 6.7%, and a few were Lutheran at 1.6%. There were also smaller groups like Greek Catholic at 0.6%, other Christians at 1.3%, and people who believed in other things at 0.4%. About 21.8% of people said they were Atheist, meaning they did not believe in any god, and 13.1% did not answer or were not sure.

Economy

Szeged is an important place for food production in Hungary, famous for its paprika and companies like Pick Szeged. In 2026, BYD Auto plans to start making cars there.

Many other big companies have offices or factories in Szeged, such as AMSY International, RRE – Szeged, and ContiTech. The Hangár Expo and Conference Centre is a popular spot for big events and meetings.

Transport

Szeged is an important place for travel in the Southern Great Plain. Two big roads, called motorways, M5 and M43, are near the city. The M5 motorway connects Szeged to cities like Kecskemét, Kiskunfélegyháza, and Budapest in the north, and to Subotica, Novi Sad, and Belgrade in Serbia to the south. The M43 motorway splits from M5 near Szeged and goes to Makó, Arad, and Timișoara in Romania.

There are also many roads from Szeged to nearby places like Nagylak, Röszke, Ásotthalom, Baja, Hódmezővásárhely, Orosháza, and Békéscsaba. Trains are important too, with lines connecting Szeged to Budapest, Makó, Hódmezővásárhely, Röszke, and Kiskunfélegyháza.

In November 2021, a special tram-train service started, linking Szeged with Hódmezővásárhely. There are also many buses that stop in Szeged, coming from both inside the country and other countries.

Motorways

• M5
• M43

Railways

• 121 (to Makó)
• 135 (to Hódmezővásárhely)
• 136 (to Röszke)
• 140 (to Kiskunfélegyháza)

Airport

Szeged Airport is the international airport of Szeged.

Public transport

Public transport in Szeged is managed by Szeged Transport Ltd., owned by the city, and Volánbusz, owned by the national government. The main services include 5 tram lines and 6 trolleybus lines, along with 38 bus lines. Hungarian State Railways runs trains within the area and to other cities, including Subotica.

Sport

Handball

The most popular sport in the city is handball. The city has a well-known club, SC Pick Szeged. They play at the Pick Aréna.

Association football

The second most popular sport is football. Szeged has clubs that play in the top level Hungarian league. The only club playing now is Szeged 2011.

Speedway

Motorcycle speedway has been linked to the city for a long time. The first track was at the SZEAC athletics stadium. Later, a new track was built.

Main sights

Szeged is a beautiful city in Hungary. It has many places to see and enjoy. The city is known for its wide boulevards and green spaces. Visitors can relax in parks or along the river.

One of the main sights is the Széchenyi Square. It is a large, lively area with shops, cafes, and historic buildings. The square often hosts festivals and events.

Another popular spot is the Vásártér (Market Square). Here you can find the City Hall and the Dominican Church. These buildings show beautiful architecture from different times.

The city also has modern attractions. The Szeged City Hall has a tower you can climb for great views. The Hungarian National Museum of Szeged shows art and history from the area.

Don’t forget to try the local food! Szeged is famous for its spicy dishes, especially the paprika-laced soups and stews. Eating here is a tasty adventure.

Politics

Szeged is led by its mayor, László Botka. The city's local government was chosen in the 2024 local government elections. It has 28 members who help run the city.

The city has had many mayors since 1990.

Media

Szeged has many ways to get news and entertainment. There are television and radio stations, as well as newspapers you can read on paper or online.

The city has TV channels like Szeged TV and TiszapART TV. You can listen to radio stations such as "Rádió 88" and MR1 Kossuth Rádió. There are daily newspapers and news websites like Délmagyarország and szeged.hu.

Notable people

Born in Szeged

See also: Category:People from Szeged

Szeged has been home to many famous people who were born there. Some of them are well-known in sports, arts, science, and more. For example, there are Olympic champions, writers, and inventors who began their lives in this city.

Lived in Szeged

Many other famous people have lived in Szeged at some time in their lives. These include poets, mathematicians, Nobel prize winners, and writers who helped in many different areas while they were in the city.

International relations

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Hungary

Szeged works with many cities around the world. Some of these friends include:

• Cambridge, United Kingdom (since 1987)
• Darmstadt, Germany (since 1990)
• Kotor, Montenegro (since 2001)
• Larnaca, Cyprus (since 1994)
• Liège, Belgium (since 2001)
• Łódź, Poland (since 2004)
• Nice, France (since 1969)
• Odesa, Ukraine (since 1957)
• Parma, Italy (since 1988)
• Pula, Croatia (since 2003)
• Rakhiv, Ukraine (since 1939, renewed in 1997)
• Subotica, Serbia (since 1966, renewed in 2004)
• Târgu Mureș, Romania (since 1997)
• Timișoara, Romania (since 1998)
• Toledo, Ohio, United States (since 1990)
• Turku, Finland (since 1971)
• Weinan, China (since 1999)

Partner cities

• Novi Sad, Serbia (since 2001)