Eger Travel Guide

Eger Castle is a heroic, history-making ancient fortress in Hungary—an old castle high above Eger's old city, famous for a renowned 16th-century defense that won against odds, a symbol of Hungarian heroic spirit. Eger Castle stands on a height of Eger's old city, the town's most important and fascinating historical landmark. Its most glorious, famous history is the 16th-century Siege of Eger—when the powerful Ottoman army came in force to besiege Eger Castle, the defenders and townspeople, though vastly outnumbered, under their commander's leadership and with the solid castle and brave resistance, miraculously repelled the enemy many times their number and defended the castle (this famous underdog victory is a moving chapter of Hungarian history, written into the famous historical novel "Eclipse of the Crescent Moon", known to all, becoming a symbol of Hungarian indomitable spirit; legend says defenders drank local red wine to boost morale, hence the legend of Bull's Blood wine). Through the years, this heroic castle is now a cluster of ancient ruins and a museum—visitors can explore ancient walls, bastions, and the history museum inside (exhibiting the castle's history, especially that famous defense), recalling that heroic history; from the castle's heights you can overlook Eger's beautiful Baroque small town of red-tiled roofs and the whole city. Visiting Eger, ascending the heroic Eger Castle, recalling that moving defense—unquestionably Eger's number-one attraction.