Sopron
Surrounded by the pine-covered Lövérek (an old Hungarian word meaning 'archers') Mountain and hillside vineyards producing excellent wines, this city on the Austrian frontier with its sub-alpine climate is the country's richest city in terms of monuments. Called Scarbantia in Roman times, it was an important station along the Amber road crossing Europe from north to south. Remains of statues and stonework, once decorating its superb forum, are on display at an exhibition entitled the Scarbantia Forum. An exhibition on local history occupies the floors of the Tűztorony ('Fire Tower') (1 Fő tér), which is the well known symbol of the city. A Benedictine church with a Baroque interior and Gothic ceiling, often referred to as 'the goat church' in the local dialect, served as a venue for coronations and the Hungarian Diet in the 17th century. It dominates the charming Baroque Fő tér. The Baroque Storno House with a corner balcony (8 Fő tér) is one of the country's most frequented museums, housing the rich collection of the Storno family (famous collectors of the age) and a local history exhibition. The Tábornok ('General's') House (7 Fő tér) used to be the residence of the mayors and military commanders of the city in the 17th century. 300 years older, the Fabricius House (6 Fő tér) is one of the city's most valuable secular monuments. Its furnishings reflect the genteel tastes of the 17th and 18th centuries. Its medieval basement houses a collection of Roman stonework including a Trias ensemble of statues that once decorated the Capitolium of Rome. Another exquisite example of Gothic architecture is the Gambrinus House (3 Fő tér). The Pharmacy House (2 Fő tér) collects the finest furnishings and rare pharmaceutical books of the historical pharmacies in Sopron. The Ursulan Church (2 Orsolya tér) is one of the most splendid neo-Gothic buildings of the 19th century, with a collection, including wood carvings and goldsmith work of Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Art in its oratory. In the middle of Orsolya tér stands an 18th-century well of the Virgin Mary. The arcaded late-Renaissance Lábasház ('House on Legs') (5 Orsolya tér) houses temporary exhibitions. A cosy wine shop was opened in the Caesar House (2 Hátsókapu utca), which can be recognised by the Renaissance balcony on the corner. Housing an exhibition showing the memorabilia of the Jewish community in Sopron, the medieval Old Synagogue (22 Új utca) was built in the late 13th century. 
The Eggenberg House (12 Szent György utca) was built in the late Renaissance of the 17th century style. Over its gate the coat of arms of the Brandenburgs and in its loggia courtyard that of Hohenzollerns can be seen. The 600 years old Gothic St. George Church (Szent György utca) was rebuilt in the Baroque style; the frescoes inside are from the 18th century. Templom ('Church') utca is the city's street of museums with valuable collections. The 13th-century medieval Káptalan ('Chapter') Hall (No 1), which used to belong first to the Franciscan, then to the Benedictine order, is a monument of exceptional value; its richly ornamented interior, statues and frescoes are unique in Hungary. The former Esterházy Palace (No 2) houses the Central Museum of Mining, detailing through working models, the history of mining and its manifestations in fine and the applied arts. The neighbouring 17th-centrury Esterházy Palace (No 4) holds a collection on the history of forestry, timber industry and geodesics. The National Lutheran Museum is housed in a pastor's home (No 12). The one-time merchant houses in Castle District surrounding the core of the town are now fashionable shops. The Szentlélek ('Holy Spirit') Church (Szentlélek utca), a Gothic masterpiece dating back to the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, is one of the most valuable monuments in the city. The country's only Bakery Museum (5 Bécsi utca) contains a baker's and a pastry cook's workshop, a baker's apartment, a bakery and a pastry shop. The Zettl-Langer Collection (11 Balfi út) consists of valuable memorabilia, including pieces of furniture from the period, special firearms and fine paintings. Erected 300 years ago, the ornate Két Mór ház ('House of the two Moors') (9 Szent Mihály utca) with its gate of twisted columns and eaves held by the figures of two Moors, is an outstanding example of what is called the middle class Baroque style. The Gothic 15th-century Church of St. Michael was built on Romanesque foundations. The ethnographic exhibition at 1 Deák Ferenc tér offers visitors a glimpse of the folklore of the old Sopron County and 23 different handicrafts. An ideal hiking destination and a habitat of various species of cyclamen, the Lövérek Hills, rising above the city, are part of the Sopron Nature Protection Area. The highest point is the 398-m Károly ('Charles') Peak, with a 23-m lookout facility giving a full panoramic view of the area. The popular Tómalom Baths are accessible by bus.
The surrounding areas also offer a number of tourist attractions. The imposing building of the Carmelite church and a monastery, with its fine Baroque steps, stands on a hill in the garden town of Sopronbánfalva.
The Fertő Region has been listed as a World Heritage site due to its natural and cultural heritage. Lake Fertő is part of the Fertő-Hanság National Park. The only resort area on the lake that is in Hungarian territory is Fertőrákos, famous for its quarry which resembles Egyptian rock temples. This Roman quarry provided stone for the construction of a large number of buildings in Sopron and Vienna. Today it is the scene of Cave Theatre performances in the summer. A spiral staircase leads to the top offering a full view of the lake.
