Tata

Called the 'town of waters', it was a favourite royal resort in the Middle Ages, a reminder of which is the castle on Öreg (Old) Lake. Today the castle houses within its walls the Kuny Domokos Museum, which traces the history of the region dating back to Roman times and displays a rich collection of archaeological finds and Tata pottery. An artificial ruin was built from the stones of the 12th-century Vértesszentkereszt Abbey in Hungary's first English park on the shore of Lake Cseke. The most famous of the water mills, once operated by the power of abundantly available water, is the Cifra Mill, the oldest monument of the town. The German Ethnographic Museum in the Nepomucenus Mill presents the artefacts and cultural heritage of the Germans of Hungary from the 17th century to the present day. The plaster replicas of ninety-six world-famous antique statues are on display at the Museum of Greco-Roman Replica Statues in a former synagogue. The Geological Museum and the surrounding nature protection area at the foot of the Calvary Hill are interesting features. Layers of rocks in the abandoned quarry have preserved fossilised shells of 170 million years ago as well as a fireplace of pre-historic man. Next to the Calvary Chapel with Stations of the Cross is the 45-m high Fellner Jakab lookout tower.

Kőszeg

Kőszeg is probably the only town in the world where the bells toll at 11 a.m. in celebration of a victory over the Turks, recalling the August of 1532, when - commanded by Captain Miklós Jurisics - Hungarian warriors, defending the Fortress of Kőszeg, withstood for 25 days the attacks of Turkish troops led by Sultan Suleiman, who was marching against Vienna.

The 13th-century fortress with four squat corner turrets emerged in its present shape after the fire of 1777. The largest bastion of the city wall is Öregtorony (Old Tower) or Zwinger. The Fortress Museum displays the firearms used during the siege of the fortress, Kőszeg's historical memorabilia and 18th-19th-century interiors.

Jurisich tér, one of Hungary's most beautiful town centres, is lined with exceptional architectural monuments. The Heroes' Gate, an impressive entrance to the square, was erected to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Turkish siege of Kőszeg; on the right is Lábasház, and nearly every house surrounding the square is a listed historical building. Memorabilia of guilds and the paraphernalia of local artisans and tradesmen, including watchmakers, butchers, comb-makers, honey-cake makers, locksmiths, barbers, weavers and photographers, are on display in the late-Renaissance Tábornok (General's) House. The Town Hall with its dazzling variety of architectural features ranging from 15th-century Gothic to Baroque, has been here for over 500 years. The ornate Sgraffitos House is a rarity in Hungary. The Golden Unicorn Pharmacy Museum with an upper floor houses the best items from a number of other lavishly furnished pharmacies and a collection of herbs. The Church of St. Imre is a building with a mixture of architectural styles. St. James Church is the town's oldest and finest monument, with a late-Gothic sanctuary and wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, a 15th-century masterpiece. The Heart of Jesus Parish Church is famous for its marvellous glass windows and wonderfully aspiring Gothic pillars.