Hungary perfect location for meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions

The enormous Danube flows through ten countries from the Black Forest in Germany to the Black Sea. It is 2850 km long and is Hungary’s most important river. The 417 km stretch in Hungary first flows from west to east then takes a sharp bend from north to south through the Hungarian landscape. 

Apart from being an important international shipping route, boat trips are a favourite with tourists. The sharp Danube Bend is one of Hungary’s natural beauty spots. This is the name of the 40-60 km stretch from Esztergom to Budapest and has been designated in the cultural landscape category of UNESCO’s world heritage list.

One of Hungary’s most beautiful natural attractions

Surrounded by varied and hilly countryside, the region also contains beautifully maintained forest parks, wild nature reserves and natural rarities. The resorts along the river shore, the islands, water and winter sports opportunities, together form a natural attraction for visitors. The region is accessible by public highway, railway and of course by boat. The islands can be reached by ferry and by bridge.

The Danube Bend is the scene of significant, epoch-making events in Hungarian history. The most important settlements (Szentendre, Vác, Visegrád and Esztergom) were built in different styles and represent the Baroque, Renaissance and Hungarian Romanesque periods. These places had distinguished roles in the history of Hungary. This is why they have a special part in Hungarian tourism.

King St. Stephen I was born in Esztergom, was crowned there in the year 1000 and this was the capital of the country.  Today as the seat of the Archbishop of Esztergom, it is the centre of the Hungarian Roman Catholic Church; the most significant church archives are to be found there. The basilica at Esztergom is one of the largest in Europe and also the tallest building in the country. There are small meeting halls in the town but few hotels. A bridge connects the town with Párkány in Slovakia on the other side of the river. There is a great deal of tourism in Esztergom all year round, many school outings and visitors from Budapest come for the day.

Milestone memories of Hungarian history

Visegrád is most famous for its castle built in the 1200s and the ruins of the Royal Palace built on top of it. This settlement was the capital of the country at one time too. The famous meeting of kings in 1335 took place here and was one of mediaeval Europe’s most important events. In memory of this, it was here in 1991 that the post-communist central European countries formed their alliance of mutual cooperation, the Visegrád Four.

Vác is a settlement on the left bank of the Danube. In the past the first railway line from Budapest led there. It is renowned for the XVIIIth century mummies and beautifully painted tombs discovered in the cellar under the Fehérek Church where they had been forgotten. In world terms the discovery is unique; the mummies were conserved in unbelievably good condition due to the environment created by the cellar. It is a festival town and famous far and wide for one of its patisseries…

In Szentendre the curving, narrow little streets and steps going up alleyways, make for a very special atmosphere. It can be reached in barely half an hour from Budapest and is therefore a popular place for outings. The settlement was created by Greek and Serb immigrants; today artists, traders and restaurateurs abound. There are numerous unusual museums, collections and not least the Szentendre Outdoor Ethnographic Museum (Skanzen) in the little town. This museum is Hungary’s largest outdoor collection and through the permanent exhibition, occasional celebrations and events, we can get acquainted with the lifestyle of traditional Hungarian villages, folk architecture and crafts practised in the past. There is a railway within the museum area. It is an excellent place for organizing unique events.

Excellent location for incentive trips

From the point of view of MICE, the Danube Bend is an ideal location for incentive trips and small meetings. It is near enough yet far enough from Budapest, the starting point of most participants. The splendid and inspiring environment guarantees calm working conditions and exciting tours and programmes.