The Republic of Hungary or Hungary (Magyarország), is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia. It is known locally as the Country of the Magyars.
In the time of the Roman Empire, the Romans called the region Pannonia (west from the Danube river). After Rome fell the Migration Period brought on many invaders. First came the Huns, who built up a powerful empire under Attila. The name "Hungary" may be influenced by the name of the Hun people, although it probably comes from the name of a later, 7th century turkic alliance called Onogur. After the Hunnish rule faded, Germanic tribes Lombards and Gepids ruled in Pannonia for about 100 years, during which the Slavic tribes also began migrating south. In the 560s, these were supplanted by the Avars who would maintain their supremacy of the land for over two centuries. The Franks under Charlemagne from the west and the Bulgars from the southeast finally managed to overthrow the Avars in the early 9th century. Soon after, the Franks retreated, and the Slavonic kingdom of Great Moravia and the Balaton Principality controlled much of Pannonia until the end of the century. Finally, the Magyars migrated to Hungary in the late 9th century.
Hungary's landscape consists mostly of the flat to rolling plains of the Carpathian Basin, with hills and lower mountains to the north along the Slovakian border (highest point: the Kékes at 1,014 m). Hungary is divided in two by its main waterway, the Danube (Duna); other large rivers include the Tisza and Dráva, while the western half contains Lake Balaton, a major body of water. The largest thermal lake in the world, Lake Hévíz (Hévíz Spa), is located in Hungary. The second largest lake in the Carpathian Basin (and probably the largest artificial lake in Europe) is Lake Theiss (Tisza-tó).
The culture of Hungary is rich and varied, from the twin cities of Buda and Pest on the Danube, to the Great Plain bordering Ukraine. Hungary today came from the Austro-hungarian empire. Hungary has great folk traditions, producing embroideries, pottery, decorated buildings, and carvings. Hungarian music ranges from the rhapsodies of Franz Liszt to Roma and folk music.
Hungary is well known for its water sports, e.g. swimming, canoeing, and water polo (despite its lack of large bodies of water). Many important mathematicians such as János Bolyai, Paul Erdős and John von Neumann were Hungarian. Hungarians are proud of their inventions such as the match, ballpoint pen, electronic railway engine, BASIC programming language and the theoretical background of the hydrogen bomb (independently of its questionable result).
Hungary has a great literature, with so many poets and writers, although not many are well known abroad due to the limited extent of the Hungarian language. Some noted authors include Sándor Márai and Imre Kertész, who have been gaining acclaim in recent decades. János Kodolányi was more known in the middle of the twentieth century in Italy and Finnland. Sándor Márai has a growing popularity nowadays in Europe. Imre Kertész won Nobel Prize in Literature in 2002. Péter Esterházy is known and popular in Austria and Germany.
Hungarian cuisine includes many pork and beef dishes, particularly goulash (a beef soup – gulya means a herd of cows, gulyás is like 'cowboy'), or a stew known in Hungarian as pörkölt. Dishes are often flavoured with paprika. Hungary also produces wine, including tokay from Tokaji.
Things you should know when travelling to Hungary
Street crime occurs during the tourist season and is occasionally violent. Pickpockets operate in crowded places, such as public transport, train stations, markets, and shopping centres. Theft of passports and currency also occurs. Remain vigilant in youth hostels, restaurants, bars, and other locations where money changes hands. Ask to see a menu where prices are clearly listed. Discussions regarding overcharging could lead to violence. Carry only small amounts of cash. Male travellers have been approached by young women in public areas with invitations to socialize. Some have fallen victim to criminal activity and been presented with very large bills for drinks and entertainment.
Carjackings and highway robberies occur. Drivers should be cautious when stopping at gas stations and highway parking areas, especially after dark. There are reports of individuals staging roadside emergencies (e.g., a smoking engine or flat tire) to persuade drivers to pull over. Thieves then remove personal belongings from the distracted driver's car.
Foreigners have been robbed by individuals posing as police officers. If approached, ask to see police credentials and offer to go to the police station.
Police routinely stop vehicles to check driver identification when searching for illegal immigrants. Travellers must have identification readily available. Carry your passport at all times. A photocopy is not acceptable.
