Kaposvar

The intellectual, economic and tourist centre of Somogy County, Kaposvár offers a great variety of opportunities for free time activities: museums, galleries, theatres and baths with fun elements. Nearby Lake Deseda is a nature reserve.

The town is surrounded by the gentle slopes of Outer Somogy to the north and the forested hillsides of the Zselic to the south. It is an important interchange, but also has a considerable economic, commercial and cultural role in the life of the region.

In its early history Kaposvár was not a noteworthy settlement. The first significant event relating to the town dates back to 1061, when a Benedictine monastery was established in Zselicszentjakab, now located within the boundaries of the present city. The Romanesque remains of the abbey founded in 1061 are the oldest protected heritage of Kaposvár.

A castle was built in the 14th century in the swampy area surrounding Kaposvár and was destroyed following the Rákóczi Freedom Fights when the Habsburgs had many fortresses razed as a preventive military measure. Barely anything remains of the ruins.

Not the site of the old castle, but a slightly more elevated area to the north was chosen for the 18th-century rebuilding of the settlement. The number of important public buildings such as a pharmacy, a college, a county library and a town hall grew along with the increasing number of inhabitants. In 1750 the town became the seat of Somogy County.

Progress started in the first decade of the 20th century, following the purchase in 1896 by the municipality of a considerable area of land formerly belonging to the Esterházy estate. The plots provided the building sites of the National Casino, the Orphanage of the Hungarian Railway Company, the St Imre church and the Reformed church.

The population of the surrounding villages started to move into town at a greater speed following World War II. Regarding the number of its inhabitants, in 1990 Kaposvár became the second most populated city in Southern Transdanubia and was gaining further importance. It was given county rights in 1990 and became an episcopal seat in 1993. In the same year it won a János Hild Medal for the reconstruction of the city centre.

In 1950 the village of Kaposszentjakab, in 1970 Kaposfüred and Toponár, and in 1973 Töröcske were annexed to Kaposvár.

How to get there:
By railway, the settlement is served from Budapest, Dombóvár, Fonyód, Siófok, and Pécs. By bus, local Volán coaches serve Kaposvár from Pécs, Siófok, and Keszthely. By car, take Route 61 (east-west) or 67 (north-south).