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Szigetvár is a charming little town (10.000 inhabitants) located 20 km from Magyarlukafa. It holds an important place in the Hungarian history because of its heroic defence against the Turkish advance in
1566. Zrínyi Miklós and 2,300 soldiers resisted for 34 days the siege of the fortress (Vár) by 80,000 Turkish soldiers. Zrínyi and 200 remaining men died in a final charge.
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The actual fortress is still largely the construction that was built by the Turks after the siege in the 16th century.
The fortress is surrounded by a large park that stretches far to the north. The park is partly protected as a nature reserve.
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In the town centre the most charming place is the Zrínyi Square (just a stone's throw from the fortress). At one side of the rectangular square we find the Saint Roch fountain
and the elegant baroque Saint Roch church that took its present form about 1780 after the conversion of the Turkish mosque dating from 1588.
At the other side of the square is a solid statue from 1878. It represents a lion that is trampling the Ottoman flag.
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From the Zrínyi square we turn into the József Attila Street in which stands the Vigadó (culture centre/concert hall) and in front of it we find a beautiful statue of Zrínyi Miklós.
The Vigadó was built according to the plans of Makovecsz Imre, one of the most important representatives of the organic architecture (Gaudí, Hundertwasser...).
Don't forget to look for the side and back of the building which are only visible from the side street between the Vigadó and the Zrínyi Square.
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Szigetvár also has a nice spa (gyógyfürdő) which is located at the east of the fortress. In the spa we can enjoy the warm water (62°) that rises from a depth of 800 m. The water is said to be beneficial for people suffering from rheumatism and osteoporosis.
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