Vác

Vác
Town

Vác Cathedral

Coat of arms
Logo
Vác
Location of Vác
Vác
Vác (Europe)
Coordinates: 47°46′31″N 19°07′52″E / 47.77518°N 19.13102°E / 47.77518; 19.13102Coordinates: 47°46′31″N 19°07′52″E / 47.77518°N 19.13102°E / 47.77518; 19.13102
Country  Hungary
County Pest
District Vác
Area
 • Total 61.60 km2 (23.78 sq mi)
Population (2013)
 • Total 33,475
 • Density 543/km2 (1,410/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code 2600
Area code(s) 27

Vác (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈvaːt͡s]; German: Waitzen; Slovak: Vacov; Yiddish: ווייצען‎) is a town in Pest county in Hungary with approximately 35,000 inhabitants. The archaic spelling of the name is Vácz.

Location

Vác is located 35 kilometres (22 miles) north of Budapest on the eastern bank of the Danube river, below the bend where the river changes course and flows south. The town is seated at the foot of the Naszály Mountain in the foothills of the Carpathians.[1]

Modern Vác

Vác is a commercial center as well as a popular summer resort for citizens of Budapest. The cathedral, built 1761–1777, was modelled after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.[1] The episcopal palace houses a museum for Roman and medieval artifacts.[1] The city is also known for its 18th-century arch of triumph and for its beautiful baroque city center.

History

Settlement in Vác dating as far back as the Roman Empire has been found.

It has been the seat of a Roman Catholic bishopric since the 11th century.[1] Bishops from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Vác were influential within the Kingdom of Hungary, with many serving as chancellors or later becoming archbishops.

On 17 March 1241, due to the attack of Mongols the whole population was slaughtered, Vác ceased to exist and Mongols set up camp there.[2][3][4] After the departure of the Mongols Vác was rebuilt and inhabited by German colonists.[5]

The town was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1541. During the Habsburg Monarchy's wars against the Ottomans, the Austrians won victories against the Turks at Vác in 1597 and in 1684.[1]

During the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of 1848-49, the Honvédség routed the Austrian forces stationed in the city after a major battle (April 10, 1849); the Second Battle of Vác ended in Russian victory (July 17).

During World War II, Vác was captured on 8 December 1944 by Soviet troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front in the course of the Budapest Offensive.

See also:

Demographics

Ethnicity

Religious denomination

According to the 1910 census, the religious make-up of the town was the following:

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Vác is a twinned with:[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 public domain Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Vácz". Encyclopædia Britannica. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 837.
  2. ↑ A Glorious Disaster: A.D. 1100 to 1300: The Crusades: Blood, Valor, Iniquity ... - Ted Byfield - Google Boeken
  3. ↑ The Two Cities: Medieval Europe, 1050-1320 - Malcolm Barber - Google Boeken
  4. ↑ Realm of St. Stephen: A History of Medieval Hungary - Pál Engel - Google Boeken
  5. ↑ Vác.hu új
  6. ↑ Vác testvervaros
  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: A. Aldásy (1913). "Diocese of Waitzen". In Herbermann, Charles. Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton.
  • Official website of town
  • The newsportal
  • Live webcam from the square (The yellow building in the background is the town hall)
  • Map of Vác
  • Map of the surrounding area
  • Tragor Ignác Museum of Vác
  • Katona Lajos Town Library
  • Aerial photographs: Vác
  • Vác at funiq.hu
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