Pápa, the jewel box of Transdanubia – where the stories of Baroque streets unfold before us

• Presentation of the city of Pápa in Transdanubia
• Blue-Dyeing Museum, Castle Garden Baths and Synagogue
• weekend program ideas combined with excursions

The heart of the city is the Baroque Main Square: ornate façades, rows of buildings nestled close together, church towers, cobblestone pavements – a real journey through time. It is worth starting your day here: have a coffee in one of the cafés on the square and just watch the city wake up.

As we set off in the historic city center, the small streets and connecting alleys naturally guide our walk. 

A few steps from the main square is the Blue-Dyeing Museum (Kékfestő Múzeum), where you can learn about a tradition that is still alive today. Blue dyeing is not just a textile technique, but also stories, family workshops, and knowledge preserved by hand. In Hungary’s only blue-dyeing museum, old printing blocks, various floral patterns, and fabrics remind us how closely slow, meticulous physical labor was once tied to everyday life. What makes this museum special is that it does not display tradition behind glass cases, but rather surrounds us: this activity could be started up again in the building even today. The power of the exhibition lies in bringing tradition within tangible reach.

The Pannonia Reformata Museum and Café, located on the main square, takes a modern approach to Reformed heritage. In addition to the interactive exhibitions, the Egyptian collection, which is built around a donated mummy, deserves special attention – it is a surprising and exciting counterpoint to the urban environment of Transdanubia.

The Esterházy Castle in Pápa impresses not with its monumentality, but with the fact that visiting its exhibitions brings us extremely close to the past. In the renovated rooms, we can imagine how life once unfolded here: guests arrived, salon conversations took place, celebrations and everyday moments alternated. During the guided tour in Baroque costumes, we can forget about the modern world.

One of Pápa’s important cultural heritage sites is the Synagogue, which now serves as an exhibition space. The unique acoustics, the play of light in the interior, and the quiet presence of communal memory all create a sacred atmosphere.

Bonus: Petőfi House is located a few streets away. This is the place where the poet stayed in 1841. It is actually just a small room in the network of Hungarian literary history – but it is still worth taking a look.

If you want to end your city walk with a relaxing experience, head to the Castle Garden Baths (Várkertfürdő)! Here you will find medicinal pools, peaceful relaxation areas, and a well-equipped sauna world. The children’s playground in the neighboring Castle Garden is an ideal stop for families, and the spirit of the Esterházy family’s former park can still be felt among the trees.

The area around Pápa is perfect for day trips: within half an hour, you can reach several distinctive yet peaceful destinations, while also passing through part of the beautiful Bakony Mountains. Magyarpolány is a tidy, charming Swabian village with a beautiful church and calvary, where the village itself is an experience. The Esterházy mausoleum is located in Ganna, where members of the Esterházy family are laid to rest – writer Péter Esterházy was also buried here in 2016. The Szarvaskő Castle, built in the 14th century, towers over Döbrönte, offering a view of the surrounding area that makes the trip complete.

“As far as accommodation is concerned, active travelers should definitely try the five-star Thermal Camping Site (Termálkemping) in Pápa! For those who want a classic hotel, I recommend the beautiful rooms at Villa Classica”, says Andrea Vonnák.