Culture
Hungary's music is typified by traditional folk and the
classical music of world-renowned composers such as Liszt,
Dohnányi, Bartók, Kodály, and Rózsa.
The country also boasts many celebrated contemporary classical
composers, including György Ligeti, György Kurtág, Péter Eötvös and
Zoltán Jeney.
Throughout history, bathing and spa tourism plays a key role in
Hungary's culture.
There are around 450 public baths and 1,500 thermal springs in
Hungary, and thermal water is found in over 80% of the country. In
Budapest, spa culture has a 2,000 year history, with a rich supply
of thermal water.
Many baths are modernising facilities and expanding the services
offered, and around 50 of Budapest's 160 public baths are qualified
as spas, offering healing, balneal and physical therapy.
Food and drink
Food is central to Hungarian culture. Traditional dishes like
goulash are often flavoured with paprika, a Hungarian innovation,
or a sour cream called tejfölis that's used to soften flavours.
Fisherman's soup or halászlé is a mixture of several kinds of
poached fish, and is a famous dish. Desserts include dobos cake,
strudels and popular pastries such as perec and kifli.
Pálinka is a fruit brandy that's native to Hungary and comes in
many flavours, including apricot, cherry and plum (the most popular
flavour).
Beer accompanies many Hungarian dishes, from five main
breweries: Borsodi, Soproni, Arany Ászok, Kőbányai, and Dreher.
Hungary's territories are ideal for wine making, and there's a
greater choice of excellent wine year upon year. Hungary's main
products are elegant, full-bodied dry whites with good acidity.
Did you know?
László József Bíró was the Hungarian inventor of the ballpoint
pen, or biro, to which he gave his name.
Other Hungarian inventions include the Rubik's Cube, the krypton
electric bulb and BASIC, a pioneering computer programming
language.
| Capital |
Budapest |
| Official language |
Hungarian |
| Currency |
Forint |
| Time zone |
Central European Time |
| Accession to the EU |
1 May 2004 |
| Area |
93,030 sq km / 35,919 sq miles |
| Population |
10 million |
