Paks brings together insights into technology, Makovecz architecture, exhibitions about the Danube and recurring wine festivals. When looking for accommodation in Paks, you can consider whether to focus your stay more on museums and local history, architecture and views, or a festival date. These themes offer different starting points for planning your trip.
Hands-on technology and an overview
At the Atomenergetikai MĂşzeum, visitors can try out a radiation protection portal, a dosimeter and a screw-cutting machine. They can also learn about numerous systems used in the primary and secondary circuits. Practical insights and technical exhibits are presented side by side, making the museum a possible highlight for anyone interested in how technology works.
Groups must register in advance; guided tours are available. Check the current visitor arrangements before you arrive. Advance registration is required for group visits.
Church architecture and views of the Danube
The Szentlélek Templom on Hősök tere is a Roman Catholic church designed by Imre Makovecz. It is considered an outstanding work of 20th-century organic architecture. Paks thus offers a specific architectural point of interest: here, the architect’s name, the building’s function and its place within an architectural movement can all be considered together.
The Gárdonyi kilátó offers a different perspective on the city, with views of the Danube and four churches in Paks. The viewpoint complements an exploration of the architecture with a panorama of the city and river, without requiring a particular walking route.
The Danube’s history and the town museum
The Dunatár exhibition at the Paksi Városi Múzeum explores the relationship between the Danube and its people through ten themes. Examples include obtaining food, floodplain farming and washing clothes in the Danube. These themes draw attention to specific activities and aspects of life along the river, not just its significance as a landscape feature.
Another exhibition at the museum is the permanent exhibition “Paks történetének tanúi,” which opened in 1995. Together with the Dunatár exhibition, it offers two different perspectives: the history of Paks and the connection between the river and human life. The exhibitions therefore provide distinct places to visit for anyone wishing to explore the town and the influence of the Danube on it.
Sárgödör tér and the wine festivals
Sárgödör tér is a small cellar district in the heart of Paks’s old town. The plum-pit-shaped square is surrounded by 66 historic winepress houses. At its center, above the cellars, is a garden planted with annual flowers native to Hungary. The square’s distinctive shape, the winepress houses and the garden together define this place.
The Országos Sillerfesztivál is held annually at Sárgödör tér. The focus is on Siller wine, Kolbászos vekni, and food and drink from local producers. The Gastroblues Fesztivál takes place every July and combines rock, blues and jazz concerts with a wine lovers’ gathering and a cooking competition. Dates and programs may vary from year to year, so check the information for the relevant year before your trip.
A destination in the wider region
In Dunakömlőd, in the wider region around Paks, is Lussonium, a restored Roman ruin garden. The site was a station on the Pannonian section of the Roman frontier system along the Danube. Guided tours can be requested from the Városi Múzeum. Check the museum for current seasonal access information before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Németkér, Gerjen, Dunaföldvár, Bikács.
For the overview of the wider region: Paksi.
