People come, take some photos, and after a little relaxation, they leave. This is how modern mass tourism can be described. This is not necessarily bad, but we cannot settle for this approach in the Archdiocese of Veszprém. We want more than that. We do not hide the fact, that the activities of the Archiepiscopal Tourist Centre must also be in line with the main goal of the church, the spreading of the Good News.
We subordinate everything to this goal, and all our tourism services are designed with this purpose in mind. Naturally, while keeping spiritual needs as our top priority, we strive to provide the highest standard of hospitality to tourists, pilgrims, and visitors alike. Indeed, the Archdiocese of Veszprém offers numerous opportunities for those seeking relaxation. Just consider the natural beauty of the Balaton Uplands or the architectural masterpieces of the built environment. Among these, Veszprém Castle stands out, with its renovation set to be completed in the near future; however, the exhibitions at St. Michael’s Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Gizella Chapel, the St. George Chapel, and the Biró-Giczey House are already open to visitors.
We warmly welcome tourists to our Masses, guided castle tours, and organ concerts, and visitors can also admire the view of the city of Veszprém from the statues of St. Stephen and Blessed Gisela. All of this takes place in a setting where Christianity has been present for over a thousand years.
Dr. György Udvardy
Archbishop of Veszprém
