General Information
Venue and date
The Conference will be held in Centre of the Regional Committee of HAS (address: 7624 Pecs, Jurisics M. u. 44.) in Pecs at 24-30 May 2008. The Centre of the Regional Committee (CRC) is housed in the historic Villa Vasvery that was built in 1884. The building is situated in a beautiful park, whose highlights are the delicately ornamented southern faeade with rich colours of glazed Zsolnay majolica reliefs and the interiors decorated with Zsolnay ceramics. The well-equipped modern halls of the Villa Vasvery are an ideal venue for hosting conferences. The CRC also functions as the Guesthouse of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Information about Pecs
The city
Pecs is a wonderful city in the southern part of Hungary, one of the European Capitals of Culture in 2010. The city is the biggest trading centre of the region with excellent shopping facilities at a US and European level. Pecs is a sub-centre of diplomacy in Hungary: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Croatia and the United Kingdom have honorary consulates here.
Pecs is the capital of Baranya County in the region of Southern Transdanubia and has approximately 160,000 citizens. This city was founded two thousand years ago, therefore it is an important participant of both Hungarian and European history and culture and has a Mediterranean-like climate. Some places of the city center were choosen as a World Heritage Site in 2000 by UNESCO, because of its ancient Christian remains (3rd-4th century) from the Roman Empire's provincial town, called Sopianae.
Pecs is called an education town. The first Hungarian University was established in 1367, here (see University of Pecs). This town serves not only as scientific-educational but cultural, spiritual and economic center, as well. A visit to this awesome city will amaze you on its diverse collection of monuments and buildings from the Roman-, Ottoman- and Austro-Hungarian Empire, Hungarian Kingdom and of course from the republican era of Hungary.
How to get to Pecs?
If you chose either one of the major or directly the Hungarian Airlines (MALV) or low-cost airlines (Easyjet, Germanwings, Jet2, Ryanair or Wizzair), you are most likely to arrive at Budapest Airport. There is no local airport in Pecs, so visitors may either get here by train, coach or car. We strongly suggest not to choose coach just in the last resort. The trains called IC (from the word intercity) are at European quality level and faster than coaches.
Tensi Congress provides transfer-service for the guests arriving by plane!
Price is 60 EUR if you re alone in the car; 40 EUR if there are other passengers.
Getting to Pecs by car: if you intend to come to Pecs by car it is useful to plan the way using an online map application (only for origin-destination in Hungary).
Local transport
First you have to know where you would like to go and what to see in Pecs. In the second step it is also good to know to localize the required place using a map of Pecs.
The autobuses run efficient line routes throughout the city and are frequent enough in the daytime. The cost of a one-way journey ticket is. 260 HUF (1 Euro is approx. 250 HUF) (the ticket is cheaper when bought in advance from newsstands or at post office: 205 HUF).
An alternative traffic facility is the local taxi. The cheapest (reliable) choice would be Pannon Voln Taxi (72 333 333) or Euro Taxi. (72 777 777).
Check the local bus information and the timetable when you are already here in Pecs!
Car rentals are available in the city, and their services are provided with maximum satisfaction. Requirements are: (basically) a Passport, a valid Drivers License and a refundable deposit. Car rental companies in Pecs: Budget Rent a Car.
Weather in Pecs
Since the mediterranean air mass has a free passage to this area, the sub-mediterranean
climate is usually sunny and pleasant with warm summers and long autumns.
The daily temperature ranges from 15 to 20 Celsius degrees in May.
Light clothing is advisable and raincoat/umbrella may be useful.
VISA
The guests, who need a visa, should arrange the application separately, by your own. Information about visa is available at the Hungarian Embassy in your country.
INSURANCE
You should have an insurance for medical care, accident and damaged luggage. Please do not start your travel without an insurance!
CHANGE MONEY, CURRENCY
You can change money in the banks (generally open: Monday - Friday from 8 to 15:30) or in bigger hotels. Shopping can happen with credit cards.
Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF)
Exchange rate:
1USD ~ 200 HUF
1EUR ~ 250 HUF