Pécs and Baranya [antikvár]

"Its atmosphere, climate, beautiful and long-cultivated and very populous lands endear strangers at once to our county." (Mihály Haas: Baranya, 1845) Baranya county (it used to be called Baranyaság) is situated in a 1994 square mile (or 4,487 square kilometre) area in the south-east part of Transdanubia between the Danube and Drava rivers. e Mecsek region, the Hegyhát, the Völgység and the Zselic were important settlements even for nomadic and transient prehistoric peoples. Considering the richness of the archaeological findings, it can be supposed that the land of Baranya was densely and continuously inhabited from the Stone Age. Rich in minerals, energy sources, and thermal waters, the region is particularly attractive due to its submediterranian climate, and unique, rare vegetation. Its terrain is hilly and mountainous in the north and fiat in the south. The Mecsek rangé of small mountains, which extends across the middle of the county, rises from its neighbourhood like an island. It is connected to the Hegyhát to the north, the VéméndGeresd hilly country to the east, the Mecsekalja and Baranya hilly country to the south, and a part of the Zselic mountains to the west. The Villány mountains - with their 442m highest point, Szársomlyó - rise in the southern part of the county. The most fertile parts of Baranya can be found along the Danube river, south of Mohács, where the county boundary reaches across the Danube by the Mohács Island. yhe population of Baranya county exceeded 400,000 as at Ist January, 1991. Of this totál, 391,296 people declared themselves Hungarians, 14,055 Germán, 5,816 Gypsy, 5,429 Croatian, 326 Románián, 306 Serbian, 93 Slovakian, and 13 Slovenian. The inhabitants of the multi-national county foster their own cultures, traditions, and spiritual richness. Through our book, we would like to give the reader a look at the most beautiful regions of the county: sites of historical events, cities, towns, and villages where folk architecture is preserved and renewed. . yfie editors of this book would like their work to reinforce the identity of the originál inhabitants, and the album to serve as a picture guide to visitors to familiarise themselves with the beauty and colour of the Baranya area.