The Zsolnay Quarter might just be the most beautiful gem of Pécs. One of the most important developments that took place as part of the European Capital of Culture programme was the renovation of the listed Zsolnay factory buildings, which had become dilapidated and for the most part unused.
The unique Zsolnay collection of over 600 pieces by László Gyugyi, a Hungarian-born artist living in the United States, presents an unparalleled selection of ceramics from the Historicism and Art Nouveau periods.
László Gyugyi, an engineer, emigrated to the United States as a young man, where he built a career and began to indulge his passion for collecting decorative ceramics from the golden age of the Zsolnay Factory. At auctions in New York, London, Paris and Vienna, he acquired objects that had been auctioned off by clients and art collectors who were delighted by the success of the 1878 Paris World Exhibition. László Gyugyi bequeathed half of his collection of over 600 pieces to the city of Pécs as a gift. The villa, which is now part of the private collection, was the residence of Júlia Zsolnay and her husband, the architect Tádé Sikorski, a Polish nobleman.
Various cultural and educational organisations have been relocated here, creating an active Cultural Quarter and recreational area. The Zsolnay Quarter receives several hundreds of thousands of visitors over an almost five-hectare area supplied with an informative visitors’ centre, a parking lot, academic community spaces and a vibrating cultural life. Besides permanent exhibitions the Pyrogranite court provides a perfect place for festivals and outdoor performances.
The E78 building can also be found here, a concert hall and conference room equipped with modern facilities, which was named after the former E78 factory building. The building of the Art Faculty of Pécs and its library, located in an old kiln, are both spectacular pieces of architecture. The Street of Artisans’ Shops includes a handicrafts shop, a live candy manufacture, a chocholate store, a café and a restaurant.
Opening hours changes:
All exhibitions and venues will be open from Monday to Sunday 10am to 6pm from 1 July to 31 August.
The only exception is the Space exhibition, which will remain open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm.
How to get there
From the Main Railway Station and from the bus stop of the Fairgrounds you can reach it by buses 4 and 4Y, and then get off at the Zsolnay Quarter stop. Parking is available in the parking lot of the Zsolnay Quarter.
| Monday: | 06:00 - 22:00 |
| Tuesday: | 06:00 - 22:00 |
| Wednesday: | 06:00 - 22:00 |
| Thursday: | 06:00 - 22:00 |
| Friday: | 06:00 - 22:00 |
| Saturday: | 06:00 - 22:00 |
| Sunday: | 06:00 - 22:00 |
