Zsolnay Cultural Quarter

The Zsolnay Cultural Quarter occupies the 19th-century factory complex of the famous Zsolnay porcelain manufactory, which was converted into a cultural hub during Pécs's year as European Capital of Culture in 2010. The complex includes several museums — a Zsolnay collection with the finest examples of the factory's Art Nouveau porcelain, a toy museum, and various galleries — as well as a university campus, workshop spaces, cafés, and a park.

The porcelain collection is the highlight: the Zsolnay pieces displayed here show the full range of the factory's production, from utilitarian tableware to the extraordinary Art Nouveau vases and decorative objects with the signature eosin glaze that made the factory internationally famous. The outdoor spaces are decorated with Zsolnay tile work, and the rooftop views over the city are among the best in Pécs. The complex is a 15-minute walk uphill from the town centre, or easily reached by bus.

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A story
The Zsolnay porcelain factory was founded in Pécs in 1853 by Miklós Zsolnay and reached its golden age under his son Vilmos in the 1880s–1900s. The factory developed a unique iridescent glaze called eosin — named for the rosy light of dawn — which produced a metallic luminescence unlike any other ceramic glaze in the world. Zsolnay tiles were used on the roof of the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest, the Vienna City Hall, and dozens of other major buildings. The original formula for the eosin glaze was kept secret for decades and is still partially proprietary.

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