Sopron is a historic city in northwestern Hungary, just a few kilometres from the Austrian border. Its old town is remarkably intact — one of the best-preserved medieval city centres in Hungary — with a horseshoe of medieval and Baroque streets circling the old Roman settlement of Scarbantia. The Firewatch Tower, rising from the Roman city gate, has become the symbol of the city.
Sopron's Austrian proximity has given it a particular character: the town voted in a 1921 referendum to remain part of Hungary rather than join Austria, earning it the title "Most Loyal Town." The medieval Fő Tér (Main Square), flanked by the Goat Church and surrounded by Gothic and Baroque burgher houses, is the heart of any visit. The Roman Remains of Scarbantia are visible under the square itself. The cross-border shopping and wine trade have historically made Sopron prosperous. The surrounding hills produce excellent wines, particularly Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch) red wines from the Sopron wine region. Nearby, Fertő Lake — shared with Austria as the Neusiedlersee — is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Central Europe's great birdwatching destinations. The medieval core is compact and easily explored on foot.