Veszprém is one of the oldest towns in Hungary, perched on a series of hills above the Séd valley, about 15 kilometres north of Lake Balaton. The Castle District along the hilltop ridge is the main attraction — a single atmospheric street lined with baroque palaces, churches, and the foundations of a medieval royal palace. The views from the castle walls over the surrounding hills are excellent, with the best of them from the Elizabeth Look-out at the end of the ridge.
The town was the seat of Hungary's first bishopric, and St. Michael's Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace still dominate the skyline. The Saint Stephen Viaduct, a graceful multi-arched bridge spanning the valley, connects the old town to the modern centre below. Veszprém makes a good base for exploring the northern shore of Lake Balaton and the Bakony hills behind it — the Herend porcelain factory, one of Europe's finest, is just 15 minutes away.