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Kaposvár (German Kopisch, Ruppertsberg, Ruppertsburg, Turkish Kapoşvar) is the capital of the county of Somogy in Hungary. It lies on both sides of the river Kapos. The distance to Budapest is about 186 km over the speedway M7 and the road 67; the distance to Pécs is 62 km on road 66.
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History
According to legend, the city was founded on seven hills like Rome. The area has been inhabited already 5000 years BCE. Around 400 BCE Celtic tribes inhabtied the area.
The city was first mentioned as Kapos in the founding document of the Episcopate of Pécs in 1009. The rectangular motte castle was reconstructed as a stone castle in the 15th century. The castle was destroyed in 1702 at the order of Leopold I.
The Ottomans occupied the city after a five-day siege in 1555. It was freed from ottoman rule in 1686.
In 1749 Kaposvár became the county seat. During the 1800s the city developed a lot, due to the importance of the railway line between Budapest and Zagreb. Kaposvár became an important industrial city.
In 1950 the village of Kaposszentjakab was annexed to the city; followed by Kaposfüred, Toponér and Töröcske in 1973.
In 1990 Kaposvár, as a city above 50.000 inhabitants, was elevated to the rank of city with county rights. Since 1993 it is an episcopal seat. The University of Kaposvár was founded on January 1, 2000.
Tourist sights
- Old county hall (neoclassical)
- Rippl-Rónai Museum
- Csiky Gergely Theatre
- Dorottya house (18th century)
- Vaszary Gallery (former Gallery of Somogy)
- St. Donat Chapel (Baroque, early 18th century)
- Ruins of Benedictine Monastery of Kaposszentjakab (Romanesque and Gothic)
- Golden Lion Pharmacy
- Former nunnery
Twin towns and partner towns
- Bath, United Kingdom (1989)
- Darkhan, Mongolia
- Glinde, Germany (1990)
- Koprivnica, Croatia (1995)
- Miercurea-Ciuc, Romania (1990)
- Rauma, Finland
- Saint-Sebastien-sur-Loire, France (2002)
- Schio, Italy (1990)
- Tver, Russia (1995)
- Villach, Austria
External Links
- Official website (http://www.kaposvar.hu/alap/menue.html)
- Link collection (http://kaposvar.lap.hu)
- History of the city (http://www.igm.hu/kaposvar/) (Hungarian)Template:Hungarian counties