The Bombs of World War II Revealed Sopron’s Roman Origins…

… With Scarbantia’s inner walls reappearing behind the rubble

Ruins of the walled city of Scarbantia were exposed by the bombs of WW II [All the photographs are owned by the author. Not to be used without permission]

I have been to Budapest on quite a few occasions. I have explored the Hungarian capital and the adjoining areas in great detail. Besides, I have also traveled to a few other cities in this beautiful, landlocked country. Debrecen, Szeged, and Pécs are decent additions to a traveler’s repertoire but not necessarily destinations that merit a repeat visit.

As such, while planning another trip to Hungary, the idea was to venture into uncharted territory. I had never been to the western part of the country, and it didn’t take long to decide. The town of Sopron, on the border with Austria, became my preferred base for the three-day trip. For starters, it was easy to access.

Second, a little bit of research indicated that language was not going to be an issue. My vocabulary in Hungarian is restricted to a little over 100 words and phrases, and English doesn’t help much outside Budapest. Sopron was a part of the mighty Austro-Hungarian Empire, and many Germans settled in the town in the early 20th century. The city has since retained its German-speaking heritage.

With accessibility and communication taken care of, I had no other expectations. What are your expectations of a…