Interview with Mr. Gyula Porga, Mayor, City of Veszprém

08 May Interview with Mr. Gyula Porga, Mayor, City of Veszprém

Veszprém, one of Hungary’s oldest cities, has played a crucial role in the country’s history and culture. With its deep-rooted traditions, architectural treasures, and strategic location, the city remains a vital part of Hungary’s national identity. How does Veszprém balance preserving its historical heritage while modernizing and growing as a 21st-century city? 

We see Veszprém’s rich history as the foundation for its future. From its beginnings, the city has been a center of religion, education and public administration—values that continue to define us today. Our goal is to preserve this identity while shaping a future that remains true to our heritage.

Being named the European Capital of Culture 2023 was a significant achievement for Veszprém, leading to increased investments in creative industries, cultural programs and tourism. This designation has positioned the city as a major cultural hub in Central Europe. Can you share what led to this recognition and the changes the city has undergone in recent years?

The European Capital of Culture initiative is one of the EU’s most successful efforts, highlighting culture as a powerful force that both unites and distinguishes member states. Cities that truly embrace its purpose can use it as a tool for building stronger communities, cities, and regions. With so many towns in Hungary and Europe, standing out is key. What made Veszprém’s European Capital of Culture program unique—even in the initiative’s history—was its regional scope, involving 117 municipalities across the Lake Balaton and Bakony Hills region. From the bid to the project’s completion, all remained united, which is rare and remarkable. Unlike other cities that focused on massive new infrastructure, we chose to sustainably renovate existing, underused buildings—reviving them with meaningful, lasting cultural content for our citizens. One of our key infrastructure projects was transforming an abandoned early 20th-century children’s hospital into ActiCity Veszprém—a vibrant center for dance and movement. Located near the university, it now hosts fully booked spaces for ballet and sports groups. The project also helped open up the previously fenced-off campus, connecting it to the city. Together with the university, we renovated educational buildings, added underground parking, and created new green spaces with playgrounds and sports facilities. In the city center, an old Balaton furniture factory site—empty for nearly two decades—was transformed into an open-air concert venue called Factory’ard. Originally planned as a temporary space for 2023, its huge success, with artists like Iggy Pop and Kraftwerk, led to public demand for it to stay. It’s still active today and expected to remain. Another project turned an abandoned cultural center into a state-of-the-art digital museum, featuring cutting-edge projection technology comparable to venues in Tokyo or Paris. The museum now collaborates with local universities to produce educational and creative content.

What steps is the city taking to promote itself as a tourist destination, and what potential do you see in this?

Veszprém enjoys a unique location—just 8 km from Lake Balaton, one of Central Europe’s largest freshwater lakes, and minutes from the Bakony Hills. To avoid being a purely seasonal destination, the city, lake and surrounding region must collaborate to offer year-round attractions for all ages and demographics. Beyond its proximity to Lake Balaton and seasonal summer attractions, Veszprém offers rich religious and historical tourism. Our medieval castle houses one of Hungary’s oldest churches and the Archdiocese of Veszprém—making it a key cultural and spiritual destination, especially when beach weather isn’t ideal. We also take pride in our vibrant cultural life. Veszprém is home to three theaters, including a puppet theater for children, and several renowned galleries that host European and international exhibitions. As a UNESCO City of Music since 2019, we organize several multi-day music festivals each summer, from classical to pop, aiming to encourage visitors to stay overnight and truly experience the city’s atmosphere. Our zoo attracts around 400,000 visitors annually, and while our closeness to Budapest and Lake Balaton can lead to short daytrips, our focus is on creating extended events and experiences that turn quick visits into multi-day stays.

Real estate in Budapest has become a challenge in recent years, both for renting and buying. Is Veszprém facing the same issue or with the restoration of older buildings, is it easier to buy or rent here?

Veszprém, like many European cities close to Budapest, is seeing rising real estate prices, approaching those of the capital, which are significantly higher than the national average. One of our long-term goals is to become one of Europe’s top 20 most livable cities, with high-quality services and public security. However, this also means higher living costs, which will be a challenge for the city and beyond. Our city’s strategy focuses on supporting two key demographics: young people just starting out after university and high school, and pensioners facing financial challenges. We have active programs to assist both groups. Most real estate in Veszprém is privately owned, with few municipal flats, which presents a future challenge we need to address.

What new industries are emerging in Veszprém, and how do you see the city’s business and industrial growth?

The automotive industry remains a key driver of Veszprém’s economy, with major multinational companies, primarily serving the German automotive sector. What sets Veszprém apart is the presence of these companies, not only in manufacturing but also in research and development. Many of these companies have strong partnerships with the University of Pannonia, which produces a steady stream of engineering and IT graduates ready to join the workforce. As a result, Veszprém’s unemployment rate remains below 2%, indicating that the labor market is operating at full capacity. The IT sector is gaining momentum in Veszprém, with a growing number of small and medium-sized Hungarian and local companies. The University of Pannonia offers AI courses, which are becoming increasingly popular. This aligns with Veszprém’s rich history and educational foundation, fostering strong cooperation between major economic players and the university. This collaboration is helping the workforce adapt to modern technologies like IT, AI and the automotive industry. As the European Capital of Culture in 2023, Veszprém, alongside Lake Balaton, the Bakony Hills and the university, is developing a long-term strategy to make the region a creative industry hub for Hungary.

Digitalization and sustainability are key topics today. Veszprém is focusing on smart grids and eco-friendly initiatives. Can you share more about the city’s approach to digitalization and sustainability?

In 2011, Veszprém developed a climate strategy that won an EU award the same year. Last year, the city adopted a carbon-neutral strategy, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel use. A major achievement was the complete replacement of the city’s bus fleet in 2022, transitioning from one of Hungary’s oldest fleets to new MAN buses, including 11 fully electric ones. Veszprém was also one of the first Hungarian cities to implement a 100% electric public bike system. Additionally, the city upgraded its public lighting to LED fixtures, reducing light pollution and cutting electricity costs. One of Veszprém’s next goals is to implement a water retention strategy. With climate change causing more erratic rainfall patterns—long dry spells followed by heavy downpours—the city’s study revealed that 90% of rainfall flows through without being used. To address this, Veszprém aims to become a ‘sponge city,’ creating a system to capture and store rainwater for use in irrigating parks and green spaces.

Are there any specific projects currently underway that you can share? If not, what are the plans for the next 5 to 10 years for a city with such rich cultural and industrial heritage?

One of my most positive ambitions is for peace to return to Europe. Achieving peace would create a more stable economic environment, which has been disrupted by recent conflicts. We have seen the effects: soaring energy prices, cost of living crisis and inflation. If peace is restored, it would allow us to focus on future improvements for our citizens and countries.

What is your final message for the readers of USA TODAY?

The 20th century was dominated by large industrial cities, but I hope the 21st century will be the era of mid-sized towns.