Eger is a real gem of a town situated in Northern Hungary. It is a historic town that can be traced back to the 10th century. It became an episcopal seat in 1009 and was already guarded over by a significant fort as early as in the 14th-15th centuries. It was one of the ultimate strongholds against the Ottoman forces advancing forward to capture Hungary. In 1552 its handful of defenders dealt the huge Turkish army a heavy blow. Forty years later, however, the forces of the Ottoman Empire eventually succeeded in capturing the fort and from then on Turks inhabited Eger for more than 90 years. It was in this period that the town operated as a considerable administrative center for the Turks. In the 18th century the liberated town was once again in its golden age, during which most of its Baroque buildings, still standing today, were built and it experienced a spectacular cultural boom. Elementary and high schools were founded, museums were built, and astronomers, jurists, theologists, professors and artists made the town their home. Besides the historical monuments and cultural achievements, its famous wine and hot thermal springs attract many visitors to this day.