:Vác

Vác is located {{convert|35|km|0|abbr=off}} north of Budapest on the eastern bank of the Danube river, below the bend where the river changes course and flows south. The town is seated at the foot of the Naszály Mountain in the foothills of the Carpathians.{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Vácz |volume=27 |page=837}}

Vác is a commercial center as well as a popular summer resort for citizens of Budapest. The Vác Cathedral, built 1761–1777, was modelled after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The episcopal palace houses a museum for Roman and medieval artifacts. The city is also known for its 18th-century arch of triumph and for its beautiful baroque city center.

Settlement in Vác dating as far back as the Roman Empire has been found. The origin of its name is debated. One hypothesis says that the name comes from a Hungarian tribal name "Vath".{{Cite web|url=http://www.vac.hu/vac_varos_tortenet_nevezetessegek_terkep.html|title=Vác - Várostörténet|website=www.vac.hu}}

It has been the seat of a Roman Catholic bishopric since the 11th century. Bishops from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Vác were influential within the Kingdom of Hungary, with many serving as chancellors or later becoming archbishops.

On 17 March 1241, due to the attack of Mongols the population was slaughtered and Mongols set up camp there.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o8hJgj5q5IEC&q=vac+mongol&pg=PA248|title=A Glorious Disaster: A.D. 1100 to 1300 : the Crusades : Blood, Valor, Iniquity, Reason, Faith|first=Ted|last=Byfield|date=June 27, 2008|publisher=Christian History Project|isbn=9780968987377|via=Google Books}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Kkm7cgT_xkC&q=v%C3%A1c+mongol&pg=PA349|title=The Two Cities: Medieval Europe, 1050-1320|first=Malcolm|last=Barber|date=June 27, 2004|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9780415174152|via=Google Books}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vEJNBqanT_8C&q=vac+mongol&pg=PA99|title=The Realm of St Stephen: A History of Medieval Hungary, 895-1526|first=Pál|last=Engel|date=July 22, 2005|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|isbn=9781850439776|via=Google Books}} After the departure of the Mongols, Vác was rebuilt and German colonists were invited to the town. The town was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1541. During the Habsburg monarchy's wars against the Ottomans, the Austrians won victories against the Turks at Vác in 1597 and in 1684. After the Great Turkish War, Vác was rebuilt and repopulated. This re-population was both spontaneous and planned. According to the Truce of Zsitvatörök, Habsburg control of the fortress at Vác (also known as Vacz) was maintained, and its repair was sanctioned.

During the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of 1848-49, the Honvédség routed the Austrian forces stationed in the city after a major battle (April 10, 1849); the Second Battle of Vác ended in Russian victory (July 17).

During World War II, Vác was captured on 8 December 1944 by Soviet troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front in the course of the Budapest Offensive.

• Hungarians : 94.9%
• Romani people : 1.3%
• Germans : 0.5%
• Romanians : 0.1%
• Slovaks : 0.5%
• Ukrainians : 0.1%
• Other/Undeclared: 4.5%

• Roman Catholic: 59.4%
• Greek Catholic: 0.7%
• Calvinist: 9.3%
• Lutheran: 3.1%
• Other denomination: 1.4%
• Non-religious: 14.4%
• Undeclared: 11.5%

According to the 1910 census,

the religious make-up of the

town was the following:

• Roman Catholic: 76.3%
• Jewish: 11.2%
• Calvinist: 8.3%
• Lutheran: 2.8%
• Other denomination: 1.4%

• Géza I, King of Hungary
• Tibor Gánti, theoretical biologist and biochemist
• Nat Nichols, componist, jazz pianist and missionary.

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Hungary}}

Vác is twinned with:{{cite web |title=Testvérvárosaink|url=http://www.vac.hu/vac/testvervaros.html|website=vac.hu|publisher=Vác|language=hu|access-date=2021-04-06}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• {{flagicon|FRA}} Deuil-la-Barre, France
• {{flagicon|GER}} Donaueschingen, Germany
• {{flagicon|SVK}} Dubnica nad Váhom, Slovakia
• {{flagicon|ISR}} Givatayim, Israel
• {{flagicon|FIN}} Järvenpää, Finland
• {{flagicon|ROU}} Odorheiu Secuiesc, Romania
• {{flagicon|CZE}} Otrokovice, Czech Republic
• {{flagicon|SVK}} Šahy, Slovakia
• {{flagicon|TUR}} Sarıyer, Turkey
• {{flagicon|UKR}} Tiachiv, Ukraine
• {{flagicon|POL}} Zawadzkie, Poland

{{div col end}}

Hegyes torony.jpg|The Sharpened Tower - single remaining tower of the Castle of Vác

Püspöki székesegyház (7513. számú műemlék).jpg|Dom - Cathedral of Vác. Built in early classicist style, it was the first iteration of this new architectural movement in Hungary.

Vac triumf.jpg|The Arc of Triumph built for Empress Maria Theresia's visit in 1764. It is the only arch of triumph in Hungary.

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Vác}}

{{Wikivoyage}}

{{AmCyc Poster|Waitzen}}

• {{cite CE1913 |first=Antal |last=Aldásy |wstitle=Diocese of Waitzen |volume=15 |short=x}}
• [http://www.vac.hu Official website]
• [http://www.vaconline.hu/ The newsportal]
• [http://www.vac.hu/index.php?page=webkamera Live webcam from the square]
• [http://www.terkepcentrum.hu/index.asp?go=map&mid=13&tid=24934 Map of Vác]
• [http://www.terkepcentrum.hu/index.asp?go=mapeu&rid=0&lx=0&ly=0&nz=2&z=500.0&cx=19.13724&cy=47.77641 Map of the surrounding area]
• [http://www.museum.hu/museum/index_hu.php?ID=554 Tragor Ignác Museum of Vác]
• [http://www.klvk.vac.hu/ Katona Lajos Town Library]
• [http://www.civertan.hu/legifoto/legifoto.php?page_level=802 Aerial photographs: Vác]
• [http://en.funiq.hu/vac Vác at funiq.hu]

{{Vác District}}

{{Pest County}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vac}}

Category:Populated places in Pest County

Category:Serb communities in Hungary