Most of Veszprém's main sights are clustered along Vár utca, the street that runs the length of the city's small, but lovely Castle District.
Housed inside the 18th-century canon's house, the Queen Gizella Museum, Vár u. 35, has a fine collection of religious (Roman Catholic) art. Admission is 300 Ft ($1.60/85p) for adults, and 150 Ft (80¢/45p) for students. It is open daily from 10am to 5pm, May 1 through October 15.
At Vár u. 16, the vaulted Gizella Chapel, named for King Stephen's wife, was unearthed during the construction of the adjoining Bishop's Palace in the 18th century. Today, it houses a modest collection of ecclesiastical art, but is best known for the 13th-century frescoes that, in various states of restoration, decorate its walls. Admission is 200 Ft ($1.10/55p) for adults, 100 Ft (55¢/30p) for students. It is open Tuesday through Sunday 10am to 5pm from May 2 through October 15.
For a wonderful view of the surrounding Bakony region, climb the steps to the narrow observation deck at the top of the Fire Tower at Óváros tér. Though the foundations of the tower are medieval, the structure itself was built in the early 19th century. Enter via the courtyard of Vár u. 9, behind Óváros tér. Admission is 300 Ft ($1.60/85p) for adults, 250 Ft ($1.35/70p) for students. It is open daily from 10am to 6pm, March 15 through September 30.
In addition to Roman relics uncovered in the surrounding area, the Laczkó Dezso Museum (tel. 88/564-310), near Megyeház tér, features local folk exhibits (art, costumes, tools, utensils, and so on). There are also exhibits about the legendary highwaymen of the region, celebrated figures from 19th-century Bakony who share some characteristics with the legendary outlaws of the American West. Admission is 670 Ft ($3.60/£1.90) for adults and 340 Ft ($1.83/96p) for children. From mid-March through October 14, it is open 10am to 6pm, otherwise noon to 4pm. To get to the museum, walk directly south from Szabadság tér, where the old and new towns converge.
The Veszprém Zoo (Kittenberger Kálmán Növény és Vadaspark) is located at Kittenberger u. 15 (tel. 88/566-140). It's open daily in summer 9am to 6pm until September 30, and in winter daily from 9am to 4pm until the end of February. Admission is 1,100 Ft ($5.95/£3.15) for adults, 750 Ft ($4.05/£2.15) for children. The zoo is set in a small wooded valley at the edge of the city center and boasts 550 animals from 130 species.
