In southwestern Hungary lies the ancient town of Pécs. The area has been inhabited for at least 6,000 years, first by Celts, then by Romans who established several wine-producing colonies there collectively called Sopianae in the early 2nd century A.D. The area came under the rule of the Avars, the Slavs, the Holy Roman Empire (under Charlemagne) and the Magyars; in 1367, King Louis Nagy (“the Great”) founded Hungary’s first university here. In the 16th century the Ottomans captured Pécs; eventually it was liberated and became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A more peaceful era for the city began in the early 18th century, during which time additional universities were founded there, as well as the country’s first public library. The city was fortunate to suffer little damage during either of the World Wars, and its multicultural history is on full view. Sights include the Roman Necropolis of Sopianae (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the 11th-century Cathedral, the 12th-century Bishop’s Palace, the 14th-century university, the 16th-century Mosques of Gazi Qasim Pasha Djami and Jakovali Hassan, the 19th-century Kossuth Ter Synagogue, and the downtown area with medieval, baroque, classical, rococo and Art Nouveau houses—as well as a large variety of museums and gardens.