Geographical region in Hungary, lying W of the R Danube and extending to the Hungarian Alps and S to the R Drava; occupies a third of Hungary; hilly and fertile region, noted for livestock and wine production.
| Transdanubia | |
| Hills near Ibafa, with Mecsek Mountains in the distant background | |
| Location | Győr-Moson-Sopron, Komárom-Esztergom, Fejér, Veszprém, Vas, Zala, Somogy, Tolna, Baranya, Pest counties, Hungary |
| Territory | 38,000 km² |
| Highest point | Írott-kő, Kőszeg Mountains |
| Lowest point | Danube river |
| Terrain | Mainly hilly, varied with mountains and plains |
Transdanubia (Hungarian: Dunántúl) is a traditional region of Hungary.
Administrative divisions
Traditional interpretation
The borders of Transdanubia are the Danube river (north and east), the Drava and Mura rivers (south) and the Foothills of the Alps roughly along the border between Hungary and Austria (west).
Transdanubia comprises the counties of Győr-Moson-Sopron, Komárom-Esztergom, Fejér, Veszprém, Vas, Zala, Somogy, Tolna, Baranya and the part of Pest that lies west of the Danube. (In the early Middle Ages the latter was nown as Pilis county.)
This article deals with Transdanubia in this geographical meaning.
EU regions
Transdanubia is a NUTS territorial unit in the European Union, consisting of Central Transdanubia, Western Transdanubia and Southern Transdanubia (see NUTS:HU).
Geography
The territory of the region is 38,000 km², and it comprises almost half of the whole territory of Hungary.
History
Historically the counties of Transdanubia were Moson, Győr, Sopron, Vas, Zala, Veszprém, Fejér, Komárom, Esztergom, Somogy, Tolna and Baranya.
Ancient history
Transdanubia has been populated since the Stone Age.
Middle Ages
In the Age of Migrations it was occupied by the Huns, Goths, Langobards, Gepids, Avars, Franks and the Slavic peoples.
Transdanubia has been one of the most important regions of Hungary since the 11th century. After the devastating Mongol invasion (see Mongol invasion of Europe) new castles were built, and King Béla IV of Hungary established a new royal capital at Buda, next to the Danube.
Early modern times
In the Ottoman era (16-17th centuries) the eastern and southern part of Transdanubia came under Turkish rule.
In 1686 the allied Habsburg, Polish and Bavarian army reconquered Buda and terminated the Ottoman rule.
Modern times
Under the Socialism (1948-1989) new industrial cities were built at Tatabánya, Dunaújváros, Ajka and Komló, and new industries and factories were established, for example Hungary's only atomic power plant at Paks. After the fall of Socialism, northern Transdanubia was more successful at adapting to the new economical situation than other parts of Hungary (except Budapest) and most of the foreign investment came here to help the radical economical renewal. On the other hand some rural regions remained impoverished, especially in Southern Transdanubia and along the River Drave.
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