Velem is a village in Vas county, Hungary. The village is situated on the slopes of

Kőszeg Mountains The Kőszeg Mountains , sometimes called the Guns or Güns Mountains (german: Günser Gebirge, hu, Kőszegi-hegység), are a mountain range in the Alpokalja area, the easternmost region of the Alps. The territory of the range is shared between A ...

, at the westernmost tip of the county and the region known as

Alpokalja Alpokalja (English "feet of the Alps") is a geographic region in western Hungary. Its highest point is Írott-kő at 882 metres above sea level. Although there are several lower mountains, the majority of the territory is hilly. Fir forests are c ...

(Lower Alps). Velem is notable for its picturesque environment and healthy climate.

History

Velem was first mentioned in records in 1279. One of the notable archaeological sights of Central Europe can be found on St. Vid Hill above the village. The church on the top of the hill can be seen from several kilometers away. Owing to the excellent climatic conditions, Velem has become a well-known resort and holiday centre with full infrastructure. In the village there is a ''House of Crafts'' preserving the tradition of local folk arts. At the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

the Szálasi Government was based in a prominent Velem mansion called the Stirling Villa. The

Holy Crown of Hungary The Holy Crown of Hungary ( hu, Szent Korona; sh, Kruna svetoga Stjepana; la, Sacra Corona; sk, Svätoštefanská koruna , la, Sacra Corona), also known as the Crown of Saint Stephen, named in honour of Saint Stephen I of Hungary, was the c ...

was preserved and safeguarded there between 29 December 1944 and 19 March 1945. Today the Stirling Villa is a venue for seminars and conferences while the House of Crafts next door hosts workshops where traditional and almost forgotten crafts can be learnt from experienced

craftsmen Craftsman may refer to: A profession *Artisan, a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative * Master craftsman, an artisan who has achieved such a standard that he may establish his own workshop and take ...

. Preserving traditions is an organic part of this village where wooden barns stand among houses mainly built of stone and

vernacular A vernacular or vernacular language is in contrast with a "standard language". It refers to the language or dialect that is spoken by people that are inhabiting a particular country or region. The vernacular is typically the native language, n ...

wine press A winepress is a device used to extract juice from crushed grapes during wine making. There are a number of different styles of presses that are used by wine makers but their overall functionality is the same. Each style of press exerts contro ...

es with cellars dotted along the Pákó Stream (Pákó-patak). There is a still operational

water mill A watermill or water mill is a mill that uses hydropower. It is a structure that uses a water wheel or water turbine to drive a mechanical process such as milling (grinding), rolling, or hammering. Such processes are needed in the production ...

situated near the village. The starting point of the national 'blue'

tourist route A scenic route, tourist road, tourist route, tourist drive, holiday route, theme route, or scenic byway is a specially designated road or waterway that travels through an area of natural or cultural beauty. It often passes by scenic viewpoint ...

is in Velem. The village is situated on the grounds of ''Írottkő Nature Park'' with a bicycle route crossing the village. The most frequently visited local event is the Chestnut Feast (''Gesztenyeünnep'') in October every year.

Archaeology

Velem and its surroundings were already inhabited in the

Neolithic The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, is an Old World archaeological period and the final division of the Stone Age. It saw the Neolithic Revolution, a wide-ranging set of developments that appear to have arisen independently in several p ...

. The remains of a

Bronze Age The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second prin ...

fortified settlement dating from the 16th century BC have also been excavated. The settlement controlled a significant trade route passing through the mountains. Due to the copper and antimony found nearby, a metal processing and metalworking centre of outstanding importance was formed besides the fortification. One of the most spectacular results of the excavations is a gold diadem dating from the 14th-9th centuries BC, during the

Urnfield culture The Urnfield culture ( 1300 BC – 750 BC) was a late Bronze Age culture of Central Europe, often divided into several local cultures within a broader Urnfield tradition. The name comes from the custom of cremating the dead and p ...

period. Further excavations have been carried out since 1973 by staff at the Savaria Museum, in which, in addition to the citadel, residential buildings on the terraces on the east and south sides of the mountain have been excavated.

Notable residents

Mari Törőcsik Mari Törőcsik (born Marián Törőcsik; 23 November 1935 – 16 April 2021) was a Hungarian stage and film actress. She appeared in more than 170 films from 1956 to 2020. She won the award for Best Actress at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival ...

, a major Hungarian actress.

Gyula Maár Gyula Maár (2 August 1934 – 20 December 2013) was a Hungarian film director and screenwriter. He directed 25 films between 1966 and 2007. His 1975 film, '' Mrs. Dery Where Are You?'' won the award for Best Actress (Mari Törőcsik) at ...

, a noted film director and husband of Mari Törőcsik.

References

External links

Street map (Hungarian)

A blog about the water mill (Hungarian)
{{authority control Populated places in Vas County