Győr (US: /djɜːr, dʒɜːr/ DYUR, JUR,[6][7] Hungarian: [ɟøːr] ⓘ; German: Raab; names in other languages) is the main city of northwest Hungary, the capital of Győr-Moson-Sopron County and Western Transdanubia region, and – halfway between Budapest and Vienna – situated on one of the important roads of Central Europe.

They called the town Ara Bona "Good altar", later contracted to Arrabona, a name which was used until the eighth century.

Around 10 CE, the Roman army occupied the northern part of Western Hungary, which they called Pannonia.

Although the Roman Empire abandoned the area in the 4th century due to constant attacks by the tribes living to the east, the town remained inhabited.

After the disastrous battle of Mohács, Baron Tamás Nádasdy and Count György Cseszneky occupied the town for King Ferdinand I while John Zápolya also was attempting to annex it.

During the Ottoman occupation of present-day central and eastern Hungary[9] (1541 - late 17th century), Győr's commander Kristóf Lamberg thought it would be futile to try to defend the town from the Turkish army.

During rebuilding, the town was surrounded with a castle and a city wall designed by the leading Italian builders of the era.

The town changed in character during these years, with many new buildings built in Renaissance style, but the main square and the grid of streets remained.

In 1594, after the death of Count János Cseszneky, captain of Hungarian footsoldiers, the Ottoman army occupied the castle and the town.

[10] During the Turkish occupation the city was called Yanık Kala (burned place, as a reference to the enormous damages caused by the siege).

The town lost its importance in trade when the railway line between Budapest and Kanizsa superseded river traffic after 1861.

[citation needed] A 100-year-old Raba factory on the River Danube close to the historical centre is to be replaced by a new community called Városrét.

The ancient core of the city is Káptalan Hill at the confluence of three rivers: the Mosoni-Danube, Rába, and Rábca.

The local Municipal Assembly, elected at the 2024 local government elections, is made up of 23 members (1 Mayor, 16 Individual constituencies MEPs and 6 Compensation List MEPs) divided into this political parties and alliances:[22] List of City Mayors from 1990: The city is a national hub for rail and road traffic.

At the 1,734 km (1,077 mi) section of the Danube lies the port of Győr-Gönyű with its fully equipped 25 hectare serving terminal.