Őriszentpéter
# Őriszentpéter

Őriszentpéter (Slovene: Šentpeter) is a town in Vas County, Hungary.

## Geography

The town extends on the hills of the region Őrség, where the river Zala flows through. Zala has its source about 10 kilometres (6 miles) away at Szalafő.

The town has an ancient szer structure. It consists of 9 szer: The central grain is at the river Zala: Városszer and Baksaszer, moreover the Alszer on the northern side. Also important are the Kovácsszer, Siskaszer, Templomszer, Keserűszer and Galambszer districts.

## History

The village of Őriszentpéter is first mentioned in chronicles from 1280. The inhabitants of the village were defenders of the border of Hungary on the west frontier. They were free people and served the king of Hungary as soldiers. They built their church in the 12th century. During the Turkish wars the religion changed and the Catholic Church became a Reformed church.

In the 17th century the leading aristocrats of west Hungary, the Batthyány family became the landowner of the region. Őriszentpéter remained a leading village in the vicinity. The building of the railway between Körmend and Muraszombat helped to develop the region. From 2005 it has city rank. Today is the capital of Őrség

After the collapse of the Iron Curtain, the greater traffic of tourism began because of the 3 border status between Austria, Slovenia and Hungary. The new railway in 2000 between Zalalövő and Őrihodos also developed the traffic between the three countries.

## Sightseeing

* Collection of the Őrség Museum
* Városszer reformed church
* Templomszer Roman Catholic Church (Romanesque style)
* Local old peasant houses
