| Vác | |
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| Vác Cathedral | |
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Vác
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Hungary |
| County | Pest |
| Area | |
| • Total | 61.63 km2 (23.8 sq mi) |
| Population (2008) | |
| • Total | 33,223 |
| • Density | 539/km2 (1,396/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 2600 |
| Area code(s) | 27 |
Vác (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈvaːts], Slovak: Vacov) is a town in Pest county in Hungary with approximately 35,000 inhabitants. The archaic spellings of the name are Vacz and Vacs.
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Vác is located 34 kilometres north of Budapest on the eastern bank of the Danube river, below the bend where the river changes course and flows south. The town is seated at the foot of the Naszály Mountain on the outskirts of the Carpathians.
Vác is a commercial center as well as a popular summer resort for citizens of Budapest. The cathedral, built 1761–1777, was modelled after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The episcopal palace houses a museum for Roman and medieval artifacts. The city is also known for its 18th century arch of triumph and for its beautiful baroque city center.
Settlement in Vác dating as far back as the Roman Empire has been found.
Bishops from the diocese were influential within the Kingdom of Hungary, with many serving as chancellors or later becoming archbishops.
The town was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1541. During the Habsburg Monarchy's wars against the Ottomans, the Austrians won victories against the Turks at Vác in 1597 and in 1684.
During the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of 1848-49, the Honvédség routed the Austrian forces stationed in the city after a major battle (April 10, 1849); the Second Battle of Vác ended in Russian victory (July 17).
See also:
According to the 1910 census, the religious make-up of the town was the following:
Vác is a twinned with:ranscar Tyachiv (Transcarpathian region, Ukraine)