At the northeast corner of Óváros Square, next to the City Hall building, there is a secluded little courtyard with a statue of a girl in the centre, ceaselessly pouring water from her pitcher. She is the Girl with a Jug, or as the locals nicknamed her, Zsuzsi. From behind Zsuzsi, we can also enjoy a glimpse of the Bakony Hills. But if we let our gaze fall below the horizon for a bit, we will immediately spot a steep, winding staircase. These are none other than the Siege Steps.
The name might suggest that perhaps this was once the route taken by the invading armies to the castle of Veszprém, on their way to fight the heroic defenders of the castle. The true history of the stairs does not include any such battles, however. In fact, it was only given its current moniker in the early 20th century, in 1907 to be precise. Previously, it was called the Barracks Steps. That name was given to it in the 19th century, when a famous Hussar regiment was stationed here. The Hussars used these steps daily, but many other people from Veszprém also trekked the 65 steps up and down every day. This is no wonder, as many families of craftsmen lived in the shadow of the Castle. Masons, tailors, shoemakers, bookbinders and even piano tuners settled here. Many of them used to walk up these steep steps to what is now Óváros Square, which was once a classic, bustling open-air market. Naturally, the steep staircase also offers opportunities to pause and take a rest here and there. In fact, there are five such opportunities: places where you can blow off some steam and gather your strength as you make your way from the quiet banks of the Séd, near the bottom of the Siege Steps, up to the still bustling and colourful Óváros Square.
