Attractions at Agria Park

History

In the historic downtown of Eger—where the market square was once the center of community life, and then, for more than 100 years, the tobacco factory provided a livelihood for hundreds of families—the Agria Park Shopping Center, which opened in the spring of 2008, is now reviving the diversity and bustle of the market square. The designers and builders strove to ensure that the building evokes this atmosphere, while also keeping in mind that the shopping center should be a worthy successor to the tobacco factory buildings that stood on this site since 1896. The end result is a blend of the new and the old—a building and garden complex that is unique even by European standards.

Agria Park welcomes shoppers with air-conditioned interior spaces and retail stores featuring numerous global brands; thanks to the wide range of services offered on-site, shoppers can also take care of their daily errands right within the complex during their shopping trip. There are also numerous opportunities for leisure: in addition to a three-screen multiplex movie theater, a fitness center spanning over 600 m², and the country’s first mall library, Agria Park strives to engage with local and regional cultural life and event series through ongoing promotions and a variety of cultural programs.

In addition to shopping and leisure, this multi-story complex also offers visitors a unique experience. With its modern exterior and functional interior spaces, the building provides an environment suitable for both shopping and active recreation for small and large groups alike, while also inviting visitors to take a stroll down memory lane. Upon entering Agria Park, you can admire the imposing water tower of the former tobacco factory and the wrought-iron columns of the former factory grounds, take a stroll through the park with its ancient trees, and relax by the restored Zsolnay fountain. In addition, you can enjoy the diverse culinary offerings and have pleasant conversations in the cafés and pastry shops.

Attractions at Agria Park

Agria Park is not only a shopping center but also home to Eger’s industrial heritage. Within the park, visitors can see the historic water tower of the former Hungarian Royal Tobacco Factory, built in 1896, as well as the unique Zsolnay Fountain, which evokes one of the iconic symbols of both the city and the tobacco factory. These historic buildings and works of art, set amid the ancient trees of Agria Park, continue to preserve a piece of Eger’s past in their original setting.

Water Tower

The water tower of the Hungarian Royal Tobacco Factory was built in 1896 along with the factory’s other buildings and supplied water to the factory’s facilities until 1936. The water flowed by gravity through a cast-iron pipe from the springs in the Tagos dűlő area on the northern slope of Várhegy into the tower. The water tank was fed by a pump located in a 27-meter-deep well at the old fairgrounds next to the tower; the pump’s drive mechanism and the well house itself are of historical and technical interest. Factory workers also drank this crystal-clear water. The water tower was renovated several times, and after privatization, it was restored according to the original plans as part of the factory’s general reconstruction.

Zsolnay Ornamental Fountain

The ornamental fountain was created based on the designs of sculptor György Kungl, who won a competition held for the centennial celebrations of the Eger Tobacco Factory in 1996, marking its 100th anniversary. This one-of-a-kind, timeless work, covered in Zsolnay glaze, depicts one of Eger’s landmarks: the famous water tower of the Tobacco Factory. Its base is surrounded by brown tobacco leaves, and tobacco smoke billows from the top. During the construction of the shopping center, the fountain was carefully wrapped and preserved; now it is on display for everyone to see in its original location, the historic park with its ancient trees.

Achievements

In 2009, the shopping center received one of the most prestigious domestic construction industry awards, the Construction Industry Excellence Award. That same year, WING Zrt., the developer of the building, received a special award from the Hungarian chapter of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) for the shopping center. The complex was also named Shopping Center of the Year at the CNBC Arabia European Real Estate Awards in 2009, and had previously been selected as Europe’s best shopping center by the international trade journal CIJ. In 2025, Agria Park achieved a BREEAM "Very Good" certification in the retail category.

Obtaining BREEAM In-Use certification is an important validation of the philosophy that sustainability is not merely tied to individual developments or investments, but is an integral part of day-to-day operations. The certification process evaluates areas such as energy and water consumption, waste management, building operations, transportation options, and the comfort and well-being of occupants. The “Very Good” rating indicates that Agria Park’s operations meet high standards based on the sustainability criteria evaluated and that it implements conscious, environmentally responsible solutions in numerous areas.