EGER, the capital of the county of Heves in Hungary, is situated near the eastern foot-hills of the Matra mountains, on the river Eger, a tributary of the Tisza. As the see of an arch bishopric since 1814 it contains numerous ecclesiastical buildings and is known as "the Hungarian Rome." The cathedral in Italian style dates from 1831-34, but the ruined mosque and a Greek church indicate both the course of the history of the town and its situation near a religious frontier. The bishopric dated from Iola and, as one of the richest in Hungary, was responsible for much of the early importance of the town which, in 1552, attracted the attention of the Turks who, after a long resistance, occupied it from 1596-1687. Its present activities are chiefly concerned with the preparation of Erlauer wine from the Matra vineyards, with milling, soap and candle-making and the preparation of tobacco besides the usual work of an agricultural market-centre. The beautiful surroundings of the town are in harmony with its many fine ecclesiastical and municipal buildings, notably, in addition to those mentioned above, the observatory, lyceum and town-hall. Pop. ,