BARANYA

megye (county), southern Hungary, bounded to the south by the Drava River, and by the Mecsek Mountains in its northwestern area. Its area of 1,732 square miles (4,487 square km) is hilly, forested terrain. With adjacent Somogy megye, it is the most sparsely populated part of Hungary. The climate is semi-Mediterranean, and peaches, plums, sour cherries, grains, and vegetables are grown. Pigs and poultry are raised. Wines from the Villnykvesd district are well-known. The Mecsek Mountains are quarried for building stone, limestone, and marls for industrial use. Although Pcs (q.v.) is the megye seat, it is a county-level city, administratively independent of Baranya. Koml, 8 miles (13 km) north of Pcs, is a planned coal-mining town with a full range of social services; its collieries have considerably expanded since World War II. Szigetvr is the site of a 16th-century fortress. In 1566 the Hungarian defenders of the fort blew themselves and the fort up rather than surrender to the Turks. At Sikls is a 13th-century castle with a fine Gothic and Renaissance interior. Pop. (1989 est.) 434,000.