city with county status and seat of Zala megye (county), western Hungary. It lies on the right bank of the Zala River. The town was of medieval origin and was a frontier fort in Hungary's wars with Turkey (16th–17th century). It was never occupied by the Turks. It was still a village when it was designated a county seat in 1730. It was given municipal rights in 1885. The city's notable buildings include the Göcsej Museum, with a rich historical and ethnographic collection; the twin-spired Baroque parish church (1750–60); and the County Council House Chapel (1761–77). The open-air Göcsej Village Museum is on the banks of the Zala River. (Göcsej is a nearby region noted for the peculiarities of its dialect and folklore.) The museum, a popular tourist attraction, displays more than 30 buildings, including timber houses, stables, and a water mill. Zalaegerszeg has varied industry, including the manufacture of furniture, tile, and clothing, as well as meatpacking. Pop. (2001) 61,654.