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City of SzegedHistory of the townThe Tisza has lured human inhabitants to the Szeged region since the beginning of time. The oldest remnants of humans are from mammoth hunters, who settled in the area around 24000 BC. As the ice expanded southwards during the ice-age, the mammoth hunters drifted to warmer regions of the continent. The first archeological findings of human inhabitants go back to the new stone-age (5000 BC). This is about the time humans gave up nomad life and settled down. 1500 years later the people living here slowly started plowing the land and growing agricultural products. During the start of the bronze-age (1900 BC) new southern and eastern ethnical groups appeared. Later kurgans settled in the area, who created thousands of earth pyramids called Kunpiles in the area. The nomad Hungarian tribes conquered the area in 896 and established a state three times as big as it is today. Some remnants of the early settlements established around this time remained. The first mention of Szeged in public documents was in 1138. Due to it's favorable geographic location it was probably an important riverside trading post before then. Beside the transport of salt, raising of livestock, farming and fishing was also an important source of income. By the time a castle was erected on the settlement, Szeged was given the rank of free royal town (1246). With the country ravaged by internal conflict, with the western countries refusing help, the country faced a better prepared and a lot bigger Turkish army. No wonder that 2/3 of the country was conquered. The army of Ibrahim captured and plundered the castle of Szeged in September 28-29 of 1526. The area came under the rule of the Turks. Surprisingly the development of the city of Szeged did not halt for the next 25 years. It became the center for trade in the southern parts of the conquered country. The real decline of the city began in 1552 of February when 1500 Hungarian soldiers tried to recapture the castle. Since they did not have proper artillery for the job, they were unable to seize the castle. The soldiers were so angered by their inability to carry out their plan, that they started to plunder the city. The raiders were later defeated by Turkish reinforcement coming from Buda. The real losers of the battle were the residence of Szeged. Most Hungarians living in the city fled, who were replaced by Turkish and Serb immigrants. The population of the city dwindled to 1500 in a short amount of time. In October 23rd of 1686, with the help of the Austria forces, the city was recaptured. After the liberation of Szeged, it was from here that other attacks directed further south were coordinated. The country's situation did not really improve, since one occupant (the Turks) was replaced by another (Austrians). March 12th, 1879 brought Szeged's darkest hour- the Great Flood. Like most big cities Szeged was plagued by disease and fire but no one knew there was worse to come. It can be said that the coming catastrophe was also due to bad timing. Both the Tisza and the Maros river was bursting with extra water caused by the melting of snow up shore. Shortly after midnight (taking everybody by complete surprise) the dyke near the outskirts of Szeged gave way and literally washed the whole city away. Of the 70,000 people living in the city, 151 died that day. Only 265 houses remained standing, and 5458 were destroyed. It took four months for the water to dry up. Only after cleaning the rumble and pulling down Szeged's majestic castle could the reconstruction begin. The news of the disaster spread throughout Europe. Concerts and fund raisers where held all over the continent to help rebuild Szeged. After the fall of soviet reign, most of the big factories (like the rubber factory, the clothing factory and the match factory) slowly started to go bankrupt. Today the most important elements of the industry are oil refining, natural gas production, the Pick and Medikemia factory. Szeged has many prominent High Schools and a well-know university. More than 10 thousand students study at the University of Szeged. The university has the following faculties and colleges: College of Agriculture, College Faculty of Food Engineering, Juhász Gyula Teacher Training College, Conservatory of Music, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Law , Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science.Sights of SzegedSzechenyi squareOne of the most attractive and larges squares of Central Europe, The Szechenyi square shaded by tree rarities and adorned by sculptures of artistic works. On the side closer to the river Tisza one can see the Carrara white marble statue of Istvan Szechenyi. On the other side of the square in front of the City Hall are situated the symbolic groups of The Blessing and Devastating River Tisza made of bronze. Among the buildings around the square the Hotel Tisza is worth mentioning, which is a literary, historical and artistic memorial place visited by a number of writers, poets and composers in the past. On the western side of the square next to the City Hall stands the classical style Zsoter house bulit by Zsoter merchant family.The City HallThe neo-Baroque style City Hall is among the eclectic palaces embracing the Szechenyi square. Its foundation stone was laid down in 1799 designed and built by Istvan Vedres and Janos Schwortz. In 1883, it was redone after damaged by flood on the original foundation into a new one-storey building by Odon Lechner and Gyula Partos. The City Hall is connected with the "Bridge of Sighs", to the neighbouring council house, which was constructed for the King-days in 1883, when Franz Joseph took a visit in the city reconstructed after the great flood of 1879.Klauzal squareFrom Szechenyi square we arriveto Klauzál square through Karasz street which is the thoroughfare of Seged and decorated by the "Greetin" statues by Peter Parkanyi who welcomes visitors to the city, which radiates cheerful festival atmpsphere from early spring to late autumn. On the ground floor of the New Zsoter house situated around the square is the "Virag" Cake Shop, the favourite gathering place of Szeged citizens and visitors.New SynagogueWith a short walk through the Kigyo street departing from the Klauzal square we arrive to the monumental, Moorish, art nouveau style Synagogue. The closing stone of the altar was made of marble of Jerusalem and the door of the Ark of the Covenant was made of acacia from the Nile region keeping 18 torah scrolls inside.The Reok PalaceAt the corner of Tisza Lajos circuit and Kolcsey street is situated the Reok palace, a typical sample of the so called "Hungarian Jugendstill" designed and constructed by Ede Magyar in 1907. The designer, sho died at young age, spent his barely egint-year of working period in Szeged. He travelled across the essential artistic centres of Europe and returning home entrusted by Ivan Reok engineer, he designed the Reok Palace, using his experiences. The citizens of Szeged call the building simply "The Horse's Rump" because it stands beind an equestrian hussar statue erected in honour of the heroes fo the First World War.Dugonics squarePreceding the great flood of 1879 a wheat market was held in Dugonics square, where we find now the statue of the name giving Andras Dugonics, holding a book in his hands titled "Etelka", written by him as the firs Hungarian novel. This is the place, where Professor Antal Horger dismissed Attila Jozsef, the poet from the university for his poem "With all my heart" published in the Szeged Paper. The poet's bronz statue by Imre Varga is situated in the square, where a number of cultural events are held including craftsmen's fairs organized several times during years.The Square of the Arad MartyrsNames of the thirteen generals, who died marty deaths at Arad are listed on a marble plaque placed at the foot of the Memorial. In an attractive early eclectic building situated on the side from the direction of the River Tisza there is the world famous Bolyai Institute.The Cathedral and Cathedral squareIn its size, the Cathedral square is exactly the same as the Saint Mark Square in Venice, 12.000m2 and is the venue of the internationally known Szeged Open Air Festival, held first in 1931. and also houses the National Pantheon inspirited by Kuno Klebelsberg, the first Hungarian Minister of Religion and Education. The National Pantheon, placed under the arcades of the homogeneous northern European style, red clinker brick buildings includes the statues and low-reliefs of all the Hungarian eminencies of history, literature, arts and natural sciences. On the plaza stands the oldest historic monument of the city: the Saint Demetrius Tower. Its foundation is from the 11th Century, its lower, square-like Roman style part and its upper, early Gothic levels are from the 13th Century. Walking to the Cathedral square we can find several research institutions in the surrounding buildings including the biochemistry institute, shere in 1937. Albert Szent-Gyorgyi received Noble Prize for Medicine for his research work carried out here.Musical ClockOne of the specialities of the square is the musical clock as a symbol of mediaeval universities, built in the wall of the square's building opposite to the main entrance of the Cathedral. The clock, unique in Hungary is by Ferenc Csuri clockmaker and its figures are by Jozsef Kulai woodcarver. On the doors of the ornamented clock the eminencies of the university council come out and graduating students, walk around at every hour.Serbian ChurchOn the northern side of the Cathedral square is situated the Greek Orhodox Serbian Church. This beautiful Baroque construction was erected in honour of Saint Nicholas in 1778. The strongly articulated main parapet, the arched tympanum and the wall vases are worth attention. The Serbs came to Szeged first during the Turkish period in the 16th century and later in the 18th and 19th centureis. They played an important role in the commercial life of Szeged settling down mainly in the most ancient part of the town, in the Plank and in fewer number in Upper-town as well. The pope, living in the house opposite to the church is can show the church to inquirers all year round. The Somogy Library is also on the Cathedral square, housing Csongrad County Archives including the founder karoly somogyi's monumental book collection and the municipal library.Black HouseThe Szeged Academy Committe is located on the corner of Somogyi and Oskola streets, representing the most beautiful memento of classical style in Szeged, built under the designs by Jozsef Hild in 1868 and originally functioned as the first Hotel Hungaria of Szeged. Walking on the Somogy street we arrive to the Romantic English style Black House decorated with a corner balcony. It has got its name after its earlier dark grey colour. In 1857 it was originally constructed as a civic-commercial house, based on the desings by Karoly Gerster. Between 1860-1865 it housed the town centre casino, but for many decades it has been functioning as the exhibition venue for the historical department of the Ferenc Mora Museum, housing several temporary exhibitions.TiszaThe Tisza have its rise in the Eastern Carpatian mountains, where the two branches - White Tisza and Black Tisza - are united. In its Hungarian stretch, the river carries on mainly with a medium reach flow, which creates enormous bends and curves. The earlier great flood at Szeged on March 12, 1879. had several significant causes and that flood lead to eventually totally destroying the town. Today's modern town plan, with boulevards and avenues is the outcome of that great flood of the river Tisza. The river Tisza and the town are inseparable. From Spring to Autumn, the water and the riverbanks are poéulated by lovers of the river: fishermen, rowers and beach lovers. Fishermen's inns offer fish from the Tisza with their fish specialty dishes.StefaniaWe can take a rest under the shades of the trees of Stefania, named officilaly as the Castle Garden, located behind the Museum. Among the tree rarities we can find the castle ruins, the former Maria Theresa Gate.Hotel KassAt the meetin point of Dozsa Gyorgy street and Stefania Park stands the former Hotel Kass, constructed by the grandfather of the famous graphic artist Janos Kass in 1879. The building funcioned as a luxury-funished café, restaurant and hotel. During the economic recession the family sold the building to a joint stock company, which reopened the hotel in 1934. under the name of Hungaria. Hotel Kass closed its gates in 1977 and have not been opened ever since.Szeged National TheatreOpposite to the Hotel Kass can be seen the obtruding lovely building of the Szeged National Theatre, which just like the Budapest Vig Theatre was constructed by the famous Viennes theatre builder and designer company Hellmer and Fellner, in eclectic neo Baroque style. It was opened in 1883 and burned down in 1885, but a year later in 1886 it could open again. The theatre now provides performances in the genres of drama, opera and ballet.Grof PalaceAt the corner of Lajos Tisza Boulevard and Takarektar street we can find Grof Palace. Grof Palace - was named after Dr. Arpad Grof, who ordered the building, a citizen with a law degree without the everyday money problems, since he held several very important positions: he was the attorney general of the town and the head of the cabinet council, to mention just a couple. During the construction of the building, he formulated who he intends his palace for on the Lajos Tisza boulevard: for "modern professionals or officials at certain career level positions, who are well situated and able to afford high rent." The building was designed by Ferenc J. Raichl and was built between 1912-1913, completed in only 13 months. The building on the ground lot surrounded by three streets became a rather elegant, tree-storey structure. In creatin the building style, the architect combined the secessionist aspirations with the rich traditions of Hungarian and Eastern ornamental styles. The mass of the building is framed on two sides by slender towers, held up by two pillars, proudly supporting their carefully formed spires.The Church of AlsovarosLower city - in the center of the youngest and most modern city of the Southern Plains of Hungary, stands a 500 year-old group of buildings: Franciscan church and monastery. The church was built in several periods, likely using the materials of an earlier church building, to be completed in 1503. The master of the construction was porbably Frater Johannes, who was suspected to be the master in the great buildings in Visegrad, who built the Presbytarian church in Farkas street, Kolozsvar, as well as the Presbytarian and Minorite churches in Nyirbator. The patronal festival of the church of Alsovaros is the day of Snowy Blessed Virgin, so every year, thousands go to the church on August 5th, to pray for assistance and comfort. |
