Page 244 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Hungary

242  HUNGAR Y REGION B Y REGION KECSKEMÉ T  243

Street-by-Street: Around Kossuth tér . Synagogue
Abandoned in 1945
when Kecskemét’s remaining
At the heart of Kecskemét there are edifices of different Lutheran Church Jews were forced to flee the city,
Now hemmed in on three sides
eras, designs, religions and cultures. Few public squares by surrounding buildings, this glorious Baroque buil ding is
in Europe are surrounded by all of these: Roman this church was designed today known as the House of
Catholic, Franciscan, Calvinist and Jewish places of by Miklós Ybl (see p93), but Science and Technology. It
worship; fewer still are those with Art Nouveau built to a simplified S I has been converted into a
conference centre
plan in 1862–3.
masterpieces on all sides. Even the mo dern Inside stands a R Ő exhibiting replicas of
Aranyhomok Hotel – which would be little Romantic altar by K Ő Michelangelo
more than a dreary box in most city squares – József Gaál. G Y sculptures.
adds something to the eclectic Kecskemét N A
mix. Large enough to take the summer visitor
crowds with ease, the twin Kossuth and Mátyás
Szabadság squares bustle with life from Pharmacy
morning until late.
Great Catholic Church R A K O C Z I Ú T
Kecskemét’s pride, the Neo-Baroque tower
– topped with a small golden dome – can
be climbed for superb views of the city. K O H Á R Y K Ö R Ú T

Aranyhomok A R A N Y J . U T C A
Hotel K L A P K A U T C A
S Z A B A D S Á G T É R R . Ornamental Palace
S Z A B A D S Á G T É

Built as a private home
in 1902, and covered in
brightly coloured
K Á P O L N A U T C A
K Ö R Ú T
C S Á N Y I J .
arabesques, the Cifra
Palota hosts exhibitions
of the City Art Gallery.
K AL VIN
K OSSUTH TÉR
TÉR Calvinist
New College
This imposing
build ing from 1912 is
still a college today, but a
part is given over to an
exhibition of Calvinist
K E T T E M P L O M K O Z
ecclesiastical art and history.

Zoltán Kodály
. Town Hall Institute of Music
Bold in pink and yellow, this 0 metres 40 Education
masterpiece was erected in 1891,
when the Secessionist movement 0 yards 40
was in full swing.
Calvinist Church Franciscan Church
The Turks allowed this stone church While this is the oldest church
to be built in 1684, after a Catholic in the city, dating from the
Key mob had burned down a wooden 14th century, the Baroque
church during the Counter- tower and interior frescoes
Suggested route
Reformation in 1678. date from the 1790s.
For hotels and restaurants see pp264–269 and pp276–285

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