Page 247 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Hungary

THE GREA T PLAIN  245

Budapest. The city’s substantial
castle was built by St István
in 1075 but sacked first by the
Mongols, then by the Turks, so
that nothing remains of it today.
The most important historical
monument in the city now, a
short walk west of the centre, is
the Baroque Francis can church,
built in 1727–54. On the way
is the former synagogue at
Gyula Castle, almost intact after many years of Turkish rule Templom utca 2, a Seces sionist
building, restored in the 1950s.
of the event is based on Kossuth of Hungary’s best thermal bath Also worth a visit is the János
tér, a large pedestrianized complexes. The mansion also Damjanich Museum, north of
square. Here stands the large features an exhibi tion on every- the centre. Named after the
Secessionist Town Hall, whose day life – and life as a servant – in general who led the Hungarians
tower can be climbed. The a Hungarian mansion. to victory over the Habsburgs in
building next door (formerly a Another attraction is the the Battle of Szolnok in 1849, it
school) now houses the Alföld charming Százéves, Hungary’s exhibits folk art, archaeological
Gallery, which exhibits the second-oldest café, which items, and work by the Szolnok
work of Great Plain artists, for opened in 1840. Ferenc Erkel, Artists Colony.
example, József Koszta, Gyula who composed grand operas
Rudnay and Vilmos Aba-Novák. and the Hungarian national
The enormous New Calvinist anthem, was born in the house
church is impressive but a fair at Apor Vilmos tér 7. It now has
walk east along Andrássy utca. a small museum dedicated to
Opposite is a superb Secession- his life and work.
ist synagogue (1903), with an
exhibition dedicated to those
killed in the Holocaust. It often q Szolnok
hosts official com mem orative 100 km (59 miles) east of Budapest.
events on Holocaust Day.
Road Map E4. * 73,000. £ @ n
Tourinform, Hild J. tér 1, (56) 42 07 04.
0 Gyula Located where the river Zagyva
flows into the Tisza, Szolnok
15 km (9 miles) east of Békéscaba.
Road Map F4. * 31,000. £ from has long been the last obstacle The Baroque Franciscan Church, the oldest
Békéscsaba, Budapest. @ from Békés- for invaders on the road to building in Szolnok
csaba. n Tourinform, Kossuth Lajos
utca 7, (66) 56 16 80. _ Gyula Castle Hungarian Calvinism
Open-Air Theatre Festival (Jul, Aug).
Calvinism flourished in eastern Hungary and in Transylvania from
At one time Scythians, Huns and the second half of the 16th century to around 1700. Preaching to
Avars all passed through the a public that considered Catholicism the religion of the Habsburgs,
area around the present town and therefore foreign, a great number of reformers were active in
of Gyula, but a settle ment called Hungary before the Reformation movements of Martin Luther and
Gyulamono stora was first ment- John Calvin. The Turks actively encouraged the Reformation as a
ioned in 1313. The impressive bulwark against Catholicism, and the Hungarian Reformed Church
castle, which miraculously quickly became the largest in central Europe. Calvinism rejected
consubstantiation, and had a theocratic view of the state, popular
survives almost intact, was built with Hun garians under
in the 14th–15th centuries. Taken Turkish rule. When the
by the Turks in 1566, it stayed Turks were finally expelled
under their control for 130 years. in 1699, the Habs burgs
The castle is the city’s leading confiscated Calvinist
sight, and it dominates the property. This Counter-
sprawling park that makes central Reformation bred resent-
Gyula so pleasant a place. Visitors ment, and was a major
can clamber over its walls and factor in the creation in the
climb the lookout tower, or in 18th century of a national
summer enjoy a concert in the independence move ment,
court yard. Also in the park is the both in eastern Hungary The Calvinist College in Debrecen, founded
beautifully restored 18th-century and in Transylvania. in 1538
Almásy Mansion, which has one

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