Heves megyei aprónyomtatványok 19/J

Felsőtárkány lies in the picturesque Tárkány Basin, at the foot of the Bükk Mountains, 12 kilometres from Eger, along the north-eastern border of Heves County. The settlement was First mentioned in a written document in 1261 as Oltarkan and Feltarkan. In the 14th and 15th centuries the settlement consisted of two independent villages, Alsótárkány and Felsőtárkány. Between 1330 and 1335, Carthusian monks moved into the monastery built in Felsőtárkány. After 1526 the TUrks destroyed Medieval Felsőtárkány, which was never inhabited again. In 1552, Alsótárkány was also completely destroyed by the Turks. However, this part of the settlement was repopulated after 1577. Between 1634 and the mid-20th century, the village was in the possession of the Church. In 1634, the village was inhabited by serfs, and it was around this time that its name - Felsőtárkány - became final. Around 1750, Bishop Barkóczy had the Fourcontrast Palace and a monastery for Nazarenian monks built here. The ruins of the monastery are still visible on Barátrét, in the northern part of the village.

The Tárkány Basin is situated between Várhegy and Őrhegy, at 180 to 340 metres above sea level. The village was built on hard argillaceous soil in a hilly country, lmókő Brook flows through the village. The soil is of dolo- mitic nature, the local brooks are fed by the springs in the area. The most important temporary springs are lmókő and Vöröskő. Szikla forrás used to be the major permanent water source of the village, feeding the lake established in the 1920s.

The village is embraced by the Bükk Mountains, the highest peaks of which border Bükk Plateau from

the south. The outskirts of Felsőtárkány are 90% covered with forests. A major section of the area of the village is part of the Bükk National Park, which is extraordinarily rich in plants and plant combinations. Several hundred extremely rare species grow here: one of them is Boldogasszony papucsa, which can be seen in the coat-of-arms of the village. Beech- trees and oak trees are predominant in the forests of the area. The forests, giving home to signiFicant forestry and game-breeding, are also rich in game.

The economic life of the village has long been determined by the presence of vast forests as well as natural resources. As a result of the shortage of arable land suitable for farming, the inhabitants of the village have always been involved in activities connected with the forest and wood. The inhabitants used to make a living primarily by wood-felling and cutting, wood transportation, lime-burning and charcoal-burning. Lime, dolomite and slate were mined in the quarries around Felsőtárkány. During the 18th century, marble was also mined here which was then used in the churches in the nearby villages. Nowadays all these traditional jobs are overshadowed by more modern ones. However, some families still deal with lime-burning and charcoal-burning.

The marble used for the altar of the late Baroque Roman Catholic Church comes from the local quarry. The building, now a protected historical monument, was erected by Francz József, a master mason from Eger, at the request of the Bishop of Eger, Esz- terházy between 1785 and 1790. The altars were constructed by Giacomo and Giovanni Adami by 1793, while the statues and sculptures were manufactured by Mozer József, stonemason. The patron saint of the church is Holy Mary Magdalene.

The settlement is a typical village situated on the banks of a brook: with a cluster of houses in the western part and a row of cellars running from the centre to the north. The population of Felsőtárkány has been increasing recently, a phenomenon due to the natural environment and the closeness of Eger.

ORDER OF MASSES:

Saturdays 5.30 p.m.

Sundays 10.30 a.m.

Felsőtárkány is a palóc village. Unfortunately, only a few people wear the traditional national costumes these days. A traditionalist cultural group has been set up to revive the customs of the past and to present them to tourists as well.

Due to its excellent location at the entrance to the Bükk Mountains, Felsőtárkány is of utmost tourist interest. Therefore efforts have been made to safeguard and increase its tourist potential. The primary attraction of the settlement is its natural environment. Tourists visiting the region are welcomed by comfortable hostels and restaurants.

Social and free-time activities are organised all year round.

The free-time activities provided by the village include organised and individual events: tours in the nearby forests, mountain biking and horse-riding. Residential accommodation as well as hotel rooms or hostels may be arranged on request. The village also provides a camping site for those interested in spending their time in the fresh air. The Felsőtárkány Forest Railway going through the forest is of special interest for visitors. The outstanding and traditional events held in Felsőtárkány are regularly attended by delegations from sister-settlements. The May Day celebrations, the Felsőtárkány Pilgrimage as well as the events of Saint Stephen Festival, organised around the lake and often attended by thousands of people every year, have become integral parts of the social and cultural calendar of the region.