Heves megyei aprónyomtatványok 23/C
The battle of 1552 was not important only in the history of Hungary but in that of Europe too, because the heroic struggle of István Dobó and his 2000 soldiers - proving the love of their country - stopped the expansion of the Ottoman Realm. Due to this victory Eger becomes the symbol of Hungarian patriotism. The reader of our days gets nearer to this event by the novel by Géza Gárdonyi „The Stars of Eger”. This book has been translated into 19 languages. The memory of the great author is cherished in his home which is a memorial museum now. We should also like to draw your attention to the Picture Gallery, and Casemates ( a system of underground corridors ), the old Mint and the Hospital Cellar, which has been converted into an archery ground. One gets the most beautiful view of Eger from the Castle walls which can be walked round. Last but not least, concerning Eger, the medicinal water, the thermal springs have a great power of attraction. In our town the baths, the spa were always of great importance. In the 17 th century, during their 91 years stay in Eger the Turks did not distroy the episcopal palace in the Castle so we can still see traces of the masterly Hungarian Gothic of which so very few relics exist in Hungary. The Turks had built a new town. The thermal sources were known at that time too and using these they built baths ( hammam ) of which the one near the spa is still functioning. It was Arnaut Pasha who had it built and now it is used to cure illesses of rheumatism. Another monument reminds us of the Turkish presence in Eger: the minaret. This is the most northern one built by in Europae at that time. After the Turks had left Eger the baroque style became dominant in our town and even now the town centre is characterized by this style: the special atmos-phere of the narrow streets, Dobó Square with the Minorite Church, the Széchényi Street with the Archiepicopal Palace and the Cistercian Church and Telekessy pharmacy, then the Kossuth Lajos Street with the palace of the Minor Provost and the Grand Provost, the Foglar- ianum, the Franciscan Church, the County Hall with the beautiful wrought9
