Horváth M. Ferenc (szerk.): Vác The heart of the Danube Bend. A historical guide for residents and globetrotters (Vác, 2009)

Tartalom

128 RESETTLEMENT AND THE AGE OF THE GREAT CONSTRUCTIONS - THE 18TH CENTURY

miraculous stag mentioned in the Illustrated Chronicle, and the medicinal spring rising here has also made this holy spot into a busy place of worship. Not far from here the Gombás Stream crosses the main road between Vác and Pest. The wooden bridge that had spanned over it may have been

oseph II, the Hatted King

On the eastern edge of the 18th century town Sf Roch Chapel was built in 1744 in memory of the victims of the plague epidemic of 1740. From then on Roch's Day has been celebrated every year on the 16th August as the adopted holiday of Vác. At the foot of Felső-Török Hill János Schick, a man of adventure, had the building of Calvary and a hermit's house built in 1727.These two buildings are among the oldest architectural relics of the town.

Several religious associations and congregations, in some cases ethnically-based, were formed

Hétkápolna Church

The Stone Bridge on the Gombás Stream

St Roch Chapel

damaged so badly that travellers had been unable to cross the stream without getting wet until the Stone Bridge was built in 1753. In the following years the bridge, which is the oldest road-bridge in Hungary today, was decorated with statues, two of which were created by József Bechert. In 1731 the manorial building, which is still called Red House because of its colour, was built on the site of the former market place. It provided flats for the officers and servants working for the manorial centre of Vác, and was also used for storing grain crops. Tradition holds that the master builders from Naples painted it red as it was a common colour in their homeland.- for instance the Jesus Christ Association, the Hungarian Association, Rose Association, St Joseph Association - with a view to reviving medieval traditions from outside the church hierarchy. They played an important role in the lives of pious citizens who also respected their landlord. Besides their central aims (e.g. nursing the sick) these associations also played a part in religious life and moral issues. Only very few traces of their existence have survived in the town, for instance some church furniture, altars, crosses in cemeteries and on roadsides.

The Danube bank in 1812