The Eighth Hungarian Tribe, 1986 (13. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1986-11-01 / 11-12. szám
With an area of 31,000 hectares, the National Park of the Kiskunság , situated between the Danube and Tisza Rivers is one of Hungary's biggest nature conservation areas. The flora and fauna of earlier centuries still bloom among the woods along the Tisza's stagnant branch. There is also a spa with 40’ C (104’ F) thermal water for treating rheumatic ailments. This region embraces Hungary's second largest puszta (lowland plain), where seminomadic animal-breeding still prevails on the extensive pastures. The puszta extends as far as the eye can see, and on certain summer days the famous mirage which shows the objects upside down and elevated in the air may also appear. The bird reserve of the Kiskunság is famous for rare species of European birds as well as various types of orchids. Bugac, where visitors can see Hungarian cattle, sheep, sheep-dogs and the famous stud as well as the rich material of the folk museum with its illustration of how the herdsmen lived here at one time is a fascinating area of the national park. The rivers Berettyó. Köröses and Maros, which are the favorite hideout of fishermen, give a special character to the landscape of Békés County. THERMAL WATERS Thermal baths constitute an important part of the peculiar tourist map of the southern part of the Great Plain, where medicinal water with a high salt content has been found in over one hundred spots. The best-known medicinal baths are those at Gyuia, Szeged, Gyopárosfürdö, Szentes and Gyoma. CITIES The city of Kecskemét is characterized by big open spaces, public buildings constructed in a special Hungarian variant of art nouveau and modern houses retaining the spirit of folk architecture. These latter generally house cultural institutions of national importance (Kodály Institute, Ceramics Studio, Museum of Toys, Museum of Folk Handi-crafts, etc.) The synagogue, built in 1862, the Old Church, the Town Hall and the "Czifra Palace" are the most interesting sights of the city today. Kiskunhalas has been made famous by its lacework, wich is as valuable as that of Brussels. Tourists are recommended to visit the Lace Museum and the Museum of Ethnography. Kaiosza is an archiepiscopal see with a Baroque palace built in 1760 and a library comprising 100,000 books, including invaluable incunabula and fascimile editions. The medieval cathedral was rebuilt in 1736. A mobile sculpture by Kalocsa-born Micho/as Schöííer was unveiled in the city center only recently. Szeged is the home of the famous Herz and Pick salami, fine red pepper, and the best fish-soup in the land. Every year an open-air Testivel is held to attract tourists fond of the theater and music. The city offers a wide variety of sights: castle ruins dating from 1242, the Votive Church, Classicist and Romantic buildings, and monuments of folk Page 4 architecture. A recent archeological find is a thousands-of-years-old "Venus". Békéscsaba is famous for its Persian rugs and carpets, which is a big export item, its beautiful architectural monuments and carefully preserved peasant homes. Gyuia has Europe's only still-surviving brick castle, which was built in the 14th century. The city’s medicinal bath has 12 pools, each used for the treatment of different ailments. The principal attraction of Szarvas is the 38-kilometer-long stagnant branch of the Körös, rich in fish, as well as the 84-hectare arboretum, where 1,600 species of trees can be seen. The Region of Five Mother Tongues The Constitution of Hungary specifies that all citizens of the country are equal regardless of race, creed or nationality. Only one of Hungary's 19 counties, Szolnok in the eastern part of the country, has a population consisting entirely of Hungarians. The non-Hungarians arrived between the 13th and 18th centrueis, although the greatest influx was at the end of the 17th centruy after the Turkish occupation, when new settlers came to populate the deserted villages. Today out of Hungary's population of 10.7 million, there are 200.000 to 220,000 Germans, 100,000 to 110,000 Slovaks, 80,000 to 100,000 Southern Slavs and 20,000 to 25.000 Romanians, who together make up 3.8 to 4.2X of the population. Although these peoples are scattered over large areas, they are firmly determined to preserve their identity. Many of the Germans who settled in southern Hungary arrived by boat down the Danube, bringing with them the statues from their churches, one of which can still be seen in the village of Hajós in Bács-Kiskun County. It is believed that the Germans introduces vine cultivation into Hungary. The Romanians in Hungary live mainly in Békés County, by the Romanian border, where the village of Méhkerék has a majority of Romanians.
