Horváth M. Ferenc (szerk.): Vác The heart of the Danube Bend. A historical guide for residents and globetrotters (Vác, 2009)
Tartalom
174 VÁC IN THE 20TH CENTURY PUBLIC LIFE, CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT, SPORT In June 1938, on the occasion of the millennial anniversary of King St Stephen's death the Golden Train carrying the Holy Right, the King's right forearm worshipped as a relic, arrived at Vác. "On the 18th the sea of flags and flowers, the ceremonial guards and the spectators in their Sunday best merged into such a fabulous picture that this ancient town had never seen before", Mayor János Inauguration of St Stephen/Stephen's statue in 1939 Inczédy-Meiszner wrote in his report to the chief of police. This celebration attracted the greatest number of people in the interwar period. Vác had a lively cultural and social life. There were nearly fifty associations functioning here. They were specialized partly by their purpose including cultural, economic and sports activities, partly by the denomination, age or social position of their members. In this way everybody could find the most suitable community for themselves. The Váci Hírlap (Journal of Vác) published a few times a week gave the chance to the citizens to Pokol (Hell) Island, the recreational park of the inhabitants of Vác follow the most important local events. The town, which had nice dean air at the time, was concerned with tourism as well. "Come to Vác, the Hungarian Graz" - this was the slogan advertised in the brochures with a lot of photos issued by the local government. (Graz is Austria's second largest city, known for its six universities, listed picturesque old town and sunny local climate.) The entertainment and holiday centre was Pokol (Hell) Island on the opposite bank of the Danube. This was where people could find a beach, restaurants sports facilities. It was also a popular place for summer parties. There were regular ferries to both banks of the river. Some people preferred the sandy beach, others wanted to take a walk or bowl. Besides the beach there was a pension, a hostel and a tavern, too. The changes in lifestyle and the increase in free time brought about the growing popularity of sports as well. The Vác Hope Sports Association established in 1922 was the fifth of its kind in the town, including the Vác Sports Association, the Vác Athletics Club, the Vác Calvinist Reformed Endeavour Sports Association and the Vác Circle of Sportsmen. Water sports were the most popular in the town. In the summer there was a large number of rowers on rivers all around the country. The destination of the rowers setting out from Roman River-bank in Budapest was very often the Danube bank in Vác. In 1929 the Vác Sports Association built a boat-house on the Danube bank. The Vác Hope Association had a sports field of their own in the market area, and in 1928 they built a community centre too. Hiking was another popular recreational activity. They built a shelter and a lookout tower named after Tihamér Vörös along the footpath running on Naszály Hill in 1925.
