Debrecen (Hungary)

Debrecen Reviews

Debrecen Photos

Property Rentals in Hungary

Debrecen Information

Overview

Things to do

Country Info (Hungary)

Slideshow of Photos

Debrecen one of the largest towns in Hungary and is about 143 miles east of Budapest, located on the Great Hungarian Plain ( Alföld ) 143 miles (230 km) east of Budapest by rail. Hortobágy, a famous place of the Hungarian "Puszta" is situated nearby.

Debrecen, the second most populated Hungarian town, was twice capital of Hungary in history. First in 1849 during the revolution and war of independence, secondly during the Second World War. Debrecen also called "The Calvinist Rome", because the inhabitants converted to the new faith in the 16th century, and the town became the centre of Calvinism. The symbolic pride of Debrecen, the Reformed Great Church, is not only a religious monument, but also a reminder of several important events of Hungarian history. The dethronement of the Habsburg dynasty was declared within its walls in 1849. Recently, John Paul II visited the Big Church as if to make amends to the Reformed church preachers condemned to the galleys.

Suggest a change to the Debrecen Overview section (click to dropdown)

The city is unfortunately quite off the centre of the Hungarian traffic system (one railway and one highway - the number 4 - leads there), so it is time consuming to travel there from Western Hungary. The government has plans to build the #3 (Eastern) dual highway longer (or to build the #4 (South-Eastern) dual highway, which does not even exist) and reconnect the city into the fast flow of traffic and economy.

The renovated Fo Square is the place for cultural programmes.

The Calvinist College (Kalvin Square, 16) has an illustrious history; its fame is due to its famous students. Owing to its wide network of schools, it became the "school of the nation". Educational and ecclesiological exhibitions in the 180-year-old building, feature the furnishings of an original Calvinist school, antique goldsmith's works, covers with wonderful embroidery, painted pieces of furniture and the curios of the Great Library. This library, with its 500,000 volumes, is the biggest ecclesiastical collection in the country.

The patinated Aranybika Hotel (Piac Street, 11-15) is the oldest functioning hotel in the country.

The classicist Town Hall (Piac Street 20) is one of the city's nicest buildings, and all of the following are noteworthy: the Calvinist Church with incomplete steeple, (Revesz Square), "Veres Church" (Kossuth Street), the Synagogue (Pasti Street), the Greek Orthodox Church (Attila Square), Kossuth Lajos University (Egyetem Square 1) and Saint Ann Cathedral (Szent Anna Street 15.). The mill (Boszormenyi Street) is the biggest windmill in Central Europe and a monument of industrial history.

The Nagyerdo (Great Forest) is a popular green area in the town, with a zoo, the Fun Park and an arboretum. It has been a nature reserve since 1939. The thermal water of the Thermal Bath in Nagyerdo (Nagyerdei Park 1.) is recommended for arthritis, rheumatic diseases, gynaecological diseases, diseases of the vertebral disks, orthopaedic deformations and neuralgia.

Suggest a change to the Debrecen Things to do section (click to dropdown)

Population: 10.006.800
Languages: Magyar (Hungarian) 94%, other 6%
Currency: forint
Currency code: HUF
Local Times:
Hungary - Budapest

Country Dialling Code: +36
Voltage: 220V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
2 Parallel circular prongs

'Schuko' type with two earth connectors on the sides

Hungary is a heart-stealer; it will lure you back again and again to sample its rich wines, lounge in its thermal spas, gaze at its birdlife and make one more attempt to master its hermetic language. It has all the luxury of western Europe with a Magyar twist and at half the cost.

Hungary's location in the centre of Europe along with its hospitable attitude makes it one of the best places to embark on an Eastern European journey. It is both European and distinctly Hungarian, incorporating a mixture of history and the present-day. The country proudly upholds its Magyar traditions, culture and arts, but is attentive to what is new and fashionable in the outside world.

A small landlocked country sharing its borders with seven neighbouring countries, Hungary was originally inhabited by the Magyars, an equestrian nomadic tribe. They were eventually converted to Christianity and in the year 1000 their Prince Stephen was crowned the nation's first ruler. Since then Hungary has seen numerous dynastic changes, from Turkish occupation to the era of Communism, and today quaint little towns, cities and ruins in the countryside bear the marks of this turbulent history with a rich mosaic of architectural styles and fortified hilltop castles. The Hungarian people, neither Slavic nor Germanic, are formal, reserved and intensely proud of their ancient nation and its cosmopolitan capital, Budapest.

Most visitors arrive in Budapest, situated on a lovely stretch of the Danube, the river that invokes feelings of romantic enchantment and musical memories. It is a city of culture and of astounding beauty and grace, and visitors are drawn to its enchanting magnetism. Outside of the capital the plains, rolling hills and rivers, lakes and vineyards hold much to offer the visitor. The Baroque town and fine wines of Eger, historical riverside villages along the Danube Bend, commanding fortresses, castles and palaces, the resort-lined Lake Balaton and the thermal spas and volcanically heated lake at Hévíz are just some of the country's many highlights awaiting discovery.