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Debrecen

With a population of 200 000, Debrecen is the second largest city in Hungary. Easily reachable by all means of transportation, it also has an international airport. Since 1950, it is the seat of Hajdú-Bihar county, and the regional center of Northern Great Plain region.

The city of Debrecen is the economical, educational and cultural center of the Tiszántúl region. People have been living here since ancient times, the first written mention of the city is from 1235. From the 16th century, it has been referred to as the Calvinist Rome because it is the most important location of the Hungarian Reformation. Debrecen is a famous university town, tens of thousands of students study at its universities and colleges. It is the center of the Tiszántúl Calvinist Region and also a part of the Roman Catholic Diocese.

An important university town, the University of Debrecen - with its faculties of Science, Humanities, Medicine, Agronomy - and the Debrecen Reformed Theological University have more than 20 000 students. The Reformed College’s historic library holds 500 000 books, amongst them rare incunables. The Csokonai Theatre stages prose works and opera since 1865. Many orchestras and internationally known choirs are based here, and the biannual Béla Bartók International Choir Competition is held in the city. The Déri Museum, besides showing a collection on the history of  Debrecen, is famous for its exhibition of Mihály Munkácsy’s Christ Trilogy. Opened in 2006, a recent and refreshing development in the city’s life is the MODEM gallery with its large-scale exhibitions on modern and contemporary art.

Every year since 1966, on the 20th of August the beautiful flower compositions of the Flower Carnival attract tens of thousands of visitors.

Attractions

The Reformed College

The once Latin language school was taken over by the Reformists in 1549 and received an academic rank. The system of the college was based on the University of Wittenberg. In the 18th centruy the the Counter-Reformation rendered the operation of the college more difficult but the city always supported it, seeing it as part of its own. During the Revolution of 1848-49 the goverment, after escaping from Pest, held its session here.

Its present day building was built on its original location in Classical style in 1816. Today, besides being an institute of education, it gives place to a boarding school, a library, archives and also to the Museom of School History and Ecclesiastical Art.

Since its foundation it had a profound influence on Hungarian cultural history; amongst its students were many famous Hungarians such as Ferenc Kazinczy, János Arany, Zsigmond Móricz.  Its botanical specialty is the Wolfberry plant, the 350 year old Lyceum Tree for which it is known all over Europe. 

Other Sights

Big Forest, University, County Hall, City Hall, train station, Grand Hotel Aranybika, Csokonai Theatre, Aquaticum Spa, Lyceum Tree, Debrecen Zoo, Botanic Garden

Museums

Déri Museum, Msueum of Reformed Ecclesiastical Art, Ferenc Medgyessy Memorial Museum,  László Holló Memorial Museum, Tanner’s House

Churches

Reformed Great Church of Debrecen, Small Protestant Church, Saint Anne's Cathedral, Red Church, Greek Catholic Church

Festivals

Flower Carnival, Spring Festival, Potter Festival, Turkey Days, Civis Corso, Autumn Festival, Saint Michael’s Day Fair