Csongrád ( ro, Ciongrad; tr, Conğrad sr, Чонград, Čongrad, archaically also ''Црноград/Crnograd'') is a town in Csongrád County in southern

Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Cr ...

History

At the time of the Hungarian Conquest (the end of 9th century) the Maros Valley was under Bulgarian control. The fortress was known as Chorniy Grad (Slavic term for 'black castle') and served as a Bulgarian-Slavic guard outpost. Later King

Stephen Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; ...

(1000–1038) made the town a state administration center, giving its name to a county. It remained a county seat till the

Mongol invasion The Mongol invasions and conquests took place during the 13th and 14th centuries, creating history's largest contiguous empire: the Mongol Empire (1206-1368), which by 1300 covered large parts of Eurasia. Historians regard the Mongol devastati ...

of Hungary (1240–42). The town and fortress were badly damaged by the Mongols; king

Béla IV Béla may refer to: * Béla (crater), an elongated lunar crater * Béla (given name), a common Hungarian male given name See also * Bela (disambiguation) * Belá (disambiguation) * Bělá (disambiguation) Bělá, derived from ''bílá'' (''wh ...

subsequently transferred the county seat to

Szeged Szeged ( , ; see also other alternative names) is the third largest city of Hungary, the largest city and regional centre of the Southern Great Plain and the county seat of Csongrád-Csanád county. The University of Szeged is one of the m ...

in 1247. The move significantly affected Csongrád's recovery. It did not become a town again until 1920.

Main sights

The Main Square obtained its definitive shape in the first half of the 10th century, its streets are wide with many trees. The Main Street is lined by old plane trees. The road running along the grammar school in Secessionist style leads to the old town. This part of the settlement, called Öregvár (meaning Old Castle), preserves the structure of a Hungarian fishing-village of the 18th century. The adobes and houses with puddle wall have thatched roofs, many of them are equipped inside with modern furniture. One building can be seen with original furniture (at Gyökér utca 1). The

Tisza The Tisza, Tysa or Tisa, is one of the major rivers of Central and Eastern Europe. Once, it was called "the most Hungarian river" because it flowed entirely within the Kingdom of Hungary. Today, it crosses several national borders. The Tisza be ...

has a sand-bank which looks like a seashore. Another attraction of Csongrád is the

backwater Backwater or Backwaters may refer to: Music * ''Backwaters'' (album), a 1982 album by American guitarist Tony Rice * Backwater (band), a jazz fusion band from Mobile, Alabama, or this band's 1976 debut album * "Backwater", a song by Brian Eno fr ...

generated by the river control works (Holt-Tisza), which houses several water-birds. In the wood strip on the left bank of the Tisza are the uncovered ruins of a Benedictine monastery founded in the 11th century.

Tourism

The greatest attraction in Csongrád is the

river bank. The river has a sandy beach and during summer hundreds of people come to bathe in the water. Csongrád has spas and some swimming pools as well, both indoor and outdoor. Csongrád's museums include: * Csongrád's traditional style house * László Tari Museum * István Széchenyi Elementary School's collection of the region * Gallery of Csongrád * Művésztelep (Artists' park) The permanent exhibition of the museum located in the center of the city awaits the visitors by presenting a material of town history. Less than hundred meters away from here the City Gallery can be found, where from time to time periodical exhibition of the Gallery the aquarelles of the painter-artist of Csongrád, János Piroska representing the brilliant technique of color-runout as light as air are shown. There are several churches in Csongrád: * The Nagyboldogasszony (Holy Virgin) Church - situated in the main town square and built between 1762–69 * Saint Rókus-church * Piroskavárosi Saint Joseph Church Franciscan Abbey There are two main festivals in the summer time: * Csongrád Wine Festival, which is usually last for 3–4 days * Körös-Toroki DaysKörös-Torok
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Notable people

Miloš Crnjanski Miloš Crnjanski ( sr-cyr, Милош Црњански, ; 26 October 1893 – 30 November 1977) was a Serbian writer and poet of the expressionist wing of Serbian modernism, author, and a diplomat. Biography Crnjanski was born in Csongrád (mod ...

, Serbian writer *

Geca Kon Geca Kon also spelled Gaetz Kohn (; 2 August 1873 – 1941) was a Serbian publisher. Early life Kon was born in Csongrád. His father was a rich rabbi and was the director of an elementary school. Unable to complete school, Kon moved to Belgrad ...

, Serbian publisher *

Pál Maléter Pál Maléter (4 September 1917 – 16 June 1958) was the military leader of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Maléter was born to Hungarian parents in Eperjes, a city in Sáros County, in the northern part of Historical Hungary, today Prešov ...

, military leader *

Károly Csemegi Károly Csemegi (1826–1899) was a Hungarian judge who was instrumental in the creation of the first criminal code of Hungary. Though born Jewish, he later converted to Christianity. After serving as a major and commanding troops in the unsuc ...

, judge

Twin towns – sister cities

Csongrád is twinned with: *

Bečej Bečej ( sr-cyrl, Бечеј, ; hu, Óbecse, ) is a town and municipality located in the South Bačka District of the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. The town has a population of 23,895, while the municipality has 37,351 inhabitants. I ...

, Serbia * Bełchatów, Poland *

Breuilaufa Breuilaufa (; oc, Lo Bruèlh au Fag) is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in western France. Inhabitants are known as ''Breuilaufais'' in French. See also *Communes of the Haute-Vienne department The f ...

, France * Le Buis, France *

Chamboret Chamboret (; oc, Chamborèt) is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in western France. See also * Communes of the Haute-Vienne department The following is a list of the 195 communes of the Haute-Vienne d ...

, France * Chaptelat, France * Nantiat, France * Nieul, France * Raisio, Finland * Saint-Jouvent, France * Thouron, France * Vaulry, France Csongrád also cooperates with Berehove, Ukraine.

Gallery

Pontonbridge csongrad.jpg, Pontoon bridge between Csongrád and Csépa Csongrad city limit sign rovas script.jpg, Rovas city limit sign near the pontoon bridge, featuring Hungarian runes Sandbank Csongrad.JPG, Sandbank of the Tisza river near Csongrád

History

Main sights

Tourism

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities

Gallery

References

Further reading

External links