Miskolc

visit the other Hungarian towns and villages

Miskolc

  by Emese Pilgram

Miskolc is located in the northeast region of Hungary in the valley of the river Sajo. The Bukk hills, adjacent to the city, are not only a favorite hiking place for many but also hide limestone caves of outstanding beauty (Anna Cave and St. Istvan drop cave).

We like to think that Miskolc is the second largest city after Budapest and it was for a while until Debrecen claimed that title. We still have a prettier landscape!
 

The first archeological findings of human settlements are from over 70,000 years ago from the Paleolithic age. The Conquest of the Hungarian tribes resulted in new population with the leadership of the Miskoc clan, hence the name Miskolc. Miskolc was elevated to the rank of town in 1365 by King Louis I. The castle of Diosgyor was an important royal center, originally begun in the 13^th Century and modernized by Louis I.

If you are interested in architecture and history, walk along the “Main Street” (Szechenyi utca). This is our walking street, where only the street cars and pedestrians are allowed. You will find the Szechenyi bath with its unique glass dome, in the background the Avas hill with its famous 15^th Century Gothic wooden church. If you climb the hill Avas, you can get a good view of the whole city from the Avas TV tower that is located on the top of the hill. Visit the first stone-built theatre of the country located on the main street.

The following famous people were born in Miskolc:

Árpád Latabár sr. (1878–1951) actor

Attila Repka (1968) wrestler, olympic champion

Ferenc Demjén (1941) singer

Gábor Dayka (1769–1796) poet

Ilona Kállay (1930–2005) actress

István Jónyer (1951) table tennis player

Júlia Sebestyén (1981) figure skater, Europe champion

Lőrinc Szabó (1900–1957) poet

Peter Biros (1976) water polo player

Péter Kropkó (1963) triathlonist

Róza Laborfalvi (1817–1886) actress

Sándor Lukács (1947) actor

Sándor Rónai (1892–1965) politician, president

Lived in Miskolc

Béla Kondor (Pestlőrinc, 1931 – Budapest, 1972) graphics artist

Béni Egressy (Sajókazinc, 1814 – Budapest, 1851) composer

Bertalan Szemere (Vatta, 1818 – Budapest, 1869) politician

Ferenc Bessenyei (Hódmezővásárhely, 1919 – Lajosmizse, 2004) actor

József Lévay (Sajószentpéter, 1825 – Miskolc, 1918) poet, politician

Lajos Szalay (Őrmező, 1909 – Miskolc, 1995) painter

Margit Kaffka (Nagykároly, 1880 – Budapest, 1918) writer

Ottó Herman (Breznóbánya, 1835 – Miskolc, 1914) ornithologist, polyhistor

Róza Széppataki-Déry (Jászberény, 1793 – Miskolc, 1872) actress

Visit the open-air summer festivals at the castle of Diosgyor. They range from classical concerts, to folk festivals, from medieval days to theatre productions. It is a fantastic way to spend a summer evening under the starry sky, surrounded by historic ruins. My favorite ones from the past include Shakespeare’s Hamlet where the director used an actual tower of the castle for the ghost to appear on – amazing visual effect!-, the International Folk Festival hosted by the famous Kalaka band and Lovagi Torna days which is similar to our Renessaince Festival.
 

All Miskolcians know that the rock band Edda Muvek is originally from Miskolc.

Reteskek Café  (Városháza tér 3) is my favorite place for the strudel-like pastry „retes”, a Hungarian specialty. It comes with poppy-seed, cherry, cottage cheese or even cabbage fillings. This small cafe is found in downtown, on the walking street and has live music on some nights of the week.

My favorite hiking place is Lillafured. Lillafured is about 20 minutes driving from the city-centre. There are several marked hiking trails that lead you around the ridges of the Bukk hills showing breathtaking views of the Palotaszallo (Palota Hotel), cliffs and wooded hills.

Lillafüred Forest State Railway is a cute little train going around and about the hills of Bukk. In the summer it has open cars and it goes slow enough that you can see wildlife. In the winter they run enclosed cars. I can still remember the coal stoves that heated up the wagons. Fun and smelly(!) memories! There are tunnels where you are supposed to scream – it gets very loud. When you arrive at the station in Lillafured all kinds of fun await you: the highest waterfall in Hungary, the Istvan Cave, and pedaling on the lake in front of the Palota Hotel.

Tapolca is another favorite tourist attraction for those who like bathing. The Tapolca Cave Bath and Spa is internationally famous. The thermal bath is built using a natural healing water and a natural cave. You can walk or swim in the maze of cavities of a real cave! The lighting of the cave adds to the unique aura of the experience. There is one „room” that looks like you are out in the open with the sky’s constellations over your head.

Our famous poet, Attila Jozsef wrote his well-known poem "Ode" sitting at the ruins of the Diosgyor Castle. Here is an excerpt:
 
 
"Nézem a hegyek sörényét -
homlokod fényét
villantja minden levél.
Az úton senki, senki,
látom, hogy meglebbenti
szoknyád a szél.
és a törékeny lombok alatt
látom elörebiccenni hajad,
megrezzenni lágy emlöidet és
- amint elfut a Szinva-patak -
ím újra látom, hogy fakad
a kerek fehér köveken,
fogaidon a tündér nevetés."

 
"I gaze at the mountains' mane
every leaf reflects the glow
of your brow.
The road is empty, empty,
yet I can see
how the wind makes your skirt flutter
under the fragile branches of the tree.

I see a lock of your hair tip forward
your soft breasts quiver
- as the stream down below is running away -
behold, I see again,
how the ripples on round white pebbles
the fairy laughter spouts out on your teeth."

Some of the pictures are from Wikipedia - editor