Kiskunhalas

Our Natural Heritage

Kiskunhalas is situated between Hungary's two greatest rivers, the Danube and the Tisza, in a sandy area known as the Homokhátság. The town lies 130 km south of the capital, Budapest. It has a population of over 30,000 and is a centre for public institutions, administration, and road and rail transport. The most special natural feature of this sun-blessed region is its sandhills. In the past Kiskunhalas was surrounded by lakes and marshes and the town's name (Halas = abounding in fish) reflects this. Today only one lake of note remains - Sóstó (literally, 'Salty Lake'), whilst the last of the marshes, the Fejeték conservation area, shelters a world of protected flora. The countryside is rich in fauna, also; it provides habitat for many protected birds, as well as roe and red deer, wild boar, rabbits, squirrels, badgers and foxes.

Our Past, Our Heritage

The area around our town has been inhabited for over a thousand years. In 1241 the region was ravaged by Tartar hordes, but only a few years later Cumanian clans settled in the land of the Magyars. This people strove to preserve their traditions and retain their freedom during the Turkish invasion and occupation of Hungary (1526-1699), were given privileges by the Hungarian prince, Ferenc Rákóczi II, and, after having been reduced to serfdom, with their lands mortgaged to the Teutonic Knights, they finally bought back their liberty in 1745 with military service to the Habsburg empress Maria Theresa and compensation to their former landlords.

This latter event, known as the Redemption, is now celebrated every year on May 6th as 'Town Day'. Though the original population of Kiskunhalas was ethnically Cumanian and religiously Reformed (Calvinist), its balance was changed by the arrival of settlers. Nowadays, too, the possibility of, in fact the need for, peaceful coexistence is symbolized by the town's open welcome to new residents.The Thorma János Museum is foremost in preserving the memories of Kiskunhalas. Alongside local history and archaeological collections, the pride of the museum is two monumental paintings by the locally-born artist János Thorma. Both Rise Up, Magyar! and The Blood Witnesses of Arad depict events from the ill-fated Hungarian Revolution of 1848 and 1849. ill-fated Hungarian Revolution of 1nd The Modern Face of Kiskunhalas of Kiskunhalas

The ravages of time and the storms of history have destroyed all of the earlier buildings of Kiskunhalas.

At the turn of the last century many then-modern public buildings and private residences were erected alongside the handful of already-existing Baroque and Classicist structures. Between the two World Wars, the town's Lace House was built and it has recently been extended and renovated. Perhaps most characteristic of local architecture is the quadrangle of buildings which house the Town Hall, a mix of Classicist and Secession styles. The culture of religion in the area is shown by the town's several churches and its synagogue.

A relic of the once-numerous mills around the town is the Sáfrik windmill. Named after a former owner, it is still in working condition. In 1988 Kiskunhalas was awarded the Hild Architectural Prize for its dynamic and harmonious urban development. In our times, many rural buildings are being put to new use as holiday farms, stables for tourists, and guest houses. With its well-developed public institutions and service sector, Kiskunhalas is today, as it long has been, the centre of the surrounding region.



Kiskunhalasi szállások:
Motel Penny, Kiskunhalas
Betti Motel és Pihenőház, Kiskunhalas