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Debrecen
From Wikitravel
Contents
Debrecen is the "Capital city of the Great Hungarian Plain", and the county seat and largest city of Hajdú-Bihar county in eastern Hungary. It is the second largest city in the country with about 200,000 inhabitants and historically the most imporatant city in Hungarian protestantism.
[edit] Understand
They used to say "who in their sane mind would build a city in the middle of nowhere where there is no mountains, forests, water or roads?". Still, the answer is a mystery, but Debrecen is the second (or third, depends on the census) largest city of Hungary.
It used to be Europe's largest Calvinist city (was called "The Calvinist Rome"), and the Grand Church (Nagytemplom) is a reminder of the city's heritage.
Debrecen also has a university with all kind of science areas. It has about 25000 students. The main building at the Nagyerdő is beautiful.
[edit] Weather
Montly averages precipitations and high and low temperatures: [1]
[edit] Get in
[edit] By car
It can be easily accessed from Budapest by driving on M3 highway and then M35 (about at 186 km sign) highway but vignette is required(it is about 2 hours). Or follow the main road 4 from Budapest or anywhere except east (more than 3 hours travel from Budapest), but it is not recommended because main road 4 is overcrowded and accidents are common.
[edit] By plane
There is an airport [2], but commercial traffic is low. There is a discount airline flying to München, Germany, so via that Debrecen can be reached from all Europe. It is planned to extend the air traffic through involving more cheap-flight companies. Charter flights come regularly to the airport.
[edit] Get around
[edit] Driving
Roads are okay. The city is small enough though that you could easily get around by foot or by public transportation.
[edit] Public transportation
Public transport uses local tickets. Don't try to use Budapest tickets; they won't work.
The tram [3] carries people to the most visited places. It starts from the Train station, goes along the main street, turns at the Grand Church a bit, goes to the Old Forest, the Zoo, Theme Park and Public Bath, then around to meet the Universities, then back. A cheap way to see most of the city is to get a ticket at the train station, get on, and enjoy the trip until you're back where you started.
Bus [4] lines are fair. You may expect to be able to reach nearby places fast.
[edit] Walking
Many nice streets around. Many ugly ones. Test your luck.
Try Nagyerdő (the Big Forest): it is still beautiful.
[edit][add listing] See
Despite being the second largest city in the country, Debrecen has very few attractions to show for it. The Nagytemplom is a must see and easily accessible. As for museums, the Déri Museum is definitely worth a trip, but all the others really depend on how much Hungarian art interests you. Most of the major attractions are in the city park, or Nagyerdő, where you could easily spend a pleasant afternoon.
Places of Worship
- Nagytemplom (Great Church) on Kossuth tér is Debrecen's most recognizable building and a symbol of the city. It is the centerpiece of what was once called "Calvanist Rome." Visitors can tour the interior, as well as go up in the tower to see the Rákóczi bell, the largest bell in Hungary, and excellent views of the city.
Museums
- Déri Museum [5] on Déri tér 1. (right behind the Great Church, take tram #1) is a place to see. It's a national museum with all kinds of arts. There is a nature display showing the animal life of the region, another collection featuring historical items from the region, and an art gallery featuring works from Hungarian artists. It's most famous work is Hungarian Mihály Munkácsy's Christ trilogy, three large paintings depicting Christ before Pilate, the Crucifixion, and Ecce Homo!
- Ferenc Medgyessy Memorial Museum [6] on Péterfia u. 28. (just behind the Debrecen Plaza and most easily reached by tram #1) displays the works and life of the artist.
- László Holló Memorial Museum [7] on Holló László sétány 8. (located in Tócóskert, take bus #19) is housed on a one-acre park featuring a cottage housing the artist's works and a statue garden.
- Delizsánsz Kiállítóterem - Postamúzeum (Post Museum) [8] on Múzeum u. 3. (across the square from the Déri Museum in the main post office).
- Debreceni Irodalmi Múzeum (Debrecen Literary Museum) [9] on Borsos József tér 1. (just north of the downtown, take bus #12, 15, 31 or 32) has a permanent exhibit from the 1890 Csokonai literary circle. It also houses occasional temporary exhibits.
- Kölcsey Központ (Modem) [10] - a recently built modern centre for high-profile art exhibitions and musical/theatrical performances.
Nagyerdő - The City Park
Located just north of the downtown is the 2280 hectare city park which offers fine walks as well as several opportunities for fun and entertainment.
- Vidámpark (Amusement Park) on Ady Endre út 1. is not as large or impressive as the park in Budapest, but nevertheless boasts to be the largest such park this side of the Tisza. There are 15 rides including a fantasy castle, ferris wheel, and a children's railroad.
- Állatkert (Zoo) on Ady Endre út, together with the Vidámpark forms the Culture Park.
- Aquaticum [11] on Nagyerdei Park 1. is the major resort of the town. It features a water park, public pool, bath house, hotel, and restaurants.
- Műjégpálya (Skating Rink)
- DVSC Stadium [12] is where the local soccer team plays (nicknamed "Loki"). They most recently won the Hungarian championship in 2005 and 2006.
- Kossuth Lajos University [13] located on Egyetem tér, just west of the park, is one of the largest universities in the region and good for a stroll, or for taking Hungarian language classes in the summer.
[edit][add listing] Do
- Debrecen Plaza [14] located just north of the city center and easily reached by tram #1 is a small shopping mall by nearly all standards. There is, however, a multiplex movie theater, supermarket, arcade, and food court with McDonalds.
- Flower Carnival (Virágkarnevál): 20th August, every year there's a whole day of celebrating the summer and national holidays, with moving pictures or statues mad of flowers, and lots of other mardi gras.
- Military Band Festival (Katonazenekari fesztivál)
[edit][add listing] Buy
Exchanging money can be cheaper here than in Budapest.
[edit][add listing] Eat
Avoid everything in Kálvin tér (the square on the right of the Big Church, in the middle of the circle of houses), like Gara cukrászda (a bakery, probably the worst "Somloi Galuska" of the World) or Gilbert Pizzéria. They emphasize style over flavor.
Piac utca(in front of the Big yellow church) has some nice places, try "Trendo". They serve various kinds including hungarian cuisines. Near the big church is where you can find nice cafes.
There's csokonai restaurant , main steak house of hungarian style, located in kossuth street, right in front of csokonai szinhaz ( opera house).
Try Flaska restaurant by the Apollo movie theater in the heart of the city. THeir have good hungarian cuisene. For desert head to the Mandula cukraszda (one of the best bakery in town) near ember pal street.
[edit][add listing] Sleep
- 'Cívis Grand Hotel Aranybika [15] The Cívis Grand Hotel Aranybika is located in the heart of Debrecen, next to the Reformed Cathedral. The present Art Nouveau building was built in 1915..
- 'Hotel Italia is actually kind of a youth hostel. Cheap, Filled up with students. 10 min walk from the station.
- 'Stop Pension - situated in a calm and pleasant area in the centre of Debrecen.
- Cívis Hotel Kálvin [16] lies in the historic city centre of Debrecen, near the Reformed College and the Great Calvinist Church.
- Hotel Platán is the newest four-star hotel in Debrecen. It is located five minutes from the town centre, near the airport.
- HUNGUEST Hotel Nagyerdő is situated in the green heart of Nagyerdő, the most beautiful part of Debrecen in idyllic and peaceful surroundings.
- Sport Hotel[17] is right next to the DVSC stadium on Olah Gabor St. Clean rooms, fairly inexpensive.
[edit] Stay safe
[edit] Get out
Nyíregyháza, a smaller city with several parks and squares and the water resort of Sóstó.
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