Hortobágy: the 'puszta'

Hortobágy  ranges from the edge of the Hajdúság to the Tisza River; it is a saliferous, grassy desert of 115 kms2. In order to protect its natural values, flora and fauna it was declared a nature reserve area on 01 January 1973. This was the first National Park  of Hungary.  The Hortobágy  National Park  was qualified as biosphere - reserve by the UN in 1979. 

Horses have always been tended by herdsmen,  cattle by cowherds,  sheep by shepherds  and pigs by swineherds. This differentiation have determined both their conduct and social ranking.

The fish pond was dug by Russian prisoners of war during World War I.

Hortobágy village

In the centre of Hortobágy  village the Nagycsárda  (village inn) welcomes the visitors. Its predecessor was built in 1699, the western wing of the present building was built in 1781, the eastern in 1815.

 The Hortobágy  Gallery has paintings, statues and other works of art of the Puszta  behind the Csárda. On the left we can find the Shepherds'`Museum. The visitor can get acquainted with implements of pastoral life, here. 

Near the museum, in the Körszín we can take a look at the values of the Hortobágy  National Park  and works of local artists.

The Bridge Fare is kept each year in the open space behind the Körszín on the 19th and 20th of August.

We can get to Máta, and the Epona village through the Stone bridge  with nine holes.

The bridge was built according to the plans of Ferenc Povolny  between 1827-1833. In the first weekend of each year's July the International Equestrian Days are held in Máta . Accommodation is offered for the guests in the four - star Hotel Epona.

Herdsmen, the Stud and Equestrian Days

Hortobágy is more renowned for its herdsmen than for its natural beauty. The herdsmen  are the symbol of the 'puszta', freedom and the natural way of life. They are more than simply the representatives of a vocation, they are the emblem of the 'puszta' and of course a tourist sight. No wonder they are a very proud group of people.

The systematic horse-breeding reaches back to the 17th century. The Nonius horses were first bred in 1885. The stud of Hortobágy  is today the biggest hot-blooded farm in Hungary. The thick mane of the horses, their elegant gate, their overwhelming neigh remind us of the former more nature-close life we all shared.

Equestrian tourism is becoming more and more popular in the world. You can, of course, ride horses for fun or you can choose to compete . The performance of the horsemen, however, is equally spectacular for those to whom it never occurred to ride a horse. The sitting of the horse is especially interesting, it shows the intimate relation the herdsman and the horse have.

Every year the first week-end of July sees the International Equestrian Days of Hortobágy, more specifically Máta.  A large number of carriages parade on the show in style:  The famous coach-and-five from Debrecen with richly decorated harness is always subject to admiration. Another popular spectacle of the show is the four-ox-carriage - immortalised by the famous Hungarian poet Petõfi. The drive of the stud always attracts crowds of people to the 'puszta'. The guests arriving from every corner of the world are offered high quality services in the four star Hotel Epona.

Other sights of Hortobágy

Coming off from Road 33 we arrive at Balmazújváros. In the local museum we can find the exhibition about the oeuvre of Menyhért Lengyel (1880-1974) the renowned dramatist of local origin.

The name of Menyhért Lengyel was made famous by Béla Bartók - who composed "The Miraculous Mandarin" on the basis of his novella. The writer lived in U.S. after the 1930's; he was awarded the Grand Prize of Rome in 1963; and he returned to Hungary in 1972.

The other great son of the town Péter Veres (1897-1970) was born in a thatched house under 6 Kadarcs street. He was an outstanding writer in the folk tradition. The house was transformed in his honour and it is now a memorial museum.

  The provincial Baroque Kishortobágyi Csárda built in the 18th-19th century is on the right hand side of the road leading to Tiszacsege. The Darassapuszta Exhibition which shows the fauna and the flora of the woods is in the csarda's vicinity.

The special program offered by Tiszacsege every summer is the round-trip of the stork reservation. The settlement hosts the first village museum of Hungary which is in the Cottar House built in 1833.

Going on Road 33 we will find the Western Reception House of the Hortobágy National Park at the crossing to Egyek. If we take the side road at the 60 kilometre stone we can get to the two-hundred-year old building of the Meggyes Csárda Museum.

If proceeding towards Debrecen we can see the Fishery Lakes Show House at the 67 kilometre stone, which exhibits the unique water world of Hortobágy.