Are you looking for something to do today? Well here’s what’s hot right now. Only the best things to see and do while in Debrecen over the next week and beyond, upcoming events that will stir your emotion, you will never want to leave after your Debrecen Experience.
The executive manager of Debrecen International Airport, János Vajda tells us why he loves Debrecen and which his favorite places are in the city.
Mini-interview
This is a
difficult year, especially now that theaters, cinemas, museums, and restaurants
are closed, events are cancelled or delayed, and curfews make it difficult for
us to move freely. We look forward to moving out of home again later this year
and traveling for a long weekend domestically or abroad. Until then, all we
have to do is tour at home and explore our city, Debrecen, with a slightly
different eye.
In this, we will be helped by key players in the local tourist scene, who, among other things, are asked about their favorite places in the city are, what secret travel tips they can share for others to discover while walking in the city, and why they feel Debrecen is a good place.
This time the executive manager of Debrecen International Airport, János Vajda answers our questions.
In cooperation with the Déri Museum, Csokoni Theatre and the Cívis House, the Lighthouse presents Andrea Sztojánovits ‘ interactive light installation FÉSZEK with the sound composition of Gergely Álmos via the medium of augmented reality.
Our Tip
In cooperation with the Déri Museum, Csokoni Theatre and the Cívis House, the Lighthouse presents Andrea Sztojánovits ‘ interactive light installation FÉSZEK with the sound composition of Gergely Álmos via the medium of augmented reality.
Update: Petőfi Square located in front of the Grand Station, will soon be completely renewed. There are also plans to have new green areas, promenades, a playground, water attractions and an urban history study trail in the square.
Our Tip
Another public space is facing a spectacular renewal in Debrecen. As part of the Green City Program, the “city gate”, Petőfi Square located in front of the Grand Station, will soon be completely renewed. There are also plans to have new green areas, promenades, a playground, water attractions and an urban history study trail in the square. The details were reported at a press conference.
With the arrival of the carnival season, comes another showcase exhibition, – this time in the atmosphere of the Venice Carnival. Károly Nemes, the maker of Venetian masks, has had an exhibition at the Kölcsey Center
Our Tip
With the arrival of the carnival season, comes another showcase exhibition, – this time in the atmosphere of the Venice Carnival. Károly Nemes, the maker of Venetian masks, has had an exhibition at the Kölcsey Center previously and after the success of the showcase exhibitions, his masks have resurfaced, these can be admired in the shop window of Hunyadi Street between February 9th and March 1st.
Agora opened its doors 6 years ago, in February 2015. The Science Experience Center celebrates its birthday each year with a special event. Learn about this years online celebration events.
Our Tip
Agora opened its doors 6 years ago, in February 2015. The Science Experience Center celebrates its birthday each year with a special event.
Due to the epidemic situation, this year’s birthday program will move to an online space, specifically, the Agora Facebook page, ensuring that visitors are not left without adventure and memorable science experiences.
Debrecen’s Great Forest will be enhanced further with another spectacular attraction, – evening light displays. As part of the project, on the promenade and on Pallagi út, new light display installation will be made in Pope John Paul II Square.
Our Tip
Debrecen’s Great Forest will be enhanced further with another spectacular attraction, – evening light displays. As part of the project, on the promenade and on Pallagi út, new light display installation will be made in Pope John Paul II Square.
Debrecen has been a bike-friendly city for years, many people get around on two wheels all year round, whether for school, work or leisure. Thanks to the planned urban and county cycle path developments, not only local cycling is being strengthened, but also cycling tourism both in and around the city.
Recreation
Debrecen has been a bike-friendly city for years, many people get around on two wheels all year round, whether for school, work or leisure. Thanks to the planned urban and county cycle path developments, not only local cycling is being strengthened, but also cycling tourism both in and around the city.
More than 300 contemporary works are on display in the MODEM on shelves or in boxes, packages to be unboxed and unwrapped by and for the art-loving audience. Details of early Spring Exhibitions also.
Our Tip
More than 300 contemporary works are on display in the MODEM on shelves or in boxes, packages to be unboxed and unwrapped by and for the art-loving audience.
Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus epidemic, an alternative display medium has been adopted. The MODEM team has decided not to leave these artworks hidden any longer, and has decided to show them online via “unboxing videos”.
Over the centuries, Debrecen has become famous for many things. The city was known throughout the continent for its famous fairs and schools, the Reformed Great Church and even its double sausage. However, if we talk about culture, we must mention traditional folk dance and the Hajdú Folk Dance Ensemble of Debrecen.
Culture
Debrecen was built on trade. The city is located at the crossroad of the east-west salt road and the ancient north-south trade route, connecting the ports of the Aegean and Baltic Seas.
Over the centuries, Debrecen has become famous for many things. The city was known throughout the continent for its famous fairs and schools, the Reformed Great Church and even its double sausage. However, if we talk about culture, we must mention traditional folk dance and the Hajdú Folk Dance Ensemble of Debrecen.
Hajdú Folk Dance Ensemble in Hortobágy
The predecessor of the Hajdú Folk Dance Ensemble of Debrecen was founded on 1st September 1953. István Zámbori, the director of the Lajos Kossuth Cultural House of Builders founded the dance ensemble under the name of the Builders’ Folk Dance Group (Építők Népi Tánccsoportja).
The year of 1960 was a turning point in the life of the group. Gyula Varga, an ethnography and dance research scientist, teacher and choreographer, started to lead the dance ensemble independently. It was time when they realized that the tradition and culture lives not only in its language, but also in its songs, music and dance and it needs to be maintained, saved for prosperity.
During 5 years of his professional leadership Varga opened new artistic-stylistic and methodological channels in the life of his ensemble. The group not only presented the original folk dance processes, but also showed dance in the spirit of new choreographic trends. From April 30th, 1966. László Kardos, an excellent folk dance teacher, took over the leadership of the dance group.
The Hajdú Folk Dance Ensemble of Debrecen started to win many awards including Csokonai Award (1984), Ferenc Kölcsey Award (1998), Territorial Prima Primissima Award, (2007), Mihály Csokonai Vitéz Community Award (2010), Ferenc Kölcsey Scholarship (2010), Pro Urbe Award (2014) and Hungarian Heritage Award (2014).
At the meeting of the Hajdú-Bihar County Securities Depository Committee held on the 11th May 2017 the work of the Hajdú Folk Dance Ensemble of Debrecen was declared as of county value. In the same year, the dance ensemble received a Martin György Memorial Plaque for the third time.
The foundation of the dance ensemble was established in November 1990. One of the most important tasks to-date is the operation of the dance ensemble, and the management of its art school, which supports the folk dancing activity of its adult groups, as well as for the youth and children. Dance lovers can learn more about the ensemble and follow their performances on Facebook or via their website.
In Debrecen, many cozy cafes and confectioneries entice you to relax, to have intimate conversations, to do “sweet nothing”. Read on to learn about the best places to go.
Our Tip
In Debrecen, many cozy cafes and confectioneries entice you to relax, to have intimate conversations, to do “sweet nothing”.
In addition to the “‘kürtőskalács” you can taste home-made strudels and other specialities from the county and Hajdúság, or even the cake of Hungary, an award given each year to the best the country has to offer according to an expert panel of judges.
Once the weather turned colder, the ice rink on Oláh Gábor Street would opened in Debrecen, that is up until 2012. Generations grew up skating on the old ice rink that was built in 1977, located in the heart of the Great Forest. Today we benefit from modern facilities.
Sport
Once the weather turned colder, the ice rink on Oláh Gábor Street would opened in Debrecen, that is up until 2012. Generations grew up skating on the old ice rink that was built in 1977, located in the heart of the Great Forest.
The site of the old open-air ice rink located between the Zoo and old Loki Stadium, elicits fond memories, skating in the morning sun, or under the evening starry sky, and in the falling snow. It last operated in the winter of 2011-2012 and has since been closed after being declared outdated and not up to standard.
The construction of the church and convent of St. Anne’s Cathedral began in 1721 at the expense of Count Imre Csáky. Csáky wanted to exemplify the power of Catholics before “Calvinist Rome” with a representative church.
History
St. Anne’s Cathedral (Szent Anna-székesegyház) in Debrecen is the seat church and parish church of the Diocese of Debrecen-Nyíregyháza.
One of the conditions for the city to receive the free royal city title more than 300 years ago was that the city designate land for the Catholic church. The parish has been operating in Debrecen since 1716. The proponent of the church construction was Count Imre Csáky, – the Archbishop of Kalocsa, and Bishop of Oradea and Chief Lieutenant of Bihor County.
While nothing remains of the former palace of Hegedűs and Sándor at number 34 Piac street, you can still visit the site and marvel at the surroundings.
History
While nothing remains of the former palace of Hegedűs and Sándor at number 34 Piac street, you can still visit the site and marvel at the surroundings.
If we turn at the former Csanak Palace, – built for the famous merchant, József Csanak, while standing on the corner of the former Kádas Street (today Arany János Street) and Piac Street, and look across the street, you will see a bookstore. This site is where the palace of Hegedűs and Sándor once stood (shown below).
As we walk on Simonffy Street so often, the question rightly arises as to where the street got its name.
Simonffy Street
The next time you find yourself walking on Simonffy Street, consider the personality of the man and the family it is named after, Sámual Simonffy, since none other can claim to have done more for the city of Debrecen.
