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Palace of János Wolff - Debrecen

Famous building in Debrecen: The Palace of János Wolff, the Brigadier General

On the corner of Péterfia street, 46 and Thaly Kálmán Street stands the former place of János Wolff, the Brigadier General of 39th Infantry Regiment.

On the corner of Péterfia street, 46 and Thaly Kálmán Street stands the former place of János Wolff, the Brigadier General of 39th Infantry Regiment. In 1882, János Wolff of Hegyközszentimrei was transferred to Debrecen, to the 39th Infantry Regiment in the “Pavilion” barracks. He became Lieutenant Colonel in 1912, Colonel in 1914 and General in 1918. On 5 August 1910, he applied for a building permit for the construction of the palace, based on the plans of the architects Pavlovits and Szilágyi.

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A Piac utca és a Kossuth tér

Interesting Facts about the Streets of Debrecen

The earliest known map of Debrecen is from 1750, which shows the town surrounded by a plank and gates. This map is important because it also contains street names of that time. A new online “street name” database shows street names now and in the past, which indicating the origins of street names in Debrecen.

The earliest known map of Debrecen is from 1750, which shows the town surrounded by a plank and gates. This map is important because it also contains street names of that time. A new online “street name” database shows street names now and in the past, which indicating the origins of street names in Debrecen.

Let see some interesting facts about the streets of Debrecen .

Over the years Piac Street has had many names including Piac Square in 1564, Ferenc József Road from 1898 to 1915 and the “Red Army Path”  from 1990 until the end of the regime.

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great forest

Discover the Newly Renovated Amber Trail in the Great Forest

Eleven stations have been set up along the study trail next to the forestry centre of Nyíredő where children can learn about animals and plants typical of the area with the help of modern interactive boards.

Located on the northern border of Debrecen the Great Forest sit upon an area of 1086.1 hectares. The forest was donated by King Sigismund in 1405 to the towns of Debrecen. This was confirmed by Zsigmond János in 1583, György Rákóczi I. in 1665, and Lipót I in 1669. 

On October 10, 1939, 30 hectares of the Great Forest, the northeastern corner, was registered as the first protected area in the Hungarian Nature Conservation Register. Finally, in the spring of 1992, the then Minister of the Environment extended protection to cover the entire Great Forest area. The national protected area is a part of the Natura 2000 network.

Nyírerdő Zrt. the forestry company has just recently renovated the Amber Trail (Borostyán tanösvény), which was established almost two decades ago in the Great Forest. 

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John Malkovich

John Malkovich Comes Debrecen as the “Music Critic”

You can see John Malkovich and “The Music Critic” only in Debrecen.

You can see John Malkovich and “The Music Critic” only in Debrecen.

John Malkovich, the main character of the HBO series The New Pope, has played in countless movies including “Death of a Salesman Biff Loman”, “Of Mice and Men” and “Dangerous Liaisons”. 

The performance titled “The Music Critic” is a mix of a play and a concert. The greatest composers, world-renowned musicians, are criticized with humor, and by John Malkovich, the music critic. 

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Barabás Étterem

Paparazzi Gastronomy Tour

Organized by Paparazzi Kitchen & Bar and the Borudvar Wine retailer, this event provides gastronomic lovers with a rare gastronomic experience.

Organized by Paparazzi Kitchen & Bar and the Borudvar Wine retailer, this event provides gastronomic lovers with a rare gastronomic experience.

The extraordinary dinners with the tradition of the “à la carte menu” offers a multi-course tasting menu and special wines to diners.

During the gastronomic tour, participants can taste the “Wines of Debrecen”, all 7 award winners, and János Balogh – a wine expert of Borudvar Wine retailer, provides detail about the history and the uniquity of each wine.

The “Wines of Debrecen” title was awarded to 

  • Classic white wine: Mátra Rhine Rizling 2018, Szőke Mátyás és Zoltán Pincészet 
  • Classic red wine: Szekszárd Cabernet Franc classic 2017, Mészáros Borház
  • Classic rosé wine: Szekszárd Pinot noir Rosé 2019, Takler Borbirtok
  • Premium white wine: Mátrai Paskomi Chardonnay 2018, Szőke Mátyás és Zoltán Pincészet 
  • Premium red wine: Villányi Franc 2017, Koch Borház, VinArt Pincészet 
  • Dessert wine: Intuition No1 Zéta édes szamorodni 2008, Holdvölgy Pincészet
  • Champagne: Tokaji Furmint Pezsgő Extra Brut 2016, Gróf Dégenfeld Szőlőbirtok

The multi-course tasting menu items 

  • Welcome Sparkling Wine: Tokaji Furmint Pezsgő Extra Brut 2016
  • Cold appetizer: Lemon pepper mixed salad with tiger prawns with Mátra Rhine Rizling 2018
  • Soup: Sweet potato cream soup with vegetable chips with Mátrai Paskomi Chardonnay 2018
  •  Szekszárd Pinot Noir Rose 2019
  • Hot appetizer: Pork fillet roasted in pepper bark with tomato pappardelle | Cabernet Franc 2017
  • Main course: spicy beef steak with parsley potatoes and red wine sauce | Villányi Franc 2017
  • Dessert: Peach Cheesecake with Intuition No.1 Zéta Edes Szamorodni 2008

Price: HUF 11.900

Location and ticket purchase: Paparazzi Kitchen & Bar | Debrecen, Piac u. 18.

Table reservation: +36 70 772 8100 | Reservation of the table will be finalized only with the purchase of tickets. Ticket purchase is available until 20th February 2020.

Kodály Philharmonia Debrecen

World-class Musicians Playing in Debrecen

On 11th February, Kristóf Baráti and on 3rd March Barnabás Kelemen will be the soloist of the concerts of the Kodály Philharmonia in Debrecen.

On 11th February, Kristóf Baráti and on 3rd March Barnabás Kelemen will be the soloist of the concerts of the Kodály Philharmonia in Debrecen.

Kossuth and Liszt Prize laureate Kristóf Baráti in Debrecen

Kristóf Baráti, born into a musical family, was eight when he began performing with leading orchestras in Venezuela.  In recent seasons, Baráti has performed at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, at London’s Royal Festival Hall with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and in 2019 he was the featured soloist in the opening concert of the Verbier Festival. 

He has also played with orchestras such as Zurich Tonhalle, Oslo Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony, BBC Philharmonic and Hague Philharmonic orchestras.

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Masquerade in Debrecen

Masquerade in Debrecen

Carnival is the time for cheer and fooling, and it is characterized by cheerful feasts, balls, parties and folk festivals. From 10th to 23rd of February, the XIX. Masquerade of Debrecen will help us drive the winter blues away and offer us a range of colourful programs to take part in.

Masquerade in Debrecen

Carnival is the time for cheer, characterized by cheerful feasts, balls, parties and folk festivals. From 10th to 23rd of February, the XIX. Masquerade of Debrecen will help us drive the winter blues away and offer us a range of colourful programs to take part in.

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valentines day Debrecen

Valentines Day in Debrecen?

In Debrecen and Hungary, Valentines Day is referred to as ’Bálint Nap’ or Valentin’Day. Its roots lie in both ancient Greek and Roman beliefs. The ancient Greeks celebrated the Goddess Juno on the 14th February, whom legend has it blessed weddings with fertility for the coming spring.

valentines day Debrecen
Find Romance In Debrecen

In Debrecen and Hungary, Valentines Day is referred to as ’Bálint Nap’ or Valentin’Day.  Its roots lie in both ancient Greek and Roman beliefs. The ancient Greeks celebrated the Goddess Juno on the 14th February, whom legend has it blessed weddings with fertility for the coming spring.  Similarly, the Roman’s celebrated ’Lupercalia’ on Valentine’s day, again the same motives were at play, spring and fertility.  The symbols of Valentines Day, including Cupid, the God of love with his bow and arrow, roses and doves are universal, thus have the same appeal in Hungary as elsewhere.

Today, in Debrecen, Valentine’s day is celebrated through the gift of flowers and good food with popular restaurant dishes including the Hungarian favourites, Duck liver, Salmon, Veal, beef tenderloin with the typical side dishes.  

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Szabo Magda Memorial House

Abigail – Magda Szabo’s Most Popular Work Released in English

While internationally Abigail is not Magda Szabo’s most famous book (The Door was previously), it is her most popular work at home in Hungary, and is therefore it is a perfect read for when travelling to or from Hungary, as a gift or souvenir.

Magda Szabó is a daughter of Debrecen, born and raised, she attended school here and graduated from the University of Debrecen in 1940 as a teacher of Latin and Hungarian.  She began her life as a teacher at a protestant girl’s boarding school in Debrecen and then later worked for the Hungarian Government in the Ministry of Religion and Education.  

Like all great works of literature, Magda Szabo’s story in part reflects her personal experience in life, in the case of the story, ’Abigail’ her youth, -growing up during the war is mirrored in her words and the experience of the character, as is her experience of a strict, religious boarding school environment she used to teach in.

Written in 1970, Abigail has since been turned into both a TV series and a musical.  For non-Hungarians, reading this book is an instant ice breaker for relations with Hungarians, and is a window into the lives of Hungarians living under Nazi occupation.

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Debrecen historical events

Famous Days in History to Celebrate in Debrecen

If you know of Debrecen, even just a little, you would most probably think of images of the impressive Great Reformed Church dominating the central Kossuth Square and the Art Deco and socialism period buildings surrounding it. However, there is much more to Debrecen, so much to discover and celebrate in History.

If you know of Debrecen, even just a little, you would most probably think of images of the impressive Great Reformed Church dominating the central Kossuth Square and the Art Deco and socialism period buildings surrounding it. However, there is much more to Debrecen, so much to discover and celebrate in History. 

See some of the most famous days to celebrate in Debrecen’s past:

  • On the 11th January 1860 – After the uprising in 1848, began a long period of repression of the Hungarian peoples by the Vienna government.  The protestant church was singled out for extensive measures referred to as the “Protestant Patent” which were designed to weaken the power base of the protestant movement. The members of the Protestant parish assembly held in Debrecen on January 11th 1860 rejected the Protestant Patent a move which ultimately led to a change in direction by the Austrians and May 15, 1860, the royal manuscript arrived, restoring the church to its pre- 1848 status.
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Debrecen in Winter

What to Do in Debrecen in Winter?

The of the best things about Debrecen is that many of the top things to do in the summer are even better in winter. You can do them all year round making Debrecen a great destination all year round.

Winter is full of celebration, cheering off the seasonal blues, Debrecen is no different from any other city in this regards, with Christmas and new year celebrations aplenty. However, if you are looking to take a winter break outside of the celebration period there is still much to see and do.

One of the best things about Debrecen is that many of the top things to do in the summer are even better in winter. You can do them all year round making Debrecen a great destination all year round.

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The Traditional + Modern Spa Experience in Debrecen

“Your city is perfect only if it has a spa,”said Abu Syr, Arab historian.

“Your city is perfect only if it has a spa,” said Abu Syr, the Arab historian.

A possible explanation for the origin of the word “spa” is the healing power of water. Debrecen is indeed fortunate with aplenty of spas!  Historically, the spa experience in Europe was centered on the “bath culture”, a patient would spend a few days or weeks in center like Debrecen using medicinal waters to treat or prevent certain illnesses.

In the 1950s, the spa experience was interpreted as a clinical activity but were rebranded as “beauty farms” took over later, using a variety of medicinal water therapies, along with strict exercise and diet.

Today, the modern spa experience is a pampering and pleasant stay in Debrecen and in a beautiful environment with healthy and tasty food. Water is still an important component of the spa experience, but the modern spa provides health services for body and soul.

In Debrecen, you can choose from spa treatments, “lifestyle programs”, and relaxing experiences in a wide range of spa and wellness hotels a selection of which are below.

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