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While social distancing efforts are afoot to slow the global pandemic, nature’s seasons move on, oblivious to humanities woes. Nature lives and thrives!

Nothing proves this more than the streets and squares of Debrecen in full bloom.

With the sunshine and good weather, the revival of nature has begun. Spring has finally arrived! Magnolia and Golden Rain bushes bloom beautifully all over Debrecen, Hyacinths, Daffodils open and the trees are turning green.

The main street of Debrecen, known as Piac street, was once lined with trading houses, and it remained a centre of trade and for hundreds of years. The very first multi-floor dwellings of the town were built here. While the buildings are of simple construction, their facades have many beautiful decorations that deserve special attention.

One of these buildings is the Rickl House at No. 39-41 on Piac Street. The great-grandfather of the world-famous author Magda Szabó (from her mom’s side), József Rickl, was a German merchant, he built this classicist building for his renowned supermarket and his family in the 1820s.

The building bearing the name Zenede has a long illustrious history associated with music culture and music education, mostly because of the ties to the man that the building is named after, the composer and the children’s educator Zoltán Kodály.

Today the building is home to the Zoltán Kodály Vocational Secondary School of Music, a fitting legacy since he was deeply devoted to the importance of music in children’s education. He became world-famous for inventing a music teaching method that has been used ever since, all over the world to teach children music.

Every square meter of Debrecen’s downtown has something of a cultural and historical significance. If you want to get to know the city, you should open your eyes and discover its hidden treasures beyond the obvious sights. To help you see beyond the obvious we have collected for you the most beautiful gates in Debrecen with the help of architect Attila Harangi and photographer Viktor Löki.

1. Reformed Great Church

The emblem of Debrecen represents Puritan Classicism in Calvinist Rome. The largest Reformed Church in the country was built between 1805 and 1821  according to the plans of Mihály Péchy. The Reformed Great Church was built on the foundation walls of the medieval Gothic-style church of St. Andrew, which was completely destroyed in the devastating fire in 1802. The impressive gate ornament of the church reflects the ancient heritage of Debrecen. If you visit Reformed Great Church, take time to appreciate the massive copper handle with intricate symbols.

The founders of the virtual festival entitled “Stay Home!” are 50 organizers, festivals, clubs, and events. Their aim is to mobilize domestic artists and make the audience follow the rules and stay at home.

“Millions of people go to national festivals and concerts every year. Fans will hopefully listen to their favorite artists and stay at home. The main mission of this initiative is to encourage it”, said Norbert Lobenwein, founder of the VOLT Festival and one of the key figures behind the initiative. 

The “Stay at Home! Festival” encourages the Facebook audience to take the rules seriously and stay at home by bringing the artists to the home of the fans.

Kossuth and Széchenyi Streets are among the oldest and busiest streets of Debrecen. Széchenyi Street was previously called Német (German) Street before 1860 as it was where Germans gathered to trade on the internationally recognized Debrecen markets. Kossuth Street was previously called Nagy-Cegléd Utca before 1894 when it was renamed.

But who was Kossuth and Széchenyi and why were streets renamed after them in Debrecen and throughout Hungary? What was their connection to each other, and Debrecen?

Who Was Count István Széchenyi?

Considering that there have been a few isolated cases of COVID-19 infection in Hungary, we would like to ask that you carefully consider the following information and that you follow the guidance provided below.

March 14th, marks the Jubilee Season of Debrecen Amusement Park, which has opened every day of the week from May 1st since the first opening back in 1960. Debrecen Amusement Park remains the only permanent Amusement park in Hungary.

To embrace tradition, while also catering to those looking for new thrills, the repertoire will include both timeless classics and awesome new novelties.

In addition to the careful maintenance of park equipment, several rides have also undergone a visual overhaul and now await the season start in their full glory. Cherished for their great history and beautiful craftsmanship, the magnificent steeds of the Horse Carousel are now as good as new, and so is the Duck Train, a true family favorite.

There are several Opera or Operetta performances at the Csokonai Theater that might be of interest in the upcoming months.

Csárdás Queen

The Csárdás Queen is considered Imre Kálmán’s greatest work, the songs from which were among Adolf Hitler’s favorites, and for a long while, Imre was his favorite composer even though he was Jewish. In Hungarian, this operetta is known as “Csárdáskirálynő” and is well-known, while globally it is considered the most popular and most played operetta of all time.

According to operetta statistics, there is not a single minute when one of the popular melodies of Imre Kálmán is not played at any place on the Earth – in theater, concert, movie, TV or radio. In the English language, the Operetta was renamed as Csárdás Princess, The Riviera Girl, or The Gipsy Princess.

In celebration of the outbreak of revolution in 1848, the 15^th of March is set aside as a national holiday, one of 3 national holidays celebrated in Hungary each year.

With the broad cooperation of the cultural and educational institutions of the city, a series of festive programs commemorating the events leading up to the Revolution of 1848-49 will take place in Debrecen.

Ákos László the well-known and respected artist and long-time resident of Debrecen turned 80 on 6th March 2020. Born in,1940, in Budapest, and was raised by his grandparents in Oradea where he spent his school years. In 1963, he graduated from the Ion Andreescu College of Fine Arts in Cluj-Napoca. In the Autumn of 1982, he moved with his family from Oradea to Debrecen.

His artwork not only captures Debrecen’s sights but sometimes its women or even captures death. It revolves around the world with its twisted, distinctive lines, showing a crude yet dreamlike image. He speaks of a Romanic Debrecen, describing the city as a “gentle lover” its beauty and its history and ancient charm, gradually giving its secrets away over time but also its stern faith.

For almost forty years Ákos László has walked the streets of Debrecen with infinite loyalty and has captured its characteristic buildings, towers, the hidden parts of the city and does so with an artistic devotion. 

This year marks the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. In honour of the 250th anniversary of the world-famous pianist, the Kodály Philharmonia Debrecen plays all the symphonies of the great classical master throughout the 2019-2020 season.

On 24th March, visitors can enjoy BEETHOVEN 250. – V. CONCERT, the Symphony No. 4 in B major, Op. 60 and the Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 in the hands of a world-famous pianist. 

The  Symphony No. 4 in B major, Op. 60 is in four movements. It was composed in 1806 and later premiered in public at the Burgtheater, Vienna in April 1808. While later composers including Berlioz, Mendelssohn and Schumann greatly admire the work, it is less well known otherwise.

The Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92, was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven between 1811 and 1812. The second movement, Allegretto, was the most popular movement and frequently performed separately from the complete symphony.  Beethoven considered this symphony in four movements to be one of his best works.

No interrupted winter break for Zoo Keepers at Debrecen Zoo! The new arrivals keep coming but such interruptions are very welcome!

New animal acquisitions and new babies to see in Spring 2020.

Vampire Crabs

The Zoo has recently acquired yet another intriguing species with the arrival of four purple vampire crabs. Vampire crabs are actually quite rare at zoos and this particular species is only found here in Hungary. The newcomers have their own terrarium in our Palm House, so you can come to check them out in the thick vegetation that mimics their natural environment.

The IKON in Debrecen is one of three restaurants in Eastern Hungary that ranks among the top 10 in the “Best Country Restaurants” list.

If you are interested in a Gastronomic restaurant tour in Eastern Hungary, then start in Debrecen because it is the gateway to the Eastern regions of Hungary via its International Airport and the M3 motorway.

Debrecen

In Summer 2019, Debrecen, a new chef arrived at the IKON Restaurant, straight from England. Since then the restaurant has offered a fine dining menu like no other in the city or region, with a clearer choice, and as for the food, – well the critics rave about it.