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.
Organized by Paparazzi Kitchen & Bar and the Borudvar Wine retailer, this event provides gastronomic lovers with a rare gastronomic experience.
Wine Event
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
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.
On 11th February, Kristóf Baráti and on 3rd March Barnabás Kelemen will be the soloist of the concerts of the Kodály Philharmonia in Debrecen.
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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.
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.
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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.
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
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
“Your city is perfect only if it has a spa,”said Abu Syr, Arab historian.
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“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.
With the arrival of winter, the ice rink opens in Debrecen, in the past, ice skating was available on Gábor Oláh Street. It was a fantastic experience to skate out there in the morning sun or under the evening starry sky, or even in the snow.
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With the arrival of winter, the ice rink opens in Debrecen, in the past, ice skating was available on Gábor Oláh Street. It was a fantastic experience to skate out there in the morning sun or under the evening starry sky, or even in the snow.
When the weather got really cold, winter lovers would ice skate on the frozen Békás Lake in the Great Forest Park or on the Lake “Csónakázó” (it is the lake in front of the stadium). The ice rink on Gábor Oláh Street was finally closed in 2013, after being declared outdated and not up to standard. Instead, winter sports lovers could ice skate on a track set up in front of the Great Church.
Today, we can ice skate in Jégcsarnok or in the mobile ice rink by the Stadium.
On November 29, 2014, the leadership of Debrecen began the annual tradition of unveiling the classic white and red wines to be labelled “Wines of Debrecen” at an event know as “Bormustra”. These award-winning wines were used by the municipality for city events and international delegations and served in several local restaurants.
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On November 29, 2014, the leadership of Debrecen began an annual tradition of unveiling the classic white and red wines to be labelled “Wines of Debrecen” at an event know as “Bormustra”. Today, these award-winning wines are used by the municipality for city events and international delegations and served in several local restaurants.
Each year a jury of professional and social delegates select the wine of the winning wineries in the annual Bormustra competition. The event is organized by the editorial staff of the magazine “Debreceni Borozó” and this year took place on December 16 at the Hotel Lycium.
The jury comprised of winemakers and social delegates including experts such as Dr. Attila Fiáth, professor, international wine academician, Dr. József Kosárka, international wine academic, the ambassador of the world wines and Dr. Tibor Kovács, associate professor and director of the Research Institute for Viticulture and Oenology, Tokaj.
Born into a Jewish family in Berlin in 1920, Helmut Newton was a German-Australian photographer whose provocative, erotically charged black-and-white photos were a mainstay of Vogue and other publications.
Until January 26
Born into a Jewish family in Berlin in 1920, Helmut Newton was a German-Australian photographer whose provocative, erotically charged black-and-white photos were a mainstay of Vogue and other publications. When looking at Helmut Newton’s photographs, it is often unclear where reality ends and where the “show” begins. He combines different elements in his photographs to create an embarrassing play of power and seduction with an incredible aesthetic sense.
As a great fashion photographer, he redefined the spirit of the times; his purpose was to tell exciting and surprising stories through pictures. He focused mostly on women – Paloma Picasso, Catherine Deneuve, Liz Taylor, Carla Bruni – but the interaction between men and women is a recurring theme in his footage.
In the late years, Newton also worked for German, American, Italian, French and Russian Vogue, primarily in and around Monte Carlo. It is impossible to categorize his work of more than five decades. In his pictures, he combined elegance and style. His oeuvre is not only unique but also inimitable.
While advent begins at the end of November or the beginning of December, in Hungary Christmas really begins for children on the 6th December, this is because it is (Mikulás-nap) St.Nicholas day, the day when Santa visits Children throughout Hungary.
Christmas Tradition
While advent begins at the end of November or the beginning of December, in Hungary Christmas really begins for children on the 6th December, this is because it is (Mikulás-nap) St.Nicholas day, the day when Santa visits Children throughout Hungary.
In preparation for this Advent and Christmas period, a number of popular treats are prepared in vast quantities, available everywhere from cukrászdák (confectionaries), and at the stalls at the Advent Christmas fairs located in bigger cities such as Budapest and Debrecen.
#1 The Beigli
In what can only be described as a sweet tradition, the Beigli is consumed in vast quantities in the build-up to Christmas. The rolled cylinders of dough are more widely known as Christmas Roll or Poppy Seed roll or Walnut Rolls. They are named accordingly, with either poppy seed or a walnut filling and then baked. These sweet treats last for long periods and are mass-produced by Grandma’s across the country. It is a happily unavoidable treat and a sensation that is inseparable from the Christmas experience and memory here.
In Hungary, the Christmas season begins with Advent at either the end of November or the beginning of December, a time waiting for the Lord.
Christmas Tradition
In Hungary, the Christmas season begins with Advent at either the end of November or the beginning of December, a time known for waiting for the Lord. This time also marks the beginning of the Church year, a tradition originating from the 5-6. century. The Christmas season includes lighting up the candles on four consecutive Advent Sundays, setting up the Christmas tree and waiting for Santa for the little ones. Let’s see the most well-known Hungarian Christmas traditions.
1stDecember – Advent calendar and Christmas pageant tradition
The tradition of the Advent calendar arose from German Protestants in the 1800’s as a way for children to countdown to Christmas Day. It spread across the world during the 20th century to become the main secular observance of the season. The first commercially printed Advent calendar was created by Gerhard Lang in 1908, inspired by his mother, who sewed 24 cookies into the lid of a box and allowed him to eat one per day through December.
The Debrecen Advent Fair opened at Kossuth Square and Piac Street on November 23rd, providing a cosy community space with vendors supplying unique handmade products, irresistible delicacies and soul-warming hot drinks.
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The Debrecen Advent Fair opened at Kossuth Square and Piac Street on November 23rd, providing a cosy community space with vendors supplying unique handmade products, irresistible delicacies and soul-warming hot drinks.
In the advent of the hustle and bustle, we can enjoy the 45-meter giant wheel, while our youngest can take a ride on the Vili train (December 2-23).
30 November: Bethlehem in the Old Town Hall
From November 30, the Old Town Hall will open its gate. In its inner courtyard, figures of Bethlehem can be seen together with biblical animals thanks to the help of the Debrecen Zoo and Botanical Garden. In addition to those images, the wilderness of Hortobágy will be also displayed. In addition to the permanent programs, there are other nature-based attractions on the weekends, i.e. Természettár (Association of Nature) shows what we can do for animals, especially for the birds and other wildlife species, in winter.
Opening hours of the Old Town Hall: Saturday and Sunday 9 AM 9 PM, weekdays 4 PM – 8 PM (November 30 – December 22, 2019)
