March is the first month of spring, the time when nature starts to wake up from its winter sleep. Trees and bushes turn green, flowers open their petals and birds chirp in the trees. The days are getting longer and the sun is getting warmer, so we can spend more of our free time outside the four walls. As well as discovering the wonders of nature, March is also a great month to recharge our batteries before spring fatigue, whether it’s a family day out in the park, an exciting city walk to discover lesser-known places and attractions, or a visit to a long-overdue or recently opened exhibition. Debrecen offers all the opportunities to enjoy a lifetime of experiences in March.
Take a walk in the footsteps of the Hungarian War of Independence!
Debrecen was the capital of Hungary twice, first in 1849, during the Hungarian War of Independence, and then in 1944, at the end of the Second World War. Debrecen was an important site of the events of the 1848-49 revolution and freedom struggle 175 years ago, and in 1849 it became the temporary capital of the country. It was here that the government and the parliament met, the Holy Crown was preserved, Lajos Kossuth was elected governor of Hungary and the dethronement of the Habsburgs was proclaimed. In addition to the well-known historical events, Debrecen has a number of lesser known but all the more interesting stories from the Revolution, which tell us many fascinating details not only about the history of the country and the city, but also about the revolutionaries and the people of Debrecen who welcomed them. So, on the occasion of the national holiday on March 15, it’s worth setting off and visiting the places where Kossuth, Petőfi and other prominent figures of the War of Independence visited 175 years ago.
To learn more about the Hungarian War of Independence, visit Déri Museum and the Museum of the Reformed College where you can find permanent exhibitions about the war and its venues.
Admire the Munkácsy trilogy that everyone has to see a once in a lifetime!
This year, 180 years ago, on 20 February 1844, Mihály Munkácsy, the first world-famous Hungarian painter, was born. Munkácsy’s name is now closely intertwined with Debrecen, as his stunning Christ Trilogy can be seen in the Déri Museum. The three monumental canvases – Christ before Pilate, Ecce Homo and Golgotha – tell the story of Christ’s Passion. The paintings depict the conflict between Christ and his accusers, culminating in the fulfillment of the Word, Christ’s death on the cross. The three paintings have become some of the most successful and popular works of Munkácsy and Hungarian painting, and it is no coincidence that the new approach to the subject and the figure of Jesus, the huge size of the canvas and the realistic depiction of the scenes still captivate visitors today. What makes the joint presentation of these works so special is that Munkácsy himself did not see the three paintings on the biblical theme together.
Take a forest bath in Hungary’s most beautiful forest, the Great Forest of Debrecen on the World Forest Day!
On 21 March, we celebrate World Forest Day! It’s a great occasion to take a long walk in the Great Forest, chosen as Hungary’s most beautiful forest in 2023. In addition to the walk, there are of course other exciting activities in the Great Forest. There’s Hungary’s first zoo in the countryside, where you can see giraffes, hippos and leopards up close, the Sziget-kék (Island Blue) theme park inspired by the story by writer Magda Szabó, where there’s a miniature town and a range of attractions for children, and the 110-year-old Great Forest Water Tower, with its beautiful view of the surrounding countryside from its observation point. There is also a science park, a botanical garden, a thermal spa and indoor aquapark, a running track, nature trails and playgrounds, all set among the huge trees of the Great Forest.
Read 10 reasons why the Great Forest (NAGYERDŐ) in Debrecen is a must-see destination HERE.
Color up your days with must-see exhibitions!
In spring, nature is alive but not yet in all its glory. If you want a colorful experience but can’t find it in nature, head to the MODEM Center for Modern and Contemporary Art, where every color and shade of the palette is on display in The Image of Color, The Mystery of the Image. The exhibition of monochrome paintings from the Antal Lusztig Collection, one of the most important private collections in Hungary, not only offers a feast for the eyes, but also allows us to ponder specific questions such as where light goes, how white feels or what yellow sounds like. Slightly different, but just as exciting, is the exhibition No Problem 80! in the Kölcsey Centre’s Bényi Gallery, next door to MODEM. The exhibition of works by the 80-year-old painter Zoltán Gonda is a combination of reality and vision, leaving room for the imagination.
Explore Debrecen on city walks and church tours!
Debrecen has an amazing amount of cultural and historical nuggets for every square meter. The city’s must-visit sights and lesser-known but just as interesting attractions are worth exploring with an expert guide or with the help of pre-planned itineraries for a more complete Debrecen experience. In Debrecen, there are several thematic walks available, which can be accompanied by a guide or individually. In addition to the walks, guided tours of museums and guided tours of the recently completely renovated Reformed churches – Reformed Great Church, Truncated Church, Red Church, and University Reformed Church – offer a great way to relax. Whether you are interested in history, architecture, or street art, you are sure to have gained a lot of new and interesting information by the end of the tour.
Go sightseeing by tram!
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the opening of tram line 2 in Debrecen. There was a period in the city’s history when there were seven tram lines, but from the 1970s they were gradually phased out and replaced by buses and trolleybuses. Nowadays, tram transport is becoming increasingly popular again, with two tram lines running in the city since 2012. If you want to explore the city in comfort, you should hop on the tram and take a ride. The best way to do this is to take tram 1, Debrecen’s historic tram line, which is over 140 years old and runs between the iconic buildings of the city center towards the city park in the Great Forest. From its window you can see the Hungarian Art Nouveau County Hall, the eclectic row of downtown palaces lining the main street, the neoclassical Reformed Church, the modern buildings of the Aquaticum spa, the 110-year-old Great Forest Water Tower and the impressive main building of the University of Debrecen. On the way, it’s worth stopping here and there to explore the surroundings on foot, such as the old town streets of Péterfia Street or the turn-of-the-century villas of Simonyi Street.
Let’s get out of the city!
Debrecen is one of the lucky cities where the silence of nature is within easy reach. You won’t find hills and mountains here but the city and its surroundings, rich in woodland, offer a wealth of natural wonders. From the Great Forest located a ten-minute ride from the historic city center to the Erdőspuszták (Wooded Plains) which surrounds the city from the north-east, or the Gúth Forest, the largest contiguous forest block in the Great Plain, there are not only fabulous natural treasures but also important cultural and historical monuments, so it’s worth taking a trip to explore the area in your free time!
Read our spring hiking tips in and around Debrecen HERE.
