Debrecen is one of the lucky towns where silence of nature is within reach. The Nagyerdő (Great Forest), the first nature reserve of the country offers a number of pastime opportunities for nature fans within a distance of 10 minutes from the historical centre. In addition to the marvellous natural environment of Nagyerdő, you can see protected trees and plants at several locations across the town, these have a high nature value but on top of that they are of interest from a local historical aspect. It is worth seeing these on a leisurely walk or a cycle tour and getting to know the botanical and natural science heritage of the town.
- Japanese acacia (Kossuth u. 10)
The most beautiful trees of the Debrecen city centre include the Japanese acacia in front of the Csokonai Theatre, these are protected natural resources of local significance. The Japanese acacia also known as pagoda tree does not stem from Japan in contrast to its name but China and Korea, taking its name from its hanging branch system, vaulted crown. Its blooms are yellowish, pale purplish but these are produced by trees only after 15 years. Their most amazing look is presented in summer when they are fully blossoming. The town is putting the two Japanese acacia in front of the theatre to the competition of Tree of the Year 2021.
- Lycium tree (corner of Múzeum and Füvészkert utca)
The legendary lycium tree as popularly known boxthorn bush stands at the junction of Füvészkert and Múzeum utca, behind the Reformed Great Church. Boxthorn is a botanical rarity, neither a grass, nor a tree. A lovely anecdote is linked to the one in Debrecen. Legend has it that in the 16th century, as reformation gained ground, this was where Bálint priest who was the follower of the new faith and the Catholic Ambrosius argued. In the heat of the discussion, the Catholic Ambrosius broke off a stick of the nearest lycium bush and pushed it into ground saying: ‘Your faith shall be of a volume if this weed shall grow into tree.’ To which Bálint priest answered: ‘Then it is going to be a tree.’ The small stick grew into a tree during the centuries and the new faith took root in the town, therefore the lycium tree is the symbol of strengthening of the reformation up to day. The legend has no historical base but the place of the lycium tree played a relevant role in the history of the Debrecen Reformation as this was where the vicarage stood in which the well-known reformatory and church writer Péter Méliusz Juhász lived in the mid-16th century and where Gál Huszár ran his printing house. At the place of the old parish, the reformed church let the Bishop Palace built in 1912 operating as an apartment house even today, which is one of the old atmospheric buildings of the inner city.
- Yew trees (Memorial Garden)
It is worth visiting the Memorial Garden between the Reformed Great Church and Reformed College not only for its particularities of local and cultural history but also for the beautiful yew trees located here. Yew trees are indigenous tree species belonging to the group of pines, these are very good trees for parks that can be found not only here but also in other parts of the town such in the park at Egyetem tér. The particularity about the two protected yew trees in Füvészkert utca is that they probably stem from the remaining plant material of the old arboretum. Their other particularity is that all their parts are toxic except for their fruit, a small red berry. These trees are of great importance in winter bird protection as birds eat their fruits: although its seed is toxic, the digestion of birds is too fast for the toxins to take effect. Therefore, the birds drop the seeds contributing to the widespread presence of the yew trees.
- The old Arboretum and sessile oak (Déri tér)
Debrecen’s most atmospheric square is Déri tér that has a value both in term of local history and botany. This area was called Pap-tava (Priest’s Lake) some 200 years ago and the Arboretum was here as of 1807. Founding the garden was figured out by a circle of friends, whose members were, among others Mihály Fazekas, Sámuel Diószegi, János Földi, József Szentgyörgyi and Mihály Csokonai Vitéz. The result arising from the work of the society actively dealing with gardens and botany is the Debrecen Botanical Book published in 1807. The former arboretum at the place of today’s Déri Museum was under the supervision of the Reformed College between 1844 and 1922 and served the education of natural sciences. After the university was founded in 1912 the faculty of natural sciences came into being and it was decided to erect a new museum building in the 1920s whose place was in the square, the arboretum was dismantled. This was when the Déri Museum was built and the square gained its current form where there is not even sign of the former arboretum. The beautiful neo-Baroque building of the museum, the babbling fountain and the amazing statues of Ferenc Medgyessy took over the lead at the square but even then an important natural treasure remains: an over hundred year old beautiful sessile oak. The imposing royal look of the huge tree is impressive, and the largest and at the same time most beautiful tree of the inner city thanks to its dimensions. Due to its age, it is like a living textbook on history, if it was able to speak, it would tell many things about the history of the square as it witnessed the dismantling of the arboretum and the 1956 revolutionary events. The sessile oak at Déri tér ranked second in the Tree of the Year of 2020 competition and was awarded the special prize, too.
- Flower watch (Hunyadi J. utca – Baltazár Dezső tér)
The flower watch was unveiled 40 days before the 40th Debrecen Flower Festival on 10 July 2009, on the 500th anniversary of Calvin’s birthday in the junction of Baltazár Dezső tér and Hunyadi utca. The flower watch is nothing more than a sundial. Its axis has a shape of prism, carved limestone column. The hour hand is a long metal rod, below that metal circular arcs referring to the astral pathways. At the extremity of the hand there is an ornament shaping the wing of a phoenix, the symbol of the town. The structure as a whole reminds of the shape of a shadoof recalling the world of the puszta. At the place of the sundial once stood a house in which Ferenc Kölcsey lived in his student years at the college. In the memory of the poet, a Floribunda rose improved in Szőreg has been next to the flower watch since 2015.
- Trees at Bem tér
Due to the intense traffic, the busiest junction of Debrecen is a less popular destination but it is worth taking a detour here when walking towards the Nagyerdő as this area is rich in local historical and botanical particularities. Once this was the border of the town beyond which only the ‘Öregtölgyes’ (Old Oak-forest) stood used for centuries for timber production. On the northern side of today’s square there were only pastures, gardens and a cemetery at the beginning of the 1800s, traders took the area into possession sometimes for minor fairs. The function of the square changed after the urban planning of 1812 had been implemented when the border of the town was shifted outwards and the landscaping of the Nagyerdő started. In the last almost two centuries, the square underwent many reconstructions but that is another story.
One of the best-known buildings of Bem tér is the modern library building constructed in 2007 that is named after Péter Méliusz Juhász reformed bishop, church scholar, writer, a leader of the Reformed Church in Hungary with the highest impact. Beside his role in the history of church, Méliusz created something impactful as botanist, he was the author of the Herbarium, the first Hungarian scholarly medic-botanical book. The book published after the death of the author is the first that presents data about the fauna of Hungary’s and more that of Debrecen’s vicinity.
The Bem tér is now a place of great botanical value. In the small park in front of Méliusz Juhász Péter Library and on all sides of the square many beautiful and interesting trees can be discovered. On the inner city side of the square, in Péterfia utca there is a wonderful spherical ash line, huge sessile oaks in front of Kétmalom utca, and advancing further towards the Nagyerdő, a hundred year-old linden tree line pleases the eye on both sides of Simonyi út. You can observe a tree with particular leaves in the park in front of the Méliusz Library: ginkgo biloba, one of the world’s most interesting and oldest tree species. Out of its relatives, it was the only species that survived the Ice Age and can live as long as 1000 years. Thanks to its numerous good qualities it is highly appreciated and has been used in cure for centuries. It is popular as a decorative plant beside its curing effects. In front of the Atomki building, an imposing almost 100 year old ash can be seen, which stems probably from the old arboretum.
- Double-sided linden line in Simonyi utca
The road connecting the historical inner city to the Nagyerdő bears the name of József Simony colonnel who did so much for the plantation of previously potholed rutted lane with trees and turning it into a public promenade. Baron vitézvári József Simonyi, the legendary colonel excelling in the Napoleon Wars settled with his Hussar regiment in 1818 Debrecen. He took his soldiers to the Nagyerdő to practise but at the time the road between the town and wood was a disorderly area, therefore when the regiment went out, the vicinity was covered with dust clouds. Simonyi made a proposal to plant trees along the road to whose costs he offered even a contribution of 200 forints but the town made it a public promenade on its own costs. Planting the road was finally still paid by Simonyi buying 600 young poplar trees and planting them in autumn of 1819, next to each he set a soldier standing as legend goes. The tree line was inaugurated on 6 August 1820 with a folk festival, which was attended even by Count István Széchenyi who was just drafted 2 days before in Simonyi’s regiment. The road was noted as tree line to Nagyerdő for years but the grateful inhabitants of Debrecen started to name it Simonyi dam and then Simony út (road) after the generous colonel. It carries the name of Simonyi officially as of 1899. Many of the young trees planted in the sandy soil died but the town replaced them by acacia, however these were devastated by a gale so their place was replanted by lindens grown in nurseries in 1931. The almost 100 year old double linden line is nowadays protected.
- Botanical Garden of the University of Debrecen (Egyetem utca 1)
The arboretum dates back 200 years in Debrecen. The predecessor of the current botanical garden was the arboretum established at the place of Déri Museum – known at the time as Pap tava (Priest’s Lake) – whose area was set out by the then council of Debrecen in 1807. The garden established by Sámuel Diószegi and Mihály Fazekas was under the supervision of the Reformed College and served the education in natural sciences up to 1922 when the building of university of sciences was built in the area of Nagyerdő and the Déri Museum at the place of arboretum. After the elimination of the arboretum, the town donated an area of 17 ha behind the university in the Nagyerdő for the purpose of the botanical garden. This is where the botanical garden opened in 1928 still operating even now. The purpose of the garden was set to have scientific and aesthetic tasks, which is still valid today. Nearly 6000 plant species are registered in the botanical garden operated by the University of Debrecen. It is home to an arboretum with over 750 ligneous species, four cedar species currently known in the world, unique herbaceous and tropical collections as well as one of the most precious plant communities of Nyírség, the so-called the oak forest with lily-of-the-valley. Its cactus and succulent collections are far-famed, which are in Central Eastern Europe the largest ones.
- Great Forest
The Great Wood formed as a remainder of the once continuous Nyírség woods is the ‘lung’ of the town, one of the most popular parts offering many recreational options in the shadows of the 100 year old trees for those seeking nature. It is named not after the area of the wood but the stature of the trees as oaks with lily-of-the-valley and sessile oaks can be as old as 100 to 200 years old and even 25 to 26 m high.
The social science of the Nagyerdő is just as exciting as its natural value. The wood was donated by King Sigismund to the town of Debrecen in 1405, preserved and protected by the Debrecen landowners and inhabitants for centuries. Erzsébet Szilágyi and the Hunyadis in possession of town lands ordered its protection already in 1462. Although the value of the Nagyerdő was recognised already in the 13th century, yet, it did not belong to the town until the beginning of 19th century, its area produced timber constantly. Nevertheless scientists, artists recognised its value and it was a source of inspiration for famous persons such as Rezső Soó, Mihály Fazekas, Mihály Csokonai Vitéz and Árpád Tóth. The ‘Old Oak-forest’ as the Nagyerdő was long called by the locals became a popular destination for those of Debrecen at the beginning of the 19th century who made outings, leisure walks in the shadowy quiet Nagyerdő from the crowded town at the weekend. In its landscaped part more and more summer villas, catering establishments and entertainment establishments were built in the 19th century and the Millennial celebrations were held here when the once-savage forest was already a popular walking zone. Developments went on in the 20th century as a result of which the Nagyerdő by now is home to a number of leisure and sports facilities attended by both the locals and tourists.
700 to 800 plant species are registered in the area of the Nagyerdő. Its majority conserves the memory of open steppe oak forests on sand whose indigenous tree species is sessile oak, other typical species are white polar, quaking-ash, little-leaf linden, field maple and wild pear. The many old trees located in the area of the wood provide various habitats for a number of animal, plant and fungus species.
The first nature reserve of the country was established in the north-eastern part of 31 hectare of the Nagyerdő, to be extended by further areas in the later decades. The purpose of designating protection was to conserve the old oak-forest and the neighbouring forest communities first designated protected in Hungary. The protected natural area of national importance is part of the Natura 2000 network.
- Diószegi Sámuel Botanical Garden (Hollós u. 3)
The botanical garden founded in 1983 is owned by the Kós Károly Vocational Secondary School of Art and Boarding-School operated by the Educational District Centre of Debrecen. The area of the garden is 2.2 ha, including a greenhouse of 120 sqm. The garden was founded by the town of Debrecen, which designated it protected in 1992. The garden boast with numerous particularities. It has over 1300 taxa, which is why this garden is the richest dendrological collection of the town of Debrecen. Its collection of bamboo resistant to cold is highly valuable, its richness in species and varieties of maples, oaks and guelder-roses is one of a kind across the country, the number of coniferous evergreen amounts to 150. The Diószegi Sámuel Botanical Garden is the sole secondary grammar school in the country which is located in a protected natural area. On top of playing a key role in environmental education, the garden is open to public so that it fulfils a role in the education of the public.
- Park of Balásházy János Agricultural Secondary School (Pallag)
By the initiative of Franz Joseph I, the ‘National Economic and Forestry Learning Institution’ was opened in Debrecen in 1867 according to the memorandum, originally a school for farmers then a learning institution for economics. On its intellectual basis, the legal predecessor Middle Grade Economic Learning Institution was founded in 1940 that operated for some years in Böszörményi utca, then finally moved into Pallag, where there was a school for farmers earlier. A 3.5 ha marvellous park is located next to the old atmospheric building named after an outstanding farmer of the Reform Era, János Balásházy, in which you can discover unique exotic trees as well.
- Erdőspuszták (Wood Pusztas)
The Debrecen Erdőspuszták are spanning east of the town, about 10 km, in a semicircular arch. As its name shows, it is a transition between a forest and grassy puszta. Although it underwent many changes during its history due to the deforestation and canalisation, its area is still varied, rich in living resources. Its several spots are already protected in part as part of the Hajdúsági Landscape Protection Area, in part as protected area of local significance. The indigenous woods are mainly dry oak forests on sand and oak forests with lily-of-the-valley but in its lower areas oak-ash-elm alluvial forests and willow-birch bosks are located. Meadows also formed on clearances, whereas on drier areas you can see sand steppes. Artificial lakes are also located in the area of Erdőspuszták, which was founded in the 1970s by the involvement of forest engineers and hydrographic professionals to create a recreational zone for Debrecen’s population to recreate and entertain. As part of developments, the Fancsikai Lakes, the Vekeri Lake, the Mézeshegyi Lakes, the Halápi Lakes, the Bodzás Lake and Hármashegyi Lake were established. Some of these are dried out by now, but others are a famous destination for anglers and hikers.
- Nagycserei Recreational Forest
The recreational forest located on the line of Zsuzsi Forest Railway is named after the nearby town part Nagycsere. The most spectacular part of the recreational forest is the Kőrises (Ash) Arboretum, one of the most beautiful alluvial forests of Nyírség. The initially 38 ha nature reserve with oak-ash-elm alluvial forest covers by now an area of over 50 ha. At its heart there is an old oak-ash-elm alluvial forest stand in whose deeper parts covered with water in spring the Hungarian ash predominates. The construction of the arboretum started in 1954 by late Pál Szabó forest engineer, forest operation technical manager of the Forestry of Nagycsere, continued later on by József Tóth. By his initiative, also the pine collection surrounding the 38 ha nature reserve was added to the Arboretum. The foresters know the area today as ‘Szabó Pál Memorial Forest’ where the founder is commemorated by a memorial made of timber. In the western part of the forest there are oak and poplar forests. A rich avifauna is present in the area.
- Hármashegyi Recreational Wood
The highest part of Erdőspuszták is Hármashegy (Triple Hill), which is named after the protrusion composed of three heaps in the area. The sand dune line constitutes part of the Great Plain Blue Trail. On its top there is an 18 m high lookout tower where a magnificent view is provided onto a green located at the foot of the ‘hill’ surrounded by pine and oak forest, which is part of the Hajdúsági Landscape Protection Area. The Hármashegy is a popular place for hikers where a playground, a celestial observatory, forest paths, hiking trails and a lookout tower await nature lovers. The Hármashegy Recreational Centre can be best accessed by Zsuzsi Forest Railway, which is the oldest narrow-gauge small railway of Hungary. The railway was opened to public in 1882 between the Gúthi forest owned by the town and Debrecen. The railway originally constructed to transport timber produced in the forest is currently an excursion train. At its terminus, Hármashegy, there is a celestial observatory, a playground, a lake, lookout tower and a forest study trail. On the forest educational trail you can get to know the natural and cultural values of the protected area while passing through the characteristic habitats of Erdőspuszták. Out of its botanical values stand out the lesser butterfly-orchid, the elegant orchid, the spring meadow saffron, the cloth-of-gold crocus, the Hungarian iris and sand iris, furthermore out of the animals the large longicorn, the numerous songbirds, the mole rat, the badger and the ermine.
- Bánki Recreational Centre
Another popular destination of Erdőspuszták is the Bánki Recreational Centre. It most important part is the Arboretum, which serves to showcase the ligneous plants – leafy trees, shrubs and conifers – of the region that can be planted successfully. The Arboretum is a home to a study trail, a lookout tower and a folk house. The facility offers not only botanical experience to visitors but also an opportunity to get to know the lifestyle, economic memories of the regional folk as well as botanical, entomological, ornithological rarities and archaeological finds via the exhibitions of the showcase house. Thanks to the protected natural environment, the visitor can view not only carefully tended varied plants but also rich insect world and avifauna, smaller vertebrate animals, mammals and amphibians in the Arboretum.
Photo credit: Debrecen csodái, Future of Debrecen
