A thousand experiences in Békéscsaba

Békéscsaba is the seat of Békés County, though the titles “City of Munkácsy” or “The Sausage Capital” fit it just as well.

Among Hungary’s cities with county rights, Békéscsaba stands out as one of the greenest and most liveable town. Its squares adorned with groves and flowers, charming promenades, and shady parks invite visitors to take leisurely strolls of discovery. Welldeveloped bicycle paths crisscross the city and connect it with nearby settlements, offering the freedom of movement along the region’s cultural and natural treasures.

Mihály Munkácsy, a painter of extraordinary talent, first picked up a paintbrush in Békéscsaba, and from there he went on to achieve worldwide fame.

Munkácsy connected to the city by countless ties, and the city is immensely proud of the carpenter’s apprentice who became a giant of painting; his memory is preserved, among other things, by the museum named after him and a unique memorial house in the world. Completed in 2024, the Munkácsy Quarter, the first cultural quarter in the Southern Great Plain.

Within the Quarter, starting from the city center, we can discover the painter’s memories connected to Békéscsaba on a pleasant walk and gain insight into his magnificent works.

One of the cherished settings of his childhood is the Quarter’s “jewel box,” the Munkácsy Memorial House, which opened its doors in 1994. Its renovated, interactive exhibition and the 21 original Munkácsy paintings on display offer an unparalleled experience in and of themselves for all ages, but the special pastries at the Confectionery in the Green Salon are also impossible to resist.

The Munkácsy Mihály Museum houses the world’s largest collection of Munkácsy’s works. The permanent exhibition titled “Mihály Munkácsy – The Triumph of a Genius” features not only the world-famous artist’s paintings but also his personal belongings.

In addition to these institutions, memorial plaques, streets, and squares mark the painter’s connection to the town.

Békéscsaba is one of the most significant settlements of the Slovak community in Hungary. The city was resettled by Slovaks in the first half of the 18th century; exploring their intellectual and material cultural heritage, as well as their traditions and culinary specialties that remain alive today, offers interesting activities for visitors.

The Old House, built behind Central Europe’s largest Lutheran church; the Slovak Folk House on Garay Street; and the Fairy-Tale House on Békési Road are all symbols of the architectural heritage left by the Slovaks of Upper Hungary who resettled in Csaba in 1718.

With a population of nearly 56,000, Békéscsaba has been the county seat since 1950. The city center, renovated in the early 2010s, consists of four interconnected squares: Szabadság Square, Szent István Square, Kossuth Square, and Szeberényi Square. Unique monuments, statues, shady tree-lined avenues, and fountains invite you to take a walk. If you are going to visit here, you can discover real treasures in this area, that are easily accessible on foot and you can admire historical, architectural and artistic curiosities every time.

St Stephen’s Square (Main Square) is often referred to as the heart of Békéscsaba. Its most beautiful building is the Town Hall whose façade was designed by Miklós Ybl.

Another magnificent architectural monument is the Jókai Theatre situated at the start of the town’s main street, Andrássy út; the first stone theatre in the Great Plain, as well as the adjacent neoclassical Fiume Hotel where Mihály Munkácsy also stayed during his last visit to Békéscsaba.

The county seat of Békés offers excellent opportunities for those who enjoy active recreation. In recent years, many exciting hiking trails have been developed, inviting visitors to the city to explore.

If you’d like to explore the area on two wheels, you can rent a bike at the local Tourinform office, but you can also admire the landscape’s unparalleled beauty on foot, by scooter, by canoe, or even from a light aircraft. Békéscsaba is a truly bicycle-friendly town; thanks to its constantly improving infrastructure, we can go on cycling tours across the flat countryside, discovering the unparalleled natural and architectural beauty of the city and the Körös region.

One of the most popular hiking trails is the themed Wenckheim hiking and biking trail, which connects the architectural legacy of the historic count’s family in Békés County. There are 31 castles in Békés County, 17 of which were built by members of the count’s family. The bike trail passes by the castles in Szabadkígyós, Póstelek, and Gerla, but with a short detour, you can also reach the Wenckheim crypt in Doboz or the Almásy Castle in Gyula.

For those looking for a quieter outing, the area around the Jaminai quarry lakes, situated in the suburban part of Békéscsaba, is a good choice. The fish stocks in the lakes are maintained through restocking, and the waters are home to carp, pike and zander, amongst others. Anyone can experience the joys of fishing by purchasing a day ticket, but it’s also the perfect spot for an afternoon stroll.

CsabaPark is easily accessible by bike from downtown, where both children and adults are guaranteed to have a great time. The leisure park features a culinary event center preserving the traditions of Csaba sausage, a restaurant offering local specialties, a wine museum, a pálinka museum, a themed playground, a boating lake, a jogging track, and walking trails, providing recreational opportunities for all ages. At the entrance to CsabaPark on Körte Street, you’ll find the Adventure Park, where those seeking active adventures can tackle a 14-meter-high observation tower, a climbing tower, a slide park, a zip line, and a plastic-covered snow tubing track.

Animal lovers might want to have a look around the riding schools in Békéscsaba. As well as horse riding and riding lessons, these riding centres also offer horse-drawn carriage rides and carriage driving.

After all the activities, be sure to visit the Árpád Thermal and Spa the heart of the city to relax and recharge! Therapeutic massages, a sauna, an adventure pool, and children’s and swimming pools await you in a beautiful park setting.

The Békés Airport in Békéscsaba, operated by Békés Airport Kft., is a hub for exciting adventures; it is the only paved, long-runway airport in Békés County. The airport is divided into two sections: a commercial and a sports airfield. Upon prior arrangement, visitors can enjoy sightseeing flights, tandem skydiving, air taxi services, and even night flights.

If we feel like it, we can even take a water tour on the Élővíz Canal that runs through the city. Paddling through beautiful natural surroundings, we can canoe along the canal connecting Békéscsaba, Gyula, and Békés.

Thanks to Békéscsaba’s rich culinary culture, it’s a must-visit destination for food lovers. Just think of Csaba sausage, local Slovak specialties, or fine pálinka! The town’s famous, traditional artisanal product, the Csaba Sausage, has been included in the Hungarikum Collection and is a distinctive feature of local life.

Békéscsaba’s biggest event is the Csabai Sausage Festival, held every October, where, over the course of four days, world-renowned sausage competitions await visitors — from the 600-person teams of sausage-makers to dry sausage competitions, and the preparation and tasting of pork-slaughtering dishes. Daily pork-slaughtering demonstrations are also held, where participants can learn about the customs of different regions. Most guests return to the event year after year; with its unparalleled atmosphere, friendly vibe, and high-quality evening programs, it has maintained its popularity unbroken for decades.

If you’re looking for unique flavors, don’t miss out on the Slovak national dish, haluska. The perfect place to taste it is the charming Frankó Farm and Haluska House, built in the early 20th century and evoking the atmosphere of that era, where, in addition to learning about farm life, you can sample locally made delicacies

 Good sausage calls for excellent pálinka, and for lovers of the drink, the Árpád Pálinkatanya is a must-visit destination. The traditional podsztyenás pálinka house warmly welcomes lovers of rich and unique award-winning pálinkas. The master distiller is happy to introduce visitors to the secrets of distillation amidst the patinated copper stills and winding copper pipes.

The market has always been a meeting place for the people of Csaba, whilst also serving as the town’s larder thanks to its abundant range of produce. The Csaba Market is the largest and most modern market in the region. Wednesdays and Saturdays are the main market days, when the market square fills with local producers offering, amongst other things, homemade cheese, lángos, honey and meat products. Numerous local sausage makers sell their wares at the market, which are popular not only with tourists but also with locals.