Bekescsaba

In 1990 Békéscsaba was granted county city rights. It is the cultural and educational centre, transport interchange, commercial and industrial hub of Békés County and the venue of cultural and gastronomic events of great renown.

During the Hungarian Settlement Magyar tribes arrived in the Triple-Körös valley at the end of the 9th century and the area remained in their possession. The name of Békéscsaba was first recorded in the second half of the 14th century as a settlement with a church.

Bursts of fighting against the Turkish at the end of the 17th century led to the desertion of the area. In 1718 the first settlers from Upper Hungary (today Slovakia) arrived in the hope of religious freedom. In later years they were followed by many more.

Farming and animal husbandry brought prosperity to the town and Békéscsaba had become the largest settlement in the county by the end of the 18th century. It was granted city status in 1919.

As the southeast gate of Hungary, the town gradually took over the regional role of the larger cities of Oradea/Nagyvárad and Arad, both annexed to Romania after World War I. An important road junction and railway intersection, the town was already the most significant settlement of its environs. In 1950 it became the county seat. It is renowned for the local food processing industry and the Kner Printing House.

Scherzo, the town's most notable event in modern times, is a National Festival of Youth Music Theatres. The Daisy Children's Festival (Százszorszép Gyerekfesztivál) creates a lively festival mood at the end of May while the Town Hall Evenings (Városházi Esték) consist of a series of open-air arts events in June and July. In August the ZENIT Meeting of Young Musicians and the Fon Trade Brass Band Competition bring bands to the town from numerous European countries.

The most famous gastronomic event of the region is the Csaba Sausage Festival (Kolbászfesztivál) held in October. It is both a show and competition of the best Csaba sausage varieties of the area.

How to get there:
By car, take route 44 towards the Romanian border or route 47 to Hódmezővásárhely; both roads cross Békéscsaba. By train take the Szolnok-Békéscsaba-Lőkösháza line from Budapest or a train services from the direction of Szeged.