Hajduboszormeny

Hajdúböszörmény is among the largest of the Hajdu towns and the cultural and economic centre of Hajdu Country. Of heritage value, its particular settlement structure evokes a bygone world.

Developed during the grandiose town restructuring of the late 19th century its main square is among the most beautiful on the Great Plain. Its historic grammar school continues to preserve and develop its educational heritage in the spirit of the Reformed faith.

The town carries its historical heritage as it unites the characteristics of several small regions within its current extensive territory. The current names of town parts, not unlike a living history book, safeguard the names of a host of small former settlements, including references to previous water levels and to the order of land use in the historic Hajdu district.

In the old Hungarian language the town's name, Böszörmény, refers to an ethnic group of Muslims, probably speaking Turkish. The Böszörmény people conducted important trade and economic activities in the Árpád Age until the Mongol invasion that devastated them. Written sources mention the settlement first in 1248 as Nagyböszörmény (Greater Böszörmény).

The 'hajdú' prefix refers to the warriors who inhabited the area from the late 15th century. In the 17th century, the town was of a serious military significance. Its hajduk soldiers primarily served the prevailing ruling prince of Transylvania. The town's settlement structure was modified by the Hajduks using military defence strategies and surrounded with a palisade and gates.

Böszörmény became the centre of the Hajdu District, a distinctive administrative unit that evolved in the late 17th century from seven Hajdu towns, later just six when in 1717 Polgár lost its privileges. These were: Böszörmény, Dorog, Hadház, Nánás, Szoboszló and Vámospércs.

The Reformed Church and its school, the predecessor of today's secondary grammar school, played a dominant role in the local intellectual scene. Today the town has a university college, the István Wargha Teacher Training Faculty of the University of Debrecen.

How to get there:
By railway, the town is served on the Debrecen-Tiszalök line. From Debrecen and Nyíregyháza terminal Volán buses serve Balmazújváros. By car, find the town on Road 35 northwest of Debrecen.