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Gyöngyös

Coordinates: 47°47′N 19°56′E / 47.783°N 19.933°E / 47.783; 19.933
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Gyöngyös
Town
Orczy palace of Orczy family
Orczy palace of Orczy family
Coat of arms of Gyöngyös
Coat of arms
Country Hungary
CountyHeves
Area
 • Total54.1 km2 (20.9 sq mi)
Population
 (2001)
 • Total33,553
 • Density620/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
3200
Area code37

Gyöngyös [ˈɟøɲɟøʃ] is a town in Heves county in Hungary, 80 km (50 mi) east of Budapest. Situated at the foot of the Sár-hegy and Mátra mountains, it is the home of numerous food production plants, including milk production and sausage factories. It is also the home of many vineyards on the slopes of the Sárhegy.

The Art-Nouveau and Baroque buildings around the main square were reconstructed after a disastrous fire started in the local hospital in 1917,[1] destroying a number of buildings housing important Jewish institutions and leaving in all around 8,000 homeless.[2]

Name

Baroque Church of Saint Bernard of Gyöngyös

The meaning of the town's name is "Made of Pearls" (pronounced as "Dyun-dyush"). The 16-17th century historian Miklós Istvánffy wrote that the name of the town comes from the Hungarian word for mistletoe (fagyöngy literally "wood-pearl"), which is abundant in the local woods. Croats from Hungary call this city Đunđuš.

History

Gyöngyös was home to a large Jewish community before World War II. In 1942, anti-Jewish laws were adopted in the province, affecting the Jews of the town.[3] Following the occupation of Hungary by the German army in March 1944, 1800 Jews were locked in a ghetto. Some will be saved by an Hungaria Righteous Among the Nations but most of were deported to Auschwitz and killed.[4]

Sights to visit

There are many monuments and places of interest in the town, such as the Orczy mansion, home of the Mátra Museum, Saint Bartholomew's Church (Saint Bartholomew Church, Gyöngyös, Hungary) in the center of town, and its Treasury.

Famous people

Gyöngyös is the birthplace of Olympic swimmer Gabriella Csépe, the well-known sociologist and conference organiser Gyöngyi Horváth, and the leader of the Jobbik Movement for a Better Hungary, Gábor Vona.

Jewish Field Marshal Edward Ritter Von Schweitzer was born here in 1844. His military and philanthropic endeavors are well recalled in several publications.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Hungary

Twin towns — Sister cities

Gyöngyös is twinned with:

  • Aerial photograph of the water tower, built in 1927.
    Aerial photograph of the water tower, built in 1927.

References

  1. ^ Charles Hebbert; Norm Longley; Dan Richardson (2002). Hungary (Rough Guide Travel Guides). Rough Guides Ltd. p. 323. ISBN 1-85828-917-3.
  2. ^ Adrian Phillips, Jo Scotchmer (2010). Bradt Travel Guides. Hungary. p. 222. ISBN 1-84162-285-0.
  3. ^ http://db.yadvashem.org/righteous/family.html?language=en&itemId=4015314
  4. ^ http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/he/research/ghettos_encyclopedia/ghetto_details.asp?cid=181
  5. ^ A declaration of fraternization between Gyöngyös, at the foot of the Mátra, the highest mountain range in Hungary, and the occupied Shusha town of Azerbaijan.

47°47′N 19°56′E / 47.783°N 19.933°E / 47.783; 19.933


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