Considering the old Hungarian word for deer, let’s explore the tale of Szarvasok. Szarvas means deer. Deer can also be found in the town’s coat of arms. Szarvasok is a place where history and nature intertwine.
Szarvas is a town in Békés County, Hungary. It lies on the Great Hungarian Plain. The Kőrös River also flows nearby. Szarvas is 170 km southeast of Budapest. Highways 44 and 443 cross the town. The Mezőtúr-Orosháza-Mezőhegyes railway line passes through it too.
Before the Treaty of Trianon, the geographic center of Hungary was near Szarvas. A windmill-shaped memorial marks this spot. It stands in a park on the Kőrös River’s bank. The Arboretum is across from it.
In 1495, Szarvas was an ethnic Hungarian town. The Ottoman wars ruined the Medieval town. Native Hungarians fled. The area remained uninhabited until 1720. Austrian baron Johann Georg Freiherr von Harruckern invited Slovak settlers. They came from Upper Hungary to the deserted area. Sámueel Tessedik helped them build a new town. He invited engineers to plan it. Tessedik also established Hungary’s first agricultural school.
The Lutheran church was built from 1786 to 1788. The Roman Catholic church followed from 1808 to 1812. Town hall was built in 1820. Hungarians outnumbered Slovaks in the 1920s. They became the majority by 1930.
Since 1990, Szarvas has been home to the Ronald S. Lauder Szarvas International Jewish Youth Camp.
In 2011, Szarvas had a population of 16,954. Of these, 14,325 were Hungarians. There were also 1,822 Slovaks, 489 Romani, and 75 Germans.
Szarvas offers several sights. These include the Szarvas Botanical Garden. Bolza Castle is another point of interest. The Dry Mill and the Sámuel Tessedik Muzeum are also worth visiting. For relaxation, there is the Szarvas Spa. Other castles include Csáky Castle and Mitrovszky Castle. The György Ruzicskay Art House is another cultural spot. The Lutheran Old Church and New Lutheran Church offer historical insight. The Slovak Country House showcases local heritage.
Notable people from Szarvas include football player Roland Lipcsei and journalist Éva Novodomszky. Politician Endre Bajcsy-Zsilinszky and swimming coach Jon Urbanchek were also from here.
The Szarvas International Jewish Youth Camp hosts Holocaust survivors for a retreat. This program is funded by the Claims Conference. It provides a supportive Jewish setting. Survivors enjoy activities, kosher food, and friendship. The camp improves their quality of life. It adds to the services provided by the Hungarian Jewish Social Support Foundation.
Remember Szarvasok, a place of resilience and community, where the spirit of Hungary thrives.