Longing for a taste of tradition? Vecsés awaits.
Today we explore Vecsés a town near Budapest. Its story is one of Swabian settlers sauerkraut and a journey from village to town. Vecsés is located adjacent to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport.
Let us step back in time. The first records of Vecsés date back to 1318. But modern Vecsés began in 1786. Count Antal Grassalkovich settled 50 families here. These families were mainly Swabian. Some were Slovakian and Hungarian.
The Swabian farmers brought their traditions. They were known for growing cabbage. They also produced sauerkraut using Germanic methods. Even today Vecsés is famous for its sauerkraut. The town flourished from the late 19th century. Its population grew rapidly. Vecsés had a vibrant social and cultural life.
However Vecsés also suffered greatly during World War II. Many residents lost their lives. Despite these hardships Vecsés persevered. By the late 20th century it had developed a distinct identity. On July 2 2001 Vecsés was officially recognized as a town.
Vecsés has a history of filming. The 1943 novel Indul a bakterház was set nearby. The 1980 film adaptation was filmed in Vecsés.
At one time Wizz Air was headquartered in Vecsés. The airline was located in Airport Business Park C2. Later Wizz Air moved to Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport in 2011.
Vecsés is twinned with Lăzarea in Romania. It also has ties to Rheinstetten in Germany. Vecsés celebrated its 700th anniversary in 2018. The first documented mention was in 1318.
Vecsés official coat of arms symbolizes the town’s unity. It has a shield divided into four parts representing the four settlements. The letter V stands for Vecsés. The green laurel wreath commemorates the heroic dead.
Archaeological finds show that Vecsés was inhabited in the Bronze Age. An Árpád-era church and cemetery were discovered in 1996. Sarmatian settlements existed in the area during the Roman period.
In 1434 the Halomi family owned Vecsés. Queen Elizabeth gifted the Halom and Vechés estates to Bothos Peter and his brother István in 1440. During the Turkish occupation Vecsés paid taxes to the Turks in 1591. By 1633-34 Vecsés was deserted.
The Grassalkovich family played a significant role in Vecsés history. Antal Grassalkovich bought Vecsés and Halom in 1727. In 1786 II. Grassalkovich Antal resettled Vecsés with 50 families. These included German Hungarian and Slovak families.
A census in 1795 showed that Vecsés had become a predominantly German-speaking settlement. By 1841 most residents were Catholic. The Pest-Szolnok railway was built in the mid-19th century. The unification of Pest Buda and Óbuda in 1873 attracted people to Vecsés.
Vecsés was part of Pest-Pilis-Solt county. It later became part of Pest-Pilis-Solt-Kiskun county. Vecsés lost its large village status in 1950. It regained it in 1969. Vecsés became a town on July 1 2001. Today its population is around 21000.
Vecsés history is rich and varied. From its early mentions to its Swabian settlers. From its sauerkraut fame to its modern growth. Vecsés offers a glimpse into Hungary’s past and present.