Welcome to Kecskemét

Discover the sights of Kecskemét, reveal their past and present. Our virtual walk begins at the Main Square of the city.

The panoramic photos can be moved with your mouse. (Java applications)

Kecskemét – the capital of Bács-Kiskun County – fusing all the beauty and values of the Great Plain is situated in the middle of Hungary, approximately 85 kms from Budapest. Our city – making use of its favourable geographical location – has developed into the economic, administrative, educational, and cultural centre of the region; it is home to several institutions of fine arts, unique collections and dignified festivals. The name of the city originates from the words „kecske” (meaning goat) and „mét” (meaning district). The goat can be seen in our coat of arms as well with the motto of the city: „Neither height, nor depth frightens us.”

Kecskemét has an individual image and its downtown recalls the Art Nouveau atmosphere of the past century.

The City Hall registered as the pearl of Art Nouveau can be found at the Main Square. It was built between 1893-1897 according to the design of architects Ödön Lechner and Gyula Pártos. The City Hall is one of the most well-known buildings of Kecskemét and a monument visited by the most tourists. You can hear the carillon on the facade of the building since 1983 playing the works of Kodály, Erkel and Beethoven every hour. Its outside walls are decorated with the majolica of Zsolnay which can be seen on other buildings in the city as well.

The Ceremonial Hall of the City Hall is the masterpiece of the architecture of the age in its original form. It is the venue of the General Assembly meetings of the city, national and international conferences, wedding ceremonies and ceremonial receptions. The period furniture of the Ceremonial Hall is handicraft work.

The 1200 kg gilded bronze chandelier that is 5 m tall and 3 m wide has 63 bulbs symbolizing the number of the administrative counties of the former Hungary.

The paintings were made by the famous Hungarian painter Bertalan Székely. These paintings show some periods of the Hungarian history embracing one thousand years.

Opposite the City Hall the oldest architectural relic of Kecskemét, the Franciscan Church can be found. It was built in the 14th century and the locals usually refer to it as the Church of Friars. Originally it was built in Romanesque style and after several reconstructions it has gained its current Baroque character. A Calvary was set up at the outer wall. From the point of view of religious history it is important to note that it was used both by Catholics and Protestants until 1564.

The Neo-Baroque building of the theatre built for the Millenium of the country was named after the famous dramatist, native of the town, József Katona who was the writer of the first Hungarian national drama. Its reminiscence of the Vígszínház (Comedy Theatre) in Budapest is not coincidental: they were both built by the plans of the famous architects from Vienna, Hellmer and Fellner. It is called by the locals as jewellery box. In front of the Theatre the Column of the Holy Trinity reminds us of the epidemic of Black Death that took a heavy toll on the population. The statue made of sandstone in 1742 is decorated with the figures of Saint Sebastian, Saint Roch, Saint Elisabeth of the House of Árpád and Saint Steven.

The Zoltán Kodály Institute of Music Pedagogy can be found in the old street Kéttemplomköz (meaning „alley between two churches”) of Kecskemét. The building – a one-time Franciscan monastery – hosts an exhibition showing the lifestory of the famous composer and music educator, Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967). The institute was established in 1975 and it aims at the teaching of Kodály’s conception of music education.

The Calvinist Church can be found at the end of the street. Built in early Baroque style in the 1680s it isthe only stone church in the region during the Turkish occupation. The curiosity of the Main Square is that almost all denominations’ church can be found here, which is unique in the country.

Opposite the Calvinist Church is the New College erected in 1912. The palace was built in the style of Art Nouveau, decorated with Transylvanian motives. It is used as the Primary and Secondary Grammar School of the Calvinist College.

There are two famous buildings on the right of the New College: one of them is Cifrapalota (Ornamented Palace), a unique piece of architecture, known as the masterpiece of Art Nouveau with its wonderful „waving” walls, shining roof tiles and ceramic ornaments of plants and animals. It hosts the Kecskemét Art Gallery today.

The other building is the one-time synagogue built in Moorish-Romantic style between 1861-1864. It was converted into a conference centre during the 1970s. It is known as the House of Science and Technology exhibiting the plaster replicas of 15 Michelangelo statues.

The determinative building of the Main Square is the Big Catholic Church, which was built between 1774-1806. Its tower was ravaged by fire and earthquake. It is the biggest late Baroque styled cathedral on the Grait Plain. Its bell is 2400 kg; its 74 m tall tower can be reached on 94 steps.

Let's start our walk in the main square of the "Famous Town" that used to be the market-place for centuries. Here you can find the Big Catholic Church which is the largest cathedral in the Great Hungarian Plain built in the style of the age of Louis XVI of France. Looking down from the 73 meter tall tower you can see the panorama of the town.

The neighbouring building is the Town Hall built by the plans of Ödön Lechner and Gyula Pártos.

The 150-year-old building of the City Hall was demolished in 1892. József Katona, the writer of our national drama worked there for 10 years. He collapsed and died at the entrance. The cracked stone monument set up at the scene of his heart attack in front of the building reminds us of this tragic event. The notice on this monument says: „The heart of the son of Kecskemét broke here.”

In 1895 the offices moved into the building of which area is 5534 m2 and has 174 rooms. On the 8th July, 1911 there was a huge earthquake in the city which did not spare the City Hall either. Its collapsed chimneys and cracked walls were soon reconstructed under the direction of Ödön Lechner. The style of the building with its nearly rectangle-shaped ground-plan mixes the forms of the French Renaissance architecture and the elements of our popular art. The Ceremonial Hall is the venue of the General Assembly meetings of the city, national and international conferences, wedding ceremonies and ceremonial receptions.

The period furniture of the Ceremonial Hall is handicraft work. The wooden furniture and the printed leather backed chairs were made in Szeged according to the design of Lechner and Pártos. The beautiful and richly coloured glass windows were made in the workshop of the famous Miksa Róth. The decorative wall-painting was made by Adolf Götz, the wall-candlesticks and the chandelier were made by Sándor Árkay, Imperial and Royal locksmith upon the basis of the designs of Szilárd Várady.

The paintings were made by the famous Hungarian painter Bertalan Székely. These paintings show some periods of the Hungarian history embracing one thousand years.

The name of the city originates from the word „kecske” (meaning „goat”), and „mét” means district. The goat can be seen in our coat of arms as well above the platform with the motto of our city beneath it: „Neither height, nor depth frightens us.” You can see the coat of arms in several important places inside and outside the building. The flag of our city with the goat can be seen in the corner, just like the flags of a few twin cities of Kecskemét.

The carillon operating in a volume of 3 octaves since 1983 is at the 1st floor balcony. The signal can be heard every hour, and the 37 programmed bells play Hungarian classics (Kodály, Erkel) at 12:05, Händel, Beethoven and Mozart at 18:05 and Hungarian folk songs at 20:00.

The explanatory introduction of the Ceremonial Hall for groups in the morning (from 10:00 to 11:30) can be ordered at the telephone number (00 36) 76 513 513 / extension 2263 of the Caretaker’s Department of the City Hall and at the Tourinform Office.

Opposite the Town Hall you can find the oldest architectural relic of Kecskemét, the Franciscan Church built in the 14th century. The locals call it the Church of Friars. Originally it was built in Romanesque style and after several reconstructions it has gained its current Baroque character. From the point of view of religious history it is important to note that it was used both by Catholics and Protestants until 1564.

Going on, the Neo-Baroque building of the Theatre built for the Millennium of the country attracts our attention. It was named after the famous dramatist, native of the town, József Katona, who was the writer of the first Hungarian national drama. Its reminiscence of the Vígszínház (Comedy Theatre) in Budapest is not coincidental: they were both built according to the plans of the famous Vienna architects, Hellmer and Fellner. Its elaborate finish, reminding one of a jewel box, is especially prominent in evening lighting.

In front of the theatre the Column of the Holy Trinity reminds us of the epidemic of Black Death that took a heavy toll on the population. The statue made of sandstone in 1742 is decorated with the figures of Saint Sebastian, Saint Roch, and Saint Elisabeth and Saint Steven of the House of Árpád.

Going on along the ring road we arrive at Kéttemplomköz Street. On the left side of the street you can find the Zoltán Kodály Institute of Music Pedagogy in the building of a one-time Franciscan monastery. Here you can see an exhibition showing the life story of the famous composer and music educator, Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967). The institute was established in 1975, and it aims at teaching the theory and the practice of Kodály's conception of music education.

At the end of the street we find the Calvinist Church built in early Baroque style in the 1680s, the only stone church in the region during the Turkish occupation.

Opposite the Calvinist Church is the New College erected in 1912. The palace was built in the style of Art Nouveau, decorated with Transylvanian motives. It is used as the Primary and Secondary Grammar School of the Calvinist College.

There are two famous buildings on the right of the New College: one of them is Cifrapalota (Ornamented Palace), a unique piece of architecture, known as the masterpiece of Art Nouveau with its wonderful ”waving” walls, shining roof tiles and ceramic ornaments of plants and animals. It hosts the Kecskemét Art Gallery today.

The other building is the former Synagogue built in Moorish-Romantic style. It was converted into a conference centre during the 1970s. It is known as the House of Science and Technology exhibiting the plaster replicas of 15 Michelangelo statues.

Let 'us go towards the main square again. About 100 meters away on your right in Arany János Street you can find the Lutheran Church built in the 19th century. Until the end of the 1980s Miklós Ybl’s masterpiece, decorated with Romanesque motives, was hidden by cheap stores; today it can be seen in its original beauty.

Going on, we can glance at one of the most up-to-date libraries in the country built in 1996. Named after József Katona the library welcomes visitors into an area of over 7000 m2.

The Piarists' Square is in front of the library. The Piarist order started its educational activity in the town at the beginning of the 18th century and they built a monastery and a church later too. The secondary grammar school that faces onto the square was built in Classicist style. Primary school level co-education began here a few years ago.

The last stop of our walk is the small church of the Greek merchant families that settled in Kecskemét. You can find a museum of icons in its yard. Next to it is the one-time Craftsmen’s Guild Hall built in the style of Art Nouveau