Balmazújváros: Shepherding, Baroque Architecture and Nature

Shepherding Traditions and the History of the Town

The Mihalkó family lives and works in Balmazújváros; its tradition of shepherds’ hat making dates back to the 19th century. The Mihalkó House of Hatmaking presents this craft, passed down through the family. On display are hats and other folk art objects. Visits are possible by prior arrangement; confirm the details before your trip.

The town’s architectural history is also visible in its buildings: the Roman Catholic church stands in the centre of Balmazújváros, on the east side of Kossuth tér. Built between 1781 and 1786 in the Baroque style, it also has Baroque furnishings. The two-storey Semsey Castle at 2 Debreceni utca dates from around the turn of the 19th century. Together with the town’s collections, these buildings offer a glimpse into different chapters of local history.

Museums and Memorial Sites

The permanent exhibition at the Semsey Andor Museum is devoted to local history and ethnography. Its themes include the traditions of extensive livestock farming and shepherd culture in the Hortobágy, as well as the trades of hat maker, blacksmith and cartwright. The museum complements the living craft tradition with objects and working worlds associated with the region.

The Veres Péter Memorial House is both a literary memorial site and a museum. The writer Veres Péter lived and worked there until the end of the Second World War. The exhibition also explores the living conditions of poor peasant communities in the late 1930s and early 1940s, as well as Veres Péter’s experiences in the house. Visitors interested in literature can also find a way into the social history of that period here.

Workshops, Nature and Activity

Alongside the Mihalkó workshop, Balmazújváros is also home to the workshops of potter Bödőcs Ilona and leatherworker Varga Levente, both of which welcome visitors. Craft activities are organised as needed. If you would like to include such visits in your trip plans, confirm the arrangements in advance. These different ways to explore local crafts offer a distinct focus alongside the museum and memorial house.

There are also special sights to discover right in the town centre: several hundred long-eared owls move into the centre of Balmazújváros every autumn. Western hackberry trees stand in Kossuth tér, their crowns grown together. This seasonal wildlife highlight is quite different from the tree group, which can be seen year-round. Both offer a concrete reason to explore the town more closely if you want to combine nature and local history on your trip.

For another way to get active, one of the designated short riding trails in Hortobágyi National Park runs from Nádudvari utca via Magdolna-puszta to the Kőudvari dirt road. It is a riding route. Kamilla Gyógy-, Termál- és Strandfürdő covers three hectares and has six pools fed by two hot springs and one cold spring. If you are planning a visit to the baths, check their current opening status in advance.

The town’s different attractions can help guide your search for a holiday apartment: museums and memorial sites, craft workshops, autumn wildlife watching or the designated riding trail. Consider which of these interests matter to you, and choose Balmazújváros as your search destination if its local attractions suit your planned stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Hortobágy, Egyek, Tiszacsege.

For the overview of the wider area: Balmazújvárosi.