Szarvas – The Brand of Nature
Town of Szarvas is located next to the 30 km long backwater of the River Körös, which is the fifth
largest still water in Hungary, so those who like fishing can really indulge in their passion here. More
hunting associations operate in Szarvas and though it's not uncommon to see deer it is mainly small
game, pheasant and hare that is hunted within the confines of the town. Visitors can admire the beauty
of the landscape along the marked tour routes, from horseback or sitting in a horse-drawn carriage.
Water lovers can go on a pleasure boat cruise on Katalin II along the backwater, can view the bald
cypresses of unparalleled beauty, which are unique in Hungary, they can swim to their heart’s content,
rent canoes, kayaks or even bicycles, but the town offers numerous sport opportunities as well such as
tennis, squash or bowling, but also it is worth visiting the Szarvas Spa.
Anna Grove - Körösvölgy Visitors’ Centre
The grove was named after Anna Batthyány, wife of József Bolza (Count Pepi). By the 1880s the
garden was given a uniform landscape structure. The Csáky-Benz Mansion was built in 1908 and
today it is the headquarters of the Körös-Maros National Park Directorate. Next to it stands the Körös
Valley Visitors’ Centre which with the help of an exhibition track displays the characteristic flora and
fauna of the Körös-Maros region.
Bolza Castle
Built between 1810 and 1820 in the classicist style with romantic and eclectic detail. In front of the
entrance is a porch and a tympanum with both the Bolza and the Batthyány family’s coat of arms
etched in stone. Between two flights of stairs of the castle stands an original size copy of the statue of
the Capitoline wolf with Romulus and Remus as a reminder of the family’s Italian origin (from the
town of Bolzano in northern Italy).
Elizabeth Grove – Ruzsicskay Gallery
The predecessor of the Elizabeth Grove was called „Füzes” (Willows) and a wooden bridge led to it.
By the bridge was the toll house which is today’s fish restaurant (Halászcsárda) in front of which stand
the famous bald cypresses. The planting of the Willows started in 1894 and after the tragic death of
Queen Erzsébet it was named after her. The studio and gallery of the late painter György Ruzicskay is
in the Elizabeth Grove with the artist’s precious art and ethnographical collection.
Lutheran Old Church
Church of Sámuel Tessedik, was built between 1786 and 1788 according to the plans of architect
Lajos Kimnach of Bratislava in a baroque style. The 4142 seats of the ground floor and the chancels
give a good impression of its size.
Lutheran New Church
The church was built in 1896-1897. The church displays many characteristic features of eclecticism
from neoroman to gothic details. The interior is surprisingly rich for a Protestant church. The altarpiece, „Jesus on the cross” was painted by Gusztáv Veres. The memorial plaque next to the entrance
records the names of the priests who have served there since its foundation.
Millenium Monument
The monument rising above the bed of the River Körös was inaugurated on June 17th 2000. The statue
made by sculptor Gábor Mihály captures the legendary moment when archangels Michael and Gabriel
brought the Hungarian Holy Crown
Boat trip with Katalin II.
Water lovers will enjoy a boat trip along the backwater on the Katalin II to explore its beauty
and the numerous sights on the banks while listening to the captain’s many interesting and
funny stories.
Mittrovszky Hall and World War I. Memorial
Built in the classicist style, this hall was commissioned by Count Vladimir Mittrovszky, Royal and
Imperial Chamberlain around 1835. The World War I Monument was errected in 1927. The obelisk
lists the names of the 1154 soldiers from Szarvas who died in the war. The bottom portion lists the
names of those who died in Béla Kun's failed attempt to keep the Felvidék and Kárpátalja regions
(Slovakia and Ruthenia) within Hungary's borders.
Arboretum of Szarvas
Szarvas's biggest tourist attraction is the Arboretum. Count Pepi’s „tree garden” by the river was the
foundation of the collection that Count Pál Bolza enlarged by planting his world famous „English
park,” the so called „Pepi garden” during the first decades of the last century. Nowday the Arboretum
of Szarvas has 60-80 thousands visitors every year. It is a well-known and very popular excursion
place but at the same time it has educational and research tasks as well. They’re caring the flora and
fauna of the 5 collections on the 82 hectares. There are 1600 different kinds of trees and bushes, the
hitherto identified 250 herb varieties, 211 kinds of mushrooms, 400 different kinds of insects and more
than 100 breeds of birds and other creatures.
Szarvas Spa
The thermal waters of Szarvas have been known and utilised since the Turkish occupation (16th
century). The first public steam bath was built in 1884. The present day steambath, tubbath and
swimming pool were built in 1902 and refurbished in 2004. Its medicinal water is recommended for
the treatment of arthritis and gynaecological problems.
Deer Statue
The statue of the symbol of the town. It was made in 1913 by Géza Maróti. According to tradition
Duke Pál Bolza presented it to his beloved wife. It was put in its present place in the first half of the
1960s.
Main Square of town Szarvas
The most significant building on the Main Square was built between 1926 and 1928 in a simplified
eclectic style and currently functioning as a primary school. Upstairs in the banquet hall are some
frescoes, on display since 1931, by the painter György Ruzicskay. In front of the school on the Main
Square is a replica of the Ceres Well. Szarvas's first Artesian well was built into a statue of Ceres, the
Roman goddess of farming.
Dry Mill
The only dry mill in the country in full working order in its original place is an important relic of
industrial history. Built in 1836 and last to close down in Hungary in 1962 it still stands in Ady Endre
Street.
Szent Klára Church (St. Claire's)
The Catholic minority of Szarvas built their church between 1807-1810 in a „copf” style. The
inauguration took place on August 12th 1812, on Saint Claire’s Day. The red marble stairs that still
stand today were donated by Géza Bolza in 1898. The donations of the congregation paid for the glass
windows that list the names of the Catholic heroes of Szarvas who died in World War I.
Slovakian Country House
The life of a well off peasant family is on display in an original 19th century peasant house in
Hoffmann Street. Its pantry boasts an original coal painting. The late founder, Mrs. Loránt Szabó,
furnished the house according to the tastes of the original owners, the Gajdos family.
Samuel Tessedik Museum
The Tessedik agricultural school was built in 1791 in the baroque style. In 1872 it was renovated in
eclectic style. Today it houses the Tesedik Sámuel Museum. Above its entrance is a plaque with the
Latin inscription from 1791 that reads „with this institution idleness will be ousted from the schools
of Hungary. This monument of diligence was erected by the people of Szarvas in the year 1791 for
guidance of posterity.”
Tessedik Statue
Hugó Keviczky’s work from 1942 stood on Tessedik Square (today’s Main Square) until 1970. Its
inauguration wa broadcast live on Hungarian Radio. Sámuel Tessedik (1742-1820) lived in Szarvas
from 1767 until his death. The polimath scholar was a church building priest and a master agronomist
in one person.
Tessedik homestead is Szarvas’s oldest listed building. It was built around 1760 in a baroque-ish style
and opened as Tessedik’s agricultural school in 1780. Around it is a 3,5 hectare demonstration farm.
His shrine is in the Old Cemetery.
Historical Centre of Hungary and Memorial Track
The memorial in a windmill shape that marks the geographic centre of historic Hungary and thus the
Carpathian Basin stands on the bank of the backwater of the River Körös since 1939. The
„székelykapu”s or „székely” portals from Szarvas’s Transylvanian twin towns, Szentegyháza and
Barót guard the 1250 metre long Szarvas Historical Memorial Track since 2000. The track evokes the
most important stages of Hungarian history in 17 stations. Joint work by sculptor János Lestyan-Goda
and Székely wood carvers.
Resettlement Memorial
There are seven memorials or plaques in Szarvas remembering its resettlement in 1722 and the most
significant of these is the one in front of the Lutheran Old Church. Its creators are the Szarvas born
János Lestyán-Goda and Slovakian László Szabó. On it are written the names of the first 34 settlers.
Its stones are a gift from the Tatra mountains to remind us that the „tót” (colloquial Hungarian for a
person from Slovakia) ancestors once came from the „Felvidék” region that today belongs to Slovakia.