Balassagyarmat accommodation, sights, events

The ruins of its fortress, which went through many battles in history, are now so small they could almost be covered by the ample proportions of a Paloc woman's skirt. Yet, these stones in Bastya Street deserve a couple of minutes, since they tell stories from a particularly exciting and interesting period of Hungarian history. These border fortresses defended the last remaining unoccupied Hungarian territories and fought many skirmishes with the Turks, who advanced into this region in the 16th century.
Women, eager to defend their home, often took part in these battles. Grateful posterity raised a monument to the girls and women of Balassagyarmat, in the garden of the Paloc Museum.
The once big castle changed its owner several times, lived through many victories and defeats, and was finally razed to a heap of ruins in 1663 by the Turks. In the depopulated region the settlement of an ethnically diverse population started at the end of the 17th century, after the end of Ottoman occupation.
Even today the origin of the Paloc people is controversial. Some consider that they are of ancient Hungarian origin, others say that this ethnic group speaking a specific dialect and possessing a particular and valuable folk art is related to the Tartars. The collection in the Paloc Museum covers the peasant culture of the whole Nograd County.
The classical Old County Hall, built between 1832-1835, is one of the most beautiful buildings in the town and reminds us that Balassagyarmat was a county town from 1790 to 1950.
In this colourful town you should go into the baroque-style Roman Catholic church, which has a glass coffin with a relic of Saint Felician, received from Pope Clement XIII. One can walk among ancient stones in the Orthodox Jewish cemetery, enclosed by a circular wall, and today protected by law.