Oroshaza accommodation, sights, events

Orosháza is the second largest and most industrialised town of Békés county and, simultaneously, the centre of the region to which it gives its name. Its economy is characterised by two features: owing to its natural resources, agriculture plays a strong role, but the town is still known for its industry. The good accessibility of the town from several directions, both by road and rail, gives it a favourable geographical position, not least because of its proximity to the Rumanian and Yugoslav borders. This has had beneficial effect on its development.
The archaeology finds discovered in the region verify that the town and its area was already inhabited in the Neolithic Period, even though it was first mentioned in written records only in 1466. The history of the present town begins with the resettlement of the area in the eighteenth-century, when serfs chased away from the village of Zomba, in Tolna county, because of their Lutheran religion, took possession of the Orosháza puszta (wasteland).
The only architectural monument of the town, the Lutheran church, erected in the late baroque style, stands in the middle of the town. The bell, brought over by the first settlers from Zomba, is kept in front of the altar. The Darvas József Literary Memorial House is dedicated to the life and work of the famous son of the town, József Darvas, who was a writer and politician. The literary collection of the county is also accommodated here. The Szántó Kovács János Museum offers a survey of the history of the town through its permanent display entitled the �People of Viharsarok�. Commemorating the founder of the Museum, a memorial exhibition of János Schwarz entitled �The man who made a home for the past of Orosháza� has also been established.
The Town Gallery enriches the cultural life of the town through its permanent and temporary exhibitions. In its exhibition space, the permanent collection of works of such excellent painters as István Boldizsár, Ferenc Bolmányi, Gyula Pap, Tibor Feldmann and József Csáki-Maronyák can be seen, Emil Vitroel sculptor from Arad and there a display of the photographs of the world famous social photographer, Miklós Müller. The Müller Exhibiting Hall houses the pieces of art of the photographer native of Orosháza on a permanent basis. In the renewed Petőfi Community Centre two permanent exhibitions may be seen, one displaying the works of the members of the Orosháza Painters� Group, the other introducing the drawings of János Kass. The only Museum of Wells in Hungary can be found in Orosháza. Here, various types of wells used in the last hundred years can be seen and became richer with a new collection of water supply history a few years ago. A botanical feature is the Rágyánszki Botanical Garden, where over 6000 varieties of 2000 plant species can be found.
The famous personalities and events of the town are commemorated by nearly a hundred memorial plates and statues. Of special importance is the Historical Memorial Park by Tibor Szervátiusz, the Statue of Holy Stephen the statue entitled �The Last Great Bird� erected by the entrance of the Aquapark. made by the sculptor of Orosháza origins, László Rajki, as well as the renewed Kossuth-statue.
The choice of cultural features is enlarged by a number of events worthy of the interest of tourists: The International Ship Modelling Competition, The Orosháza Summer Cultural Days, The International Horse Riding Competition, and The National Day of Bread; the latter was introduced to restore the fame and prestige of Orosháza bread, which became world-famous in the early twentieth century and was awarded the gold medal at the Paris exhibition. Bright spots are the Motorists� Meeting held every June and the Veteran Vehicle Festival organized every second July, as well as the Barbecue Championship.
The culinary speciality of the town is the famous Orosháza bread, mentioned above, and goose liver.
Darvas József Memorial House Following the early death of József Darvas, the family house was turn into a literary memorial house.. In the rear part of its garden, there is a new, modern building, the so-called research building with the Békés County Literary Collection.
Panoráma Lookout The ground floor exhibiting area generally presents the archeology and ethnography of the surroundings. And the history of Gyopárosfürdő's traditional life.
Town Gallery There are seven permanent art exhibitions visitable: István Boldizsár, Ferenc,Bolmányi József Csáki-Maronyák, Tibor Feldmann, Nicolas Muller, Gyula Pap and Emil Vitroel. Furthermore, various temporary exhibitions are also organized here.
Saint István Statue This statue is the work of László Rajki. The half-portrait sculpture of Saint István (St. Stephen) stands on a columshaped pedestal. The animal imagery-turul and lion- on the capital symbolizes the totemistic forefathers of the Árpád-house and the royalty. The further carvings on the pedestal refer to the story of the town foundation.