Words of Welcome

Dear Visitor, 

Welcome to the updated website of the city of Békéscsaba.

Archaeological finds confirm that the Körös Valley and hence Békéscsaba were both inhabited well before the Magyar Conquest. It was first mentioned as a place with a church in royal charters in the mid-14th century. Like other places in the Great Plain, Békéscsaba became a deserted, swampy plain during the 150 years of Ottoman rule. Encouraged by Baron János György Harruckern, the first settlers arrived in Békéscsaba in 1718. Industrious city-dwellers soon turned the city into a prosperous place with a major role to play in the region.

Diligence and dynamic development led to the city receiving county seat status in 1950, which it has been holding ever since. 

With a population of nearly 65,000, Békéscsaba has a lot to offer to visitors in the way of tourist attractions. It is well known that painter Mihály Munkácsy lived and worked in the city for several years. Some of his fine paintings and personal belongings are on display in the museum and the memorial house named after him. 

You can take a leisurely stroll along the bank of the Élővíz Canal, which divides the city in two. The canal bank is lined with the statues of famous Hungarian people born in Békéscsaba or elsewhere in Hungary. A major tourist attraction along the bank is the superb listed building of the Árpád Baths. Completely renovated, various pools offer visitors sports and leisure opportunities the whole year round. 

Of the buildings of architectural merit, the Lutheran Church (a rare example of its kind in Central Europe), the Town Hall, the István Mill, the Slovak Museum (a dwelling house-turned skanzen-type building in which the relics of the daily life of its one-time Slovak owners are exhibited), the Jókai Theatre and the Fiume Hotel are the finest. 

Held every October since 1997, the Csaba Sausage Festival, the pride of the city, seeks to cherish and preserve our traditions. Attracting nearly 80,000 visitors every year, the festival, offering fun programmes and fringe events, has become a major gastronomic event and tourist attraction for Hungarians and foreigners alike. 

Culture buffs will not feel disappointed either. A wide variety of programmes cater for all tastes and interests. 

The updated website has also been modernised to serve as a handy e-tool for the people of Békéscsaba. E-administration is becoming increasingly important in the modern world. You can use this electronic portal to help you with your official business, fix dates for official appointments and download official forms, to name just a few of the possibilities that will also save you time and money. 

I do hope that, after this short virtual experience, you will also visit us in person to experience the hospitality of the local residents, marvel at the unique beauty of the city and its environs, enjoy the good local food and, in general, have a pleasant time in Békéscsaba. 

Vantara Gyula
The Mayor