Miskolc

Hungary could have the most beautiful Advent tram in Europe

miskolc advent tram

Czech online transport magazine MHD86 has once again launched its international competition to find the most beautiful Advent tram in Europe. In Hungary, the five-time winner Miskolc Advent Tram has a good chance to finish first again.

In 2022, 32 trams from 12 countries will compete for the title of The Most Beautiful Advent Tram in Europe, in the contest organised for the sixth time by the Czech site MHD86. Some cities have decorated their trams for the very first time.

In Miskolc, Advent trams have a long tradition. In the past five consecutive years, the Miskolc Advent Tram was named Europe’s most beautiful.

The first stage of the competition has already begun. You can cast your vote until 2 January 2023. The Miskolc Municipal Transport Company appreciates everyone’s support and hopes that for the sixth time, Hungary will have the most beautiful Advent tram in Europe, writes 24.hu.

Read alsoWinter in Budapest: Normafa snowsports, new Light Curtain Tram

The most popular cave bath in Hungary could close down?

Cave Bath of Miskolctapolca

The Cave bath of Miskolctapolca is closing due to being unprofitable. The bath will remain open until 8 January and will close for two weeks. During the closure, the renovation works that began in the fall will be completed according to plans, but it is doubtful whether it will reopen after that.

The Cave bath of Miskolctapolca had to close in October, too

Although the closing of Hungary’s most popular cave bath is unfortunate, it does not come as a surprise. From 10 to 28 October this year, the cave bath had to close due to the energy crisis. As a result of the cooperation of local entrepreneurs, the county chamber of industry and the municipality, the cave bath, one of the city’s leading tourist attractions, reopened on that day. The agreement was that Miskolc would finance the costs of the operation from the city protection fund. In addition, he contractors would contribute financially to the opening hours of the Cave Bath through individual agreements with Miskolc Fürdők Kft.

The bath is unprofitable

Although the Cave bath of Miskolctapolca could reopen, it did not make enough profit. At the meeting of the general assembly in Miskolc, they announced that only HUF 4.5 million (EUR 11,082.32) of the amount promised by the businesses had been received so far, which is far less than they promised. In fact, the bath generated a loss of about HUF 65 million (EUR 160,082.31) during the fall, reports boon.hu. For the time being, the operator Miskolc Fürdők Kft. and the city protection fund must endure this situation.

The spa is sure to be closed, but will it reopen?

According to the current decision, the facility will remain open until 8 January, writes Index. During the closure, the renovation works that began in the fall will be completed according to plans. However, it is still uncertain, whether the Cave bath of Miskolctapolca can welcome visitors again or not. Money is a key factor in keeping the popular bath open. The cave bath is not only important to tourists but also to the city, as the Cave bath of Miskolctapolca is the main attraction of Miskolc. However, nothing is certain just yet, therefore, no conclusions can be made about the future of the Cave bath of Miskolctapolca.

Read alsoWinter in Budapest: Normafa snowsports, new Light Curtain Tram

Dangerous air quality in several Hungarian cities

Air Pollution Quality

Air quality is dangerous in Sajószentpéter, Kazincbarcika and Putnok, in north-east Hungary, due to a high concentration of airborne particles, the National Public Health Centre (NNK) said on Monday.

NNK declared air quality to be “unhealthy” in Miskolc too.

Concentrations of particles are also considered to be too high in twelve other localities, including Budapest, Székesfehérvár, Kecskemét, Szeged, Debrecen and Nyíregyháza, NNK said.

Forecasts show air quality is expected to improve thanks to a front bringing rain on Tuesday.

Threat of 'tripledemic' looms over holidays in Hungary
Read alsoThreat of ‘tripledemic’ looms over holidays in Hungary

Legendary Advent tram to run in Miskolc again this year! – PHOTOS, VIDEO

miskolc advent tram

Some attractions will not be able to operate this year, and the Advent lights will be reduced in several cities because of the energy crisis. However, luckily, we will not have to miss the famous Advent tram in Miskolc!

From 27 November 2022, the appealing Advent tram will run again between Tisza station and Felső-Majláth terminus in Miskolc, karacsonyszeretlek.hu reports. You can get on the tram if you have a valid ticket, pass or travel document. Tickets can be purchased with cash or credit card from the ticket inspector.

The most beautiful Advent tram in Europe

miskolc advent tram
Source: Facebook/MVK Zrt.- A megbízható útitárs

“Despite the energy crisis, Miskolc will still have an Advent tram. We hope to be proud of it again this year, and we hope that the legendary Miskolc tram will be the most beautiful in Europe this year” – announced Pál Veres, the mayor of Miskolc, on his social media page.

The Christmas vehicle has been voted the most beautiful Advent tram in Europe five times in a competition organised by the Czech portal MHD86. In view of the current state of emergency, the Advent tram will be able to transport 120 people at a time. When the number of passengers on the train reaches 120, a “vehicle full” sign will be displayed behind the windscreen of the tram, 24.hu writes.

There is no guarantee the tram will be perfect from beginning to end

In order to ensure that everyone can admire the Advent tram, it is recommended that instead of travelling the entire route, you take the tram for as long as you need to take pictures and enjoy the ride. Every year, the Advent tram is thoroughly prepared for the road, but an unexpected failure (like in the case of an older car) can happen at any time. In the event of a breakdown, MVK Zrt. (Miskolc Transport Company) is unable to replace the train, and in such a case, information will be provided immediately via the Facebook page and the displays at the stops.

Video

Gallery

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Shattering PHOTO shows how teachers disappear from Hungarian schools

Hungary student school

The Ottó Herman Secondary School in Miskolc took a photo that shows how young teachers disappear from the Hungarian school system. The idea of the image was simple: the tutors of the institution formed columns based on their age. The result was shocking.

Many Hungarian teachers have been protesting for better education, higher wages and the reduction of administrative burdens shoulder to shoulder with their students and their parents in Hungary. The government turned a blind eye to their demands insisting on their communication propaganda that Budapest can only raise wages in the education sector if the EU euro billions start flowing into the Hungarian economy. Meanwhile, Hungarian teachers’ unions want an immediate 45 percent pay rise.

Otherwise, they warn, more will leave the job, and Hungarian students will be unable to learn what they need in schools from professional tutors. It already happens in many schools that they cannot find a Physics or Chemistry teacher, so the PE and the Hungarian language teacher “substitute” unprofessionally.

Since most young people do not want to become a teacher, the ageing of the school teaching staff is apparent in most institutions. The Ottó Herman Secondary School in Miskolc depicted that problem in a spectacular image uploaded on Facebook by one of the teachers.

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The idea was simple: the staff had to form columns based on age. Below is their photo showing that the Hungarian education system will be in even greater trouble years later than it is now. The only solution is to make the profession more attractive.

 

Jobbik convenes education roundtable

Opposition Jobbik on Friday said it has called for a roundtable meeting to be held next week for holding “honest talks” about education. Jobbik has invited all parliamentary parties to the meeting, Balázs Ander, the party’s deputy leader, told an online press conference.

Education is not just an item in the budget, but the “most important guarantee of our future”, Ander said, adding that Hungary could only be successful if it created an effective, efficient and fair education system.

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Read alsoBudapest-wide live protest for better education in Hungary

PHOTOS: world-famous Hungarian cave bath reopened for horror prices

Cave bath of Miskolctapolca

As we wrote in September, the world-famous Hungarian cave bath of Miskolctapolca closed because of the skyrocketing energy prices on 10 October. Later, the Hungarian press learned that the local government and some businesses would like to save the facility and might be successful in doing that. As a result, the cave might remain open until the end of this year. Today, the bath reopened, but entrance fees rose extremely high.

According to termalonline.hu, Hungary’s world-famous cave bath in Miskolctapolca reopened after being closed for exactly three weeks today thanks to the cooperation of the municipal council and local entrepreneurs. However, that came with a price.

The entrance fees changed significantly from today. Before the closure, an adult ticket cost HUF 3,550 (EUR 8.61), while children, pensioners, and students had to pay HUF 2,850 (EUR 6.91) to enter the facility. Now, these fees increased consequently to HUF 6,850 (EUR 16.62) and HUF 5,050 (EUR 12.25). That means an almost 100 percent price increase is considered horrific in only a 3-week-long interval.

Cave bath of Miskolctapolca
Photo: facebook.com/barlangfurdo.hu
Cave bath of Miskolctapolca
Photo: facebook.com/barlangfurdo.hu

Széchenyi Gyógyfürdő
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A family ticket’s cost (2 adults and 1 child) grew from HUF 8,750 (EUR 21.23) to HUF 14,400 (EUR 34.94), which is also more than 80 percent.

If somebody lives in Miskolc, they have to pay only HUF 4,800 for the adult and HUF 4,100 for the children, student or pensioner ticket.

For tomorrow, the bath organised a thematic party on the occasion of Halloween, a festivity increasingly popular in Hungary. There will be night baths, thematic sauna programs, Halloween decorations and handicraft sessions.

According to infostart.hu, Miskolc’s non-aligned mayor said the local government would transfer an additional 22 million HUF (EUR 53,500) for the bath to help it remain open. An agreement with local tourist businesses says that they will do the same. Thus, the Miskolctapolca cave bath will receive more than 100,000 EUR to tackle the soaring energy prices apart from the increased entrance fees.

Meanwhile, the Aquarius bath in Nyíregyháza remains closed, like several hotels in the city’s famous Sóstó tourist district.

pécs advent christmas market
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Collaboration saves Hungary’s famous cave bath

Hungarian thermal baths - Miskolctapolca 2

The economic crisis in Hungary keeps taking its victims. The newest one is the cave bath in Miskolctapolca, one of the most famous baths in the country. Because of the rising energy prices, it was decided to close the facility after 10 October. However, with a collaborative effort by the municipality and local businesses, the cave bath might be saved from closing and can remain open at least until the beginning of next year.

Trendfm.hu reported that in the regional capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, the cave bath is in danger. With a collaborative effort of the municipality and local businesses, who have a stake in tourism, could provide enough funds to keep the bath running, said Eszter Orosz manager of the MIDMAR Kft. It is in everybody’s interest to keep the bath open for the winter. It is a very important tourist attraction. Without it, Miskolc’s tourism could suffer a major decline.

The goal is to provide enough funds with collaborative effort for the bath so it can reopen as soon as possible.

Hope

The added cost due to the rising energy prices is around HUF 66 million (EUR 160,000). This amount of money is required to keep the bath running during the winter. As the closing of the bath also has its own costs, the municipality already has to pay HUF 166 million (EUR 401,800). The indefinite closing of the bath is a huge blow to the city. Because of this, it would be more beneficial to keep it running despite the higher costs.

The upkeep costs of the bath are paid by the municipality. Despite the closure, there are still upkeep costs to be paid. As interest is common for every actor in the situation it seems like everybody is willing to cooperate. Compared to the city’s approximately HUF 20 billion (EUR 5 million) in added costs, the funds needed for the bath are minimal. Still, cooperation is needed for the restart of the operations. Of course, the bath would not be running at full capacity. Rather, it would only be partially open, while the services would be running at a decreased capacity.

Although the closure of the bath is not an isolated case, such a collaborative effort to save it is quite rare. Hopefully, the negotiations will be successful and the cave bath can keep running.

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Three Hungarian cities have won EC support for preparations to become climate-neutral

pécs hungary

The government is committed to helping to implement climate neutrality commitments made by the cities of Budapest, Miskolc and Pécs, Tibor Navracsics, the minister of regional development, said on Monday.

The three cities have won European Commission support for preparations to become climate-neutral, Navracsics said after meeting representatives of the cities’ climate-friendly alliances. Discussions have been under way on how to reconcile the government’s climate policy objectives with the financial resources available, he noted.

Meanwhile, asked about progress regarding EU funding, Navracsics said Hungary was waiting for the European Commission’s official response to its letter sent on Aug. 22, which could be expected by Sept. 22. Professional consultations on the recovery fund are under way, he added.

Navracsics said that over half of the recovery fund must be spent on the digital and green transitions, and the European Commission also had made country-specific recommendations such as reforms to education, including raising teachers’ wages.

It would be realistic to expect Hungary’s EU monies to arrive in the first quarter of next year, the minister said.

Put to the former EU commissioner that the executive may be using recovery funds for political purposes, Navracsics said that “playing political games … would run contrary to the European Commission’s mission”.

Hungary debt money economy
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Szeged University best in Hungary in QS World University Rankings

University of Szeged

Retaining its 551-560th place in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, Szeged University remains the best in Hungary, the university told MTI on Thursday.

Published on Wednesday, the British QS World University Rankings 2023 listed 2,462 higher education institutions, about 800 more than last year, and ranked 1,422, including 122 new universities surveyed, it said.

Altogether eleven Hungarian universities have been considered, including two for the first time.

Debrecen University was ranked in the 651-700 category, while Eötvös Loránd University was placed between 701 and 750. The 801-1000 category featured Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Széchenyi University of Győr, and Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Budapest Corvinus University, Miskolc University, Pannon University of Veszprém and Óbuda University were placed between 1,001 and 1,200.

Source: MTI

Read alsoHungarian elected President of the UN General Assembly

The most popular Hungarian universities among international students

ELTE University Higher Education Hungary

There are almost 37,000 international students in Hungarian higher education. It is mainly because Hungarian universities are regarded as top educational institutions offering high-quality training in various different fields. Furthermore, studying in Hungary is relatively inexpensive in an international comparison. Moreover, the government offers scholarships to African, Asian, and South American countries in the framework of the Stipendium Hungaricum Programme.

Based on the data of Erudera, a higher education search platform, 35,579 foreigners were studying in Hungarian higher education in the 2021-2022 academic year. This number is almost three times more than the number of Hungarians studying abroad. The exact number is 13,038 – napi.hu wrote.

Based on the data,

there are more than 100 countries sending students

to Hungarian universities in the following distribution:

  • Germany: 3,430
  • China: 2,377
  • Iran: 2,216
  • Serbia: 1,269
  • Slovakia: 1,750
  • Ukraine: 1,202
  • Turkey: 1,138
  • Nigeria: 970
  • Norway: 906

Interestingly, a large number, probably the majority of the students coming from Ukraine, Slovakia, Romania and Serbia, are Hungarians living in these countries. They come to study in Hungary because there are limited or no opportunities for them in their birth country if they want to pursue higher education in their mother tongue.

The difficulty, in this case, is to convince them after graduation to return to their sending countries.

Transcarpathian or Transylvanian students rarely go back to Ukraine or Romania to start their professional career

after finishing their studies in Hungary. Therefore, the Hungarian higher education system “brain drains” these communities, which is bad news regarding their future development.

Here is the number of international students at the biggest Hungarian universities:

  • University of Debrecen: 6,297
  • University of Pécs: 4,156
  • University of Szeged: 4,020
  • Eötvös Lorán University, Budapest: 3,437
  • Semmelweis University, Budapest: 3,274

Alma Miftari from Erudera said that Hungary is among the most popular destinations for foreign students for many reasons, for instance, for the respectable traditions of its higher education system, especially in the case of medical studies. Apart from the high standards,

Hungary offers a happy and friendly culture, a rich and astonishing history, and beautiful cities,

Mrs Miftari highlighted.

In a 2014 global survey, Hungarian higher education was ranked 44th on the list of 148 countries. There are currently 67 universities and colleges in Hungary, both state-funded and private; 37 of them are in Budapest, offering 428 different study programs. 

 

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Budapest has been under constant bomb threats for several days

bomb threats

It was just a couple of days ago that we reported multiple bomb threats at several malls in Budapest, Miskolc and Debrecen. However, the series of alerts did not end there.

As Telex informs us, on Thursday, the Szépművészeti Múzeum (Museum of Fine Arts) also received reports of alleged bombs on the premises. The police started an investigation to track down the unknown offenders. According to sources, the museum had to be evacuated and many visitors missed the chance to see the Hieronymous Bosch exhibition. The National Police Headquarters confirmed the information.

“The National Police Headquarters started an investigation on the suspicion of public danger against an unknown offender. We can’t share further information on the case in order not to interfere with the ongoing investigation.”

Read more: This is why several malls received bomb threats in Hungary!

Based on Blikk’s information, Népliget Bus Station was also subject to bomb alerts this morning. 

According to the announcement of Volaninfo, the Népliget Bus Station received bomb threats earlier in the day, and thus, it had to be entirely closed down. 

“Népliget Bus Station is currently closed due to bomb threats. Until further notice, metro replacement buses will depart from the corner of Népliget (park) in the direction of Kőbánya-Kispest. For further information ask our colleagues. Thank you for your understanding.”

No vehicle departed from the bus station for a couple of hours but by the afternoon everything was back to normal.

Furthermore, Szeged Pláza (Szeged Mall) also had to be evacuated due to bomb alerts in the morning hours. Fortunately, the police were on duty on the premises, reported the Police Headquarters of Csongrád-Csanád County. The mall reopened in the afternoon without any further disruption.

Telex writes that there were also bomb scares at Győr Pláza (Győr Mall) and Budapest-based Corvin Pláza (Corvin Mall) in the 8th district. In the case of the latter, it was the second incident this week. The mall informed everyone on its Facebook page: “The police evacuates and examines the entire mall”. The mall eventually reopened around 3 pm.

In the afternoon, Arena mall at Kerepesi Road was also under a bomb threat. The Cinema City Arena was closed down due to “technical issues”. The screening got cancelled or had to be interrupted.

Read more: Several malls in Budapest and in the countryside were under bomb alert – UPDATE

 

 

These are the most popular Hungarian cities on the real estate market

Following the Hungarian capital, Debrecen and its surroundings were the second most popular regions for property buyers last year. Here is the entire list of the most popular Hungarian cities, including the number of sales, which demonstrates that the property market closed a record year in Hungary last year.

In 2021, a total of 154 thousand property sales were concluded in the country. The most attractive destination in the real estate market was Budapest, followed by the Northern Great Plain region. Here, Hungary’s second most populous settlement,

Debrecen has emerged as a prominent city that is becoming increasingly popular among property buyers.

One of the reasons for this is the BMW plant which is currently under construction and will create thousands of new jobs in the region.

A total of 3400 sales were realized in Debrecen which is the second-highest number in Hungary, after Budapest. In addition to Debrecen, Szeged, Miskolc, Nyíregyháza and Szolnok are also increasingly popular among property buyers. As far as small settlements are concerned, Törökszentmiklós, Hajdúszoboszló and Hajdúböszörmény should be mentioned, with 360-380 sales on a yearly basis – reported by Pénzcentrum.

Back to Debrecen, the city’s popularity among property buyers is no surprise, as the soon-to-open BMW factory will create thousands of new jobs. This is why Debrecen is the most expensive city in the region. The average price per square metre of brick apartments sold last year was EUR 1,422 (~HUF 531,000); panel apartments cost EUR 1,192 (~HUF 445,000) per square metre and detached houses EUR 1,071 (~HUF 400,000) – according to the analysis of Otthon Centrum.

Read also: Highest ever price level in the Hungarian rental market!

By way of comparison, in the case of apartments in Nyíregyháza, the price per square metre was EUR 950 (~HUF 355,000) for brick-built apartments and EUR 870 (~HUF 325,000) for panels. Szolnok was slightly cheaper, with EUR 875 (~HUF 327,000) and EUR 750 (~HUF 280,000). Only in the case of second-hand houses, a similar price level – EUR 710 (~HUF 265,000) per square metre can be experienced.

In addition, Debrecen is also a leader in the market in terms of new-build housing developments.

Numerically, construction works have started on 1,058 apartments in 45 projects. Here, new flats are offered at a median price of EUR 2,460 (~HUF 918,000) per square metre, much higher than the average price of EUR 1,722 (~HUF 643,000) in the largest Hungarian cities.

As the Hungarian news portal 24.hu reports, property purchases for investment purposes continued to be the dominant trend in both the capital and the countryside. In Budapest, an average of EUR 135,585 (~HUF 50.63 million) was spent on this type of property, while in the countryside an average of EUR 75,220 (~HUF 28.09 million) was spent.

According to Duna House, the real estate market is about to be reshaped. Due to the significant increase in new construction prices, more and more home seekers are expected to choose second-hand or sublet properties. This way, they will support the investor demand on the rental market.

Property prices are skyrocketing at lake Balaton 2
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Several malls in Budapest and in the countryside were under bomb alert – UPDATE

police hungary

Bomb squad investigators have examined the affected locations. The police told Index news portal that an investigation has been ordered into the source and identity of the bomb threat.

Several shopping centres in Budapest and the countryside are also under bomb alert: the Westend, Arena Plaza and Árkád shopping centres, as well as Kapos Plaza in Kaposvár and a shop in Debrecen have been evacuated.

It’s the same in Westend, they have sent everyone out because of a bomb alert, I’m waiting here

– an Index journalist reported from the scene after 5 pm. One of the security guards told him it would be at least four hours before they could let people back in.

There was a bomb scare in MOM-park and Corvin-plaza and Mammut also.

At Árkád (Zugló), they don’t know when the mall will reopen. It could be half an hour or even two hours

– said the police officer on the spot. People can go to the parking lot to collect their cars.

The communication department of the National Police Headquarters said,

“We have received reports of threats of public danger in several locations in the country. Police bomb investigators are conducting ongoing searches at the locations. No explosives or explosive devices have been found.”

Győr Plaza received an email threat.

BRFK: already under investigation

The BRFK has ordered an investigation into the crime of public threat. The search for the perpetrator is underway and police have taken all necessary measures.

The last time there were bomb attacks in Budapest malls was three weeks ago.

UPDATE

In all cases, the bomb threat was sent by e-mail.

Although there is no precise information yet on how many people had to leave the affected malls because of the bomb scare, tens of thousands of people in Hungary are likely to have been affected.

UPDATE 2

The Central Hospital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, the downtown MÁV Railway Station Office, the Miskolc Plaza and the Szinvapark received bomb threats on Tuesday, the spokesman of the county police headquarters told minap.hu.

The most beautiful Hungarian university campuses — PHOTO GALLERY

Szeged university

Hungarian universities attract students from all over the globe. Hungarian higher education institutions have made it to the top of several international lists. However, in this article, we do not aim to focus on the quality of education but mostly on the aesthetics of the campuses. We have gone across the country to find the most impressive Hungarian university campuses taking into consideration both architectural legacy and setting.

University of Győr

Győr is one of the most dynamic developing economic hubs in Hungary. One of the city’s main attractions is the Széchenyi István University.

The University of Győr offers a wide range of higher education programs. 

Among other options, you can find animal husbandry, trade and marketing, tourism, special education, and engineering faculties. Győr is one of the most prominent towns in Western Hungary which await students with quality education and various recreational programs. 

University of Szeged

The University of Szeged has more than 2,000 local students and nearly 3,000 foreign students. The university, founded in 1581, has a rich history.

The first rector of the university was Albert Szent-Györgyi, the Nobel Prize-winning Hungarian doctor.

The university’s nearly 300 properties enclose the city of Szeged. The university library and the surrounding student quarters are considered popular meeting points. In addition, the city has an active sports life, plus who would not want to taste the famous Szeged fish soup? 

University of Sopron

What truly stands out at the University of Sopron is its impressive Botanical Garden. 

The enchanting 17-acre area park blends well with the unique historic building.

The university is surrounded by many buildings plus a garden that houses a collection of rare and protected species. We can even spot some squirrels or deer.

University of Miskolc

More than 300 courses are offered at 7 faculties in Miskolc. The university has been seeing more and more students, high-scale research projects and international success stories. Its mission statement is “to educate students well, contribute to the international research community, be involved in and support the region, and foster a supportive and inclusive university community”. 

Miskolc is one of the main centres of the North Hungarian region.

It is not just the growing opportunities that attract local and foreign students but also the beautiful architecture of the university’s campus.

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Freshly renovated Hungarian medieval castle soon to become a tourist centre! – VIDEO

diosgyőr castle

The renovation of Diósgyőr Castle is being carried out with a total budget of EUR 29,4 million (~HUF 11 billion). The aim of the development is to make the historically significant building a major tourist attraction.

The renovation and development of Diósgyőr Castle started in February 2021. The restoration of the moat and the reconstruction of the bridges were originally planned to cost HUF 6 billion, with an additional HUF 5 billion for further renovation work – reported by Helló Magyar.

The history of the castle dates back to the 14th century. The former earth castle, which had been destroyed during the Tartar invasion, was constructed by Louis the Great, known as the “Knight King”. The emperor built a magnificent Gothic castle with four huge towers based on Italian and Southern French models, dozens of high-ceilinged rooms connecting the towers and the largest knights’ hall in Central Europe at the time. With such features,

Diósgyőr Castle was the most beautiful and most magnificent fortress in the country.

The first reconstruction was carried out in 2014.

As a result, the castle was rebuilt up to two storeys high, with the exception of the western wing. Among its towers, three wings were rebuilt, including the largest knights’ hall in Central Europe, a chapel and the living quarters of the queens.

By the end of the next phase of the renovation project, the castle is planned to become one of the region’s leading tourist destinations. This will include walk-around castle walls, a garden reviving the Middle Ages with period plants and techniques, castle terraces, lookouts on top of the towers, and barrier-free access – reported by Magyar Építők.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FEpkar%2Fvideos%2F280382534241429%2F&show_text=true&width=560&t=0″ width=”560″ height=”429″ style=”border:none;overflow:hidden” scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen=”true” allow=”autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowFullScreen=”true”></iframe>

The opening of the Diósgyőr castle is expected to take place later this year.

The medieval fortress is currently undergoing improvements to the interior and exterior of the castle, as well as carpentry work, the tower cores and the concreting of the slab.

Hollókő
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Advent tram of Miskolc awarded as the most beautiful in Europe – PHOTOS

miskolc_tram

For the fifth time in line, the Advent tram of Miskolc has been awarded as the most beautiful Christmas tram in Europe. Check out the impressive photos below!

Advent 2021 has brought several international acknowledgements to Hungary. Accordingly, the Hungarian capital was listed among the most beautiful Christmas destinations, as well as it was ranked among the TOP 8 cheapest and best European destinations in winter. In addition to Budapest, other Hungarian cities can also be proud of their special Advent decorations. By way of example, we must mention

the recently awarded Christmas tram of Miskolc, chosen as the most beautiful Advent tram in Europe.

The international transport magazine MHD86.cz organizes every year the competition of European Advent trams. In Advent 2021 – for the fifth time – Miskolc has been awarded as the winner, followed by Pilsen in the second and Prague in the third place.

The Miskolc Advent tram was first launched a decade ago. Since 2013, the special Christmas tram has been dressed up in festive costumes: for the past nine years it has been red and gold, and in 2018 it was transformed into an ice palace. It took on its current gingerbread house form in 2019, but the interior is renewed every year. For its 10th anniversary, the inside was decorated in gold reported by the Hungarian news portal Origo.

miskolc_tram2
Photo: www.facebook.com/HelloMiskolc/
miskolc_tram6
Photo: www.facebook.com/HelloMiskolc/

In addition, passengers were greeted by the characters of Beauty and the Beast – Belle, the Beast, Mrs. Potts, Lumiere and Chip the Teacup – in all their glory.

miskolc_tram5
Photo: www.facebook.com/HelloMiskolc/
miskolc_tram4
Photo: www.facebook.com/HelloMiskolc/

As Helló Miskolc reports, the Advent tram amazed its visitors from the end of November until 6th January. Passengers could also take a virtual 3D walk where they could see the other winners of the European competition – reported by MKV.

Read alsoPeople love the Light Train, so it is here to stay!

People love the Light Train, so it is here to stay!

For this week, at least. We have light trams, light trolleys, and now came the light train as well. It has been on the road since the 24th.

The locomotive called SZILI is dressed up in a 350-meter-long string of LED lights. Since people are absolutely loving the Christmas train, MÁV has decided to let it run for another week. Here you can check the timetable of SZILI, which is updated every forenoon.

Light Train “Szili”, source: MÁV

“The SZILI locomotive, dressed up in its festive finery, will continue its cross-country tour this week to meet the great interest. The locomotive is decorated with a 350-metre-long string of 3,500 LEDs,”

wrote MÁV.

Light Train “Szili”, source: MÁV

They added that this was the first time that a decorated locomotive ran on the Hungarian high-speed railway network. Every day during the Christmas period, the train travelled in a different direction. During the holiday season, the train reached Pécs, Szeged, Kecskemét, on the IC line of the Eastern Circle and on the Debrecen-Nyíregyháza-Miskolc line.

Light Train “Szili”, source: MÁV

“Szili will set off on its last journey on 30 December this year to illuminate the railway lines of the Transdanubian region with its thousands of lights”,

shared MÁV on its Facebook page. The light train will say goodbye to people at Balaton.

MÁV also shared a spectacular video of decorating Szili, check it out:

 

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Here is when you can catch a light tram in Budapest! – PHOTOS

Budapest_light_tram

Budapest is mesmerizing when it is dressed in Christmas decorations. The atmosphere is getting more and more joyous as Christmas Eve approaches. The lights, the special décor, and the illuminated Christmas trams really put people in a festive mood. The Christmas fairs await visitors with a wide variety of products, beverages, and tasty food specialties. The Christmas spirit is taking over the capital city!

As we wrote in our previous article, Szeged, Debceren, and Miskolc have special Christmas trams decorated with light. In Szeged, you can hop on trams 105, 204, or 214 or trolleybuses on line 5, after finding numbers 9-153. Miskolc’s Advent tram has been chosen four times as Europe’s most beautiful tram. The tram looks like a gingerbread house on the outside, but the inside decoration changes yearly. Tram line 1 is the one to look for if you want to see this beautiful tram. The route goes from Tiszai Railway Station to Felső-Majláth. In Debrecen, you can catch the Light Tram on lines 1 and 5.

But where to find the most mesmerizing locations and trams in Budapest? Or where to head if you want to spend some quality time with your loved ones or perhaps donate gifts to people in need?

Mikulásgyár (Santa Claus Factory)

If someone wishes to donate gifts to people in need there are two places where it can be done. You can either go to Ötvenhatosok square from 9 AM to 9 PM or to Pólus Center from 10 AM to 7 PM. You can mainly donate durable food items and toiletries. The main location of gift collecting will be at Városliget, above the museum’s underground garage in Dózsa György Avenue. At Promenád, there will be many programs organised. HERE you can see the schedule in Hungarian.

If someone cannot go to these locations, most post offices nationwide accept the gifts without any extra fee. All you need to do is to write “MIKULÁSGYÁR” on the package.

If you wish to check out the programs, you will need to wear a mask and disinfect your hands at the entrance. Peoples’ body temperature will be measured and those whose temperature is over 37 degrees Celsius will not be permitted to enter.

santa
Facebook/ MikulásGyár
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Decorated trams will go around Budapest

“Until 6 January you can travel on the decorated trams. The light trams will be in traffic from 3 PM until 8 PM. The trams will not be available on 24 December, 31 December, and 7 January”. – writes Metropol. You can travel on

Tram 2 on 1,3,6,8,13,15,20,22,27,29 December and 3 and 5 January

Tram 14 on 19 December and 1 January

Tram 19 on 2,9,16,23,30 December and 6 January

Tram 42 on 4 December

Tram 50 and 42 on 12 December

Tram 47 on 10 and 17 December

Tram 49 on 7,14,21, 28 December and 4 January

Tram 50 on 26 December

Tram 56A on 2 January

Tram 59 on 18 December

62A on 11 December

Tram 69 on 5 and 25 December

FényHév

You can travel on these vehicles from 1 December until 5 December on line H5 in the afternoon. Ticket prices are the same, but you need to register in advance to get on the vehicles.

HEV
Facebook/ MÁV-HÉV Zrt.
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