Gyula

The name of this town denoting an ancient Hungarian tribal office, the second man after the Prince. Today Gyula is using as a man's first name as well.

The town was the centre of an enormous royal estate in the 14th century. By 1450 it was already a market town. The famous brick castle of Gyula was built between 1438 and 1445. The town was in Turkish hands between 1566 and 1695. After the Turkish occupation German settlers arrived from the Rhineland, and Rumanians from Transylvania. The guilds of the town and fairs had important role in the development of the region. From 1857 the town became the county seat. Gyula lost its importance when the new railway line favoured Békéscsaba. After the World War I, the Peace Treaty of Trianon placed much of the hinterland of the town on the other side of the Rumanian border, which is near Gyula. In 1950 Békéscsaba became the seat of Békés County.

The most important industry of the town is the Gyula Meat Works, which grew out of a butcher's shop established by Antal Stéberl , who was awarded a gold medal at the 1935 Brussels Fair with his Gyula sausage. Interesting thing is that Békéscsaba has a similar meat product the so-called Csaba sausage.

Famous natives

Anton Thürer goldsmith, who settled in Nürnberg in 1455 and became the father of Albrecht Dürer the world famous painter.

Ferenc Erkel one of the largest Hungarian composer in the 19th century. He is the composer of the Hungarian national anthem and many operas.

Imre Bródy, who intended the bulb filled with krypton.

Interesting sights of the town

The Castle Museum (Vármúzeum)

This is the only medieval red brick castle, which has survived in the Hungarian Great Plain. It was built in the 15th century. It was on Turkish hand between 1566 and 1695. After the Rákoczi Independence War its outer walls were blown up, but the inner castle was remained. After the Independence War in 1849 the Russian army here assembled the captured Hungarian officers, who were handed over to the Imperial Austrian authorities a few days later. Today the castle is the home of a historical exhibition, and since 1964 the open air summer theatre festival in the court. In the moat a boating pond and a water stage was built as well.

The Castle Bath (Várfürdő)

Like the castle itself, the bath is also situated on a 30-hectare nature protection area. The thermal bath was opened in 1959. Annually one million people visit the medical and swimming pools of the open-air bath. The thermal water is using in the treatment of arthritis and gynaecological disorders. Next to the bath in the park is an old maple tree. According to tradition Ferenc Erkel the composer composed some famous melodies there.

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