DEBRECEN

Location Debrecen is located on the Great Hungarian Plain, 220 km (137 mi) east of Budapest. Situated nearby is the Hortobágy, a national park within Hungary.

History Debrecen the „cívisváros” is familiar in some way to everyone. Despite its present importance, the history of Debrecen does not go back as far as Roman times, neither it was especially significant in the Árpád era. Debrecen gained its economic and legal privileges slowly and gradually over the following centuries. The big economic and cultural recovary came after the events of Mohács (1526), when the country was divided into three parts, Debrecen found itself int he border of the three countries. Due to the wave of immigration, its population suddenly increased and thanks to traid, guild industry, market gardening and cattle breeding it turned into a very thriving and wealthy city. Int he 16th century, the city was the standard bearer of the Calvinist reformation, this is when it became the „Calvinist Rome”.

Not much later, it also became a school-city, especially because of its famous Calvinist College, where such great figures as Mihály Csokonai Vitéz, Ferenc Kölcsey, Zsigmond Móricz, János Arany or Ferenc Medgyessy studied or taught. At the beginning of the 18th century, Debrecen was the biggest city in Hungary – or the „biggest village in Europe”. With its inhabitants. The city still had some rustic characteristics even in , when during the war of independence it became the capital of the country for some month. However, Debrecen developed into a large, modern city during the decades of Dualism and after Trianon, when it became the regional centre instead of Nagyvárad. In december 1944, the Provisory National Assembly gathered int he building of the college, to establishe the foundations for the new Hungary. After the system change in , Debrecen became the second biggest city int he country and today it is trying to create an appearance appropriate to this role.

Famous people Zsolt Baumgartner - first Hungarian Formula One driver Magda Szabó – writer Mihály Csokonai Vitéz – poet

Endre Ady – poet Géza Hofi – stand-up comedian Lújza Blaha - actress

Sports The city has a famous football club, Debreceni VSC, which currently has the best recent record in Hungary. The city has hosted several international sporting events in recent years, such as the second World Youth Chapionshis in Athletics in 2001 and the first World Road Running Championships in The 2007 European Swimming Championships and World Artistic Gymnastics Championships of 2002 also took place in Debrecen. Most recently, the city hosted the 19th World Hot Air Balloon Championship in 2010.

Main sights Protestant Great Church City park and spa Museum of Déri Flower carnival

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