Tiszafüred – Tiszaszőlős – Tiszaderzs-Tiszaszentimre-Tiszaszőlős-Tiszafüred
On this tour, you can see the local sights, e.g. visiting the Bible museum and the ruins of the Dominican order church, as well as a trip to the port of Tiszaderzsi.
Tiszaszőlő, also known as Zeulus, was already an inhabited settlement during the time of the Árpád dynasty, but archaeological findings suggest that people lived here in ancient times as well. Like many other settlements in the vicinity, it was associated with the Tomaj lineage and was depopulated several times during the Turkish occupation.
Near the Reformed Church, you can find several points of interest, but first, let's take a look at the church itself, a true representation of Reformed architecture with its noble simplicity. It was built over 200 years ago, and during renovations, the original painting was discovered on its door. This distinctive blue color, known as 'kun kék,' was also found in the church in Tiszaszentimre. The balcony pews are still original. Visitors with an adventurous spirit can climb the church tower using the original stairs. The church ceiling displays wooden inserts representing the Reformed identity.
Next to the church, you can find a beautifully restored water tower, which is over 100 years old, and a folk house. The water tower was considered modern in its time, as it used machinery to extract water from a drilled well. Unfortunately, it was not equipped with an observation deck, so you cannot go up it. In the two-horse cart folk house, visitors can get a glimpse of rural life at the time. The items on display were donated by the local residents, so you can see practical objects associated with noble families as well as those used by the servants. In another section of the building, you can find items typical of peasant life.
Also next to the church, in the park, stands the approximately 130-year-old Erzsébet Tree, a Turkey oak. It was planted in memory of Princess Sissi after her death. Nature enthusiasts can visit the Tisza River, which is accessible from the village. You can reach the Katamarán Harbor, where you can get a glimpse of the Tisza's wildlife.
And if you wish to explore old traditions while staying in the present, the village is home to the Falusi Patika Látvány Pálinka distillery, where you can learn about the art of making pálinka and, through organized programs, even taste the spirits produced here.
The area around Derz has been inhabited since after the Hungarian conquest, initially by the Tomaj clan, and later it was acquired by the Derzsy clan among others. Around 1250, the first bricks were laid for an Árpád-era church, which provided shelter for Dominican monks and the village was repopulated after the Mongol invasion. This church managed to survive the Mongol invasion, but it was destroyed during the Rákóczi War of Independence. The bricks of the church were scattered by the villagers, and today only a part of the ruins remains visible. The patron saint of this church is the Virgin Mary, who, like the locals, is depicted on the Holy Crown.
In the 18th century, a new Reformed church was built in Tiszaderzs to replace the aforementioned ruined church. One of the village's attractions is the Bible Museum, which houses around 600 volumes. It has an ecumenical character, so you can find various versions of the Bible and other religious books in about sixty languages, which were sent to the founder, Reverend Gusztáv Fodor, from different parts of the world.
And if your family is visiting Tiszaderzs, it's worth visiting the kangaroo park as well. Here, you can even take a selfie with the Bennett's kangaroos and see many other animals such as alpacas, meerkats, cockatoos, and more. There's also a playhouse for children to enjoy.
Tiszaszentimre, formerly known as Kőláb, is an ancient settlement dating back to the Hungarian conquest. Its main attractions include the folk house, built around 1880. Thanks to a grant, it has been renovated, and visitors can learn about the customs, equipment, and living conditions of that era. This building is not far from the Reformed Church, where many interesting things await visitors. The church itself was likely constructed around 1100-1200 as Christianity spread in this region. The nearby churches chose patron saints whose images are also on the Holy Crown, and so the patron saint of the Kőláb church became Saintimre. During pilgrimages, the village was increasingly referred to by this name, which eventually stuck, and the village became known as Tiszaszentimre.
The condition of the church significantly deteriorated, so in the 1770s, the old church, which was already functioning as a Reformed church, was demolished, and a new one was built using bricks from both the Árpád era and new ones donated by the local landowners and the congregation. In 2011, during renovations, some of these stamped bricks were found, forming the foundation of a collection of ecclesiastical stamped bricks. This collection can be viewed in the church, where you'll find many other interesting items as well. First, you can explore a congregational exhibition, along with old prayer books, money, documents, and images of weddings and baptisms from that era.
Upon entering the church, you'll notice the ornate pulpit, a rarity in the Tiszántúl region. During the church's construction in the 1770s, the local nobility introduced European culture into the church, leading to the baroque-style pulpit, the Moses chair, and the unique stucco work above the pulpit.
However, the main attraction is the brick collection, which is housed in the old bell ringer's room. Currently, there are about 450 bricks on display, not only from various locations in Hungary but also with symbols of different religions from beyond the border. You can find bricks from the oldest Hungarian noble families' castles, as well as from bishoprics founded by Saint Stephen.
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