Summary

During the tour, we will visit Tiszaigar, Kunmadaras, and finally Kunhegyes. The total length of the tour is approximately 82 km.

Tour Description

From the Reformed Tourist Center, take the first exit to the right and then turn left. This road (Main Road No. 34) leads to Tiszaigar. As you continue, bypass the village, and at the other end, follow the signs to the center. Keep heading left on Petőfi Street until you reach the Reformed Church, approximately 12 km from the starting point. After viewing the church, proceed on Erdei Road to the Arboretum, which is about 750 meters from the church.

Igar's name first appeared in the documents of the Bishop of Eger around 1325, and it is associated with the Tomaj lineage. Throughout history, it belonged to Szabolcs and Heves counties at different times. In the mid-18th century, it was depopulated for a while. Due to the regulation of the Tisza River, the direct waterfront moved away from the settlement.

The Reformed Church was built on the site of the old Catholic church, which had been destroyed along with the village by the 1720s, leaving only its ruins. The construction was hindered by the Counter-Reformation and could only take place in the late 1780s in a late Baroque style with the support of the Széky family. Similar to contemporary Reformed churches, it has a simple interior with original furnishings. The adjacent parsonage has been renovated and adapted for organizing camps.

Tiszaigar's main attraction is the arboretum, which was started by Péter Széky, a landowner, in 1867 as a promenade garden. Later, his son expanded the area from two acres to nine acres, where native trees and shrubs were also planted. Its main highlight is the vast swamp cypress forest, with bridges spanning the wetlands adding to the charming atmosphere.

Next to the arboretum is one of Hungary's oldest trees, the 400-year-old Mátyás tree. It served as a point of reference on military maps in the 1800s. However, due to its age, it has no direct connection to King Mátyás. The tree can be viewed from one of the arboretum's gates, and it is also visible from the farmland side, although reaching the tree is difficult and it is surrounded by fences.

Returning to Main Road No. 34, the next destination is the Reformed Church in Kunmadaras, which is approximately 14 km away.
The region was inhabited even before the Hungarian conquest, with Huns, Avars, Bulgarians, and even Roman mercenaries passing through. After the Hungarian conquest, it first belonged to the Üllő lineage, and later to the Tomaj lineage. The first written records of the village date back to the late 14th century when it was named after György Madaras, a Jassic captain.

In the Nagykunság region, the Reformation found its place early, even before the Turkish rule. Madaras became a Reformed settlement between 1546 and 1549. The construction of the current church's predecessor took place between 1630 and 1633. This adobe and thatched-roofed church, built in 1630, was intended to be expanded into a larger and more durable structure on its centenary, but the Vienna court was not very fond of the Kun people and was hesitant to grant permission. Legends have it that at the same time, there was a plan to build a Catholic church in the village, and it was even intended to be at the same location as the Reformed church. The authorities came up with a competition: whoever arrived first at the site could build the church. While the Catholic priest was driving the horses on a cart, a notary took the best horse from the team and thus succeeded - much to the joy of the people of Madaras - in arriving first. The church was completed in 1768. In the 19th century, several significant alterations were made, giving it a cross-shaped design, raising its tower, adding the tower keeper's room and the ambulatory, and even creating a bastion chamber that served as a guard post.
In addition to the cross-shaped layout, the pulpit, Moses' seat, and the communion table all resemble the Great Church of Debrecen. In its current form, it can accommodate 2,000 people. In recent years, it has undergone a comprehensive renovation, allowing visitors to appreciate its full beauty. Its tower, 44 meters high, offers views to the surrounding villages. While the interior has been renovated in several places, most of the old furnishings have been preserved.

Continuing on this road, you will reach Kunhegyes, with the Reformed Church located approximately 15 km away.
Kunhegyes' written history can be traced back to 1311 when it was known as Hegyesegyháza in one of King Charles Robert's letters. Later, the word "church" was omitted from its name, and it became Hegyes, then Kakathegyes, named after the Kakat stream that flows nearby. The final name, Kunhegyes, was established from 1552 onward.
Originally, it was not a Kun settlement, and they moved in during the 13th century after they were granted land and established family connections. The Nagykunság region was devastated by Turkish and later Tatar armies, and its inhabitants scattered. The mass repopulation began in 1700. This was disrupted when Emperor Leopold sold Nagykunság to the German Order, resulting in the loss of their self-governing rights and the local population retreating to marshy areas. Rákóczi's promise to restore their rights made the area a significant base for the Kuruc movement. However, in 1705, the Serbs struck the region, and Rákóczi relocated most of the population to the vineyards of Rakamaz. Afterward, people began to move back, and the population continued to grow. In 1745, with Maria Theresa's permission, they bought back their land, and the village began to flourish.
The Reformation also reached the Kun people, and by the mid-16th century, the population had become Reformed. Their church, built in 1683, was destroyed by the Turks and later, after 20 years, by the Tatars. A new one had to be built, and it was consecrated in 1766. However, the population had grown significantly, leading to the decision to build a larger and more beautiful church. The construction began in 1827 but faced several interruptions due to various reasons. Finally, in 1839, a decision was made to build a much larger and more beautiful church based on the plans by József Hild. It was consecrated in 1848 and was referred to as the "Cathedral of the Great Plain." The church, Hungary's second-largest Reformed church, is known for its stars on the towers, with a height of 47.5 meters. Its interior height is 26 meters, and it can accommodate 5,000 people, with seating for 1,200 people. It features a double gallery, and four bells are placed in the towers.