Balassagyarmat (formerly Balassa-Gyarmath, German: Jahrmarkt) is a town in Nógrád county, in Northern Hungary. It was the seat of the Nógrád comitatus (county). It is the centre of Balassagyarmat district, which is covered in a separate article. The town lies on the left bank of the Ipoly river, which marks the state border with Slovakia.
Understand
[edit]The population is homogeneous, with a Hungarian majority (Magyars 98%, Romani 2%). At the western entrance of the town is the Égerláp (Alder-marshes) conservation area.
Orientation
[edit]
- 1 Former County Hall (Vármegyeháza), Civitas Fortissima tér 2. (Center), ☏ +36 35 500 640. Tourist information service. Free maps, brochures, accommodation service, tour organization. Buying souvenirs. - About the building: based on Francis Kasselik plans, was built between 1832-1835, neo-classical style
- 2 Tourist Information Point (Idegenforgalmi Információs Pont), Rákóczi fejedelem u. 12 (Center), ☏ +36 35 505-973. Inside the Town Hall.
Get in
[edit]
By bus
[edit]- 3 Bus Station (Autóbusz-állomás Balassagyarmat), Ipolypart utca 42 (NW 800 m), ☏ +36 35 301-400. Direct bus leaves from Budapest (Újpest-Városkapu Station, hourly) and Salgótarján via Szécsény (hourly) and Vác (every two hours). Also there is a direct bus to Gyöngyös, Hatvan and all parts of Nógrád County except Bátonyterenye.
By train
[edit]- 4 Train Station (Vasútállomás), Benczúr Gyula utca 1/a, ☏ +36 35-301-803. The city is accessible by train from Aszód (its hourly connected to Budapest) , from Vác.
By car
[edit]From Budapest take the route #2 after Rétság Turning to route #22 towards Salgótarján one and a half hour can be reached the town. Budapest 80 km, Salgótarján and Vác both 45 km away.
Get around
[edit]
Map of Balassagyarmat
The local public transport is done with bus by KMKK[dead link]. The bus network include 22 lines. Single ticket in advance/from the driver: Ft 170/270 (2013)
See
[edit]Churches
[edit]- 1 Reformed Church (Református templom), Ady Endre utca 19 (Center).
- 2 Balassagyarmati Lutheran Church (Balassagyarmati evangélikus templom), Kossuth Lajos út 34-36 (Center). Baroque. Built in 1786. The tower was built in 1794,
- 3 St. John Salesian monastery and church (Bosco Szent János szalézi rendház és templom), Kossuth Lajos út 41 (Center), ☏ +36 35 300693. Built in 1935
- 4 Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church (Római katolikus Szentháromság-templom), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 20. Baroque, built between 1740-1746
- 5 St Mary church (Mária a Szentlélek Mátkája templom), Perczel Mór utca - Honti utca corner (SW 1 km). Built between 1995-1998
Museums
[edit]
- 6 Paloc Museum and Skansen (Palóc Múzeum és skanzen), Palóc liget 1. (Center), ☏ +36 35 300 168, [email protected]. Tu- Sa 9:00-16:00. Ethnography collection permanent Exhibitions: #1 From the cradle to the grave – Peasant feasts and weekdays in Nógrád county; #2 Scientist nobiliary library – The mirror of our national history (in remembrance of Iván Nagy). Adults: Ft 800, students and pensioners Ft 400, photo permit Ft 1200, professional guide: Ft 3500 (2014).
- 7 Civitas Fortissima Museum (Civitas Fortissima Múzeum), Széchenyi utca 13. (Center), [email protected].
- 8 Pannonia Motorcycle Museum (Pannónia Motorkerékpár Múzeum), Kossuth Lajos utca 1, ☏ +36 30 746 1806 (Mobil). Mar-Oct: Th 14:00-18:00 and Sa 11:00-17:00, or by appointment. The permanent exhibition: unrestored, original condition motorcycles, brand brochures, operating instructions and motorcycle accessories shown.
- 9 Jánossy Gallery (Jánossy Képtár), Civitas fortissima tér 5. (Center), ☏ +36 35 300186, [email protected]. Tu-Sat 9:00-17:00. Contemporary art collection. Adults: Ft 150, students Ft 100.
- 10 Stars house (Csillagház Helytörténeti Gyűjtemény Balassagyarmat), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 107 (East one km), ☏ +36 35 300663, [email protected]. M-F 08:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00. Classical buildings, local history collection.
- 11 Endre Horváth Gallery (Horváth Endre Galéria), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 50. (E 500 m), ☏ +36 35 300622. Daily 8:00-20:00. Inside Mikszáth Cultural Center: temporary exhibitions. Free.
- 12 Serbian Church (Szerbtemplom), Szerb utca 5. (Center), ☏ +36 35 300622. Tu-Su 14:00-18:00. Built in 1910. Neoclassical building. Temporary exhibitions Free.
- 13 Jewish Collection of Along Ipoly river and Jewish Prayer House (Ipoly-menti Zsidó Gyűjtemény és Imaház), Hunyadi utca, 24. (East 0.5 km), ☏ +36 35 505985. By appointment throughout the day, possibly by asking the previous day advance sign-phone.
Monuments
[edit]
- 14 Town Hall (Városháza, Polgármesteri Hivatal Balassagyarmat), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 12 (Center), ☏ +36 35 505 900, [email protected].
- 15 Orthodox Jewish cemetery (műemlék ortodox zsidó temető, Izraelita temető), Temető u. 8, ☏ +36 30 418 1886. By appointment throughout the day, possibly by asking the previous day advance sign-phone. A monument
- 16 The former Financial Palace (volt Pénzügyi Palota épülete), Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca 6 (Center). Now a police station.
- 17 Nógrád county courthouse (Nógrád Megyei Bíróság épülete), Köztársaság tér 2, ☏ +36 35 501-200, [email protected].
- 18 Balassagyarmat prison (Balassagyarmati börtön), Madách Imre utca 2 (Behind the County Hall), ☏ +36 35 501170. It was built between 1842 and 1845. Rare architectural solutions - mainly central circular floor plan - make an especially valuable monument. Planned remodeling for luxury prison hotel and museum.
- 19 Mikszáth residential house (Mikszáth Kálmán lakóháza), Madách utca 8. (Next to the prison).
- 20 Lőrinc Szabo residential house (Szabó Lőrinc lakóháza), Szabó Lőrinc utca 10 (NE 500 m).
- 21 Baroque storey townhouses (Barokk emeletes polgárházak), Rákóczi fejedelem útja (East). Built around 1780.
- 22 Art Nouveau villas (Szecessziós villasor), Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út (Center). Built around 1910.
- 23 Former English Misses convent (Az angolkisasszonyok zárdája), Civitas Fortissima tér 7 (Center).
- 24 Former Hotel Balassa (Egykori Balassa Szálloda), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 39. Classicist Petofi Sandor stayed here twice.
Do
[edit]- 1 Cinema Madách (Madách Filmszínház), Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 8.
- 2 City Culture House and Library (Városi művelődési központ és könyvtár). Here is the Endre Horváth Gallery (see above about details).
- 3 Paloc Park (Palóc liget) (Around Palóc Museum). Botanical rarities.
- 4 Nyírjes ponds (Nyírjesi tavak), Nyírjes (S-SW 2 km). Fishing. Protected forests and srings.
- 5 Nyírjes Wildlife Park and Botanical Garden (Nyírjesi Füvészkert és Vadaspark), Between Nyírjes and Kincsempuszta (S 2.5 km). Visitor center.
- 6 Éger (Éger láp természetvédelmi tanösvény) (between settlements Balassagyarmat and Ipolyszög, between the railway and road #22). Alder wetland conservation nature trail. Here is the county's finest, most diverse wetland wildlife. 106 hectares of protected area.
- 7 Ipoly river (Ipoly folyó) (State border between Hungary and Slovakia). Fishing paradise.
- 8 Sports and leisure center (Ipoly-parti sport- és szabadidőcentrum), Ipoly-part utca (End of Madách street toward state border). Artificial grass football field, City Sports Hall, skateboard track, indoor swimming pool.
Buy
[edit]- 1 TESCO Balassagyarmat hypermarket (TESCO Balassagyarmat hipermarket), Mikszáth Kálmán utca 56 (next to Bus Station), ☏ +36 20 827 0000.
Eat
[edit]
- 1 Svejk (Svejk Vendéglő), Szabó Lőrinc Street 16, ☏ +36 35 300-999, +36 30 625-1040, [email protected]. M-Sa 11:00-22:30, Su 12:00-22:00. Czech and Slovak specialties. Different ice creams. Soups/starters Ft 500-1000/800-1900; fish/veggie dishes Ft 1000-2200/800-1000; pork/poultry dishes Ft 1100-1800/1100-2000, beef dishes Ft 1600-2300, foie gras dishes Ft 1500-3000, garnish Ft 200-500, salads/desserts (partly Slovakian) Ft 350-1600/500-1400. Drinks: Aperitifs 4 cl Ft 450-750, mineralwater (0.33 L) Ft 300-400, soft drinks (2 dl) Ft 200-300, juices (2dl) Ft 300, bottled wines Ft 1500-4500, bottled beers Ft 450-500, drafted beers (0.5 L) Ft 600.
- 2 Excalibur (Excalibur Étterem), Teleki László utca 2, ☏ +36 20 318-6622, [email protected]. M-F 11:00-15:00. Self service. Home delivery. Soups Ft 250, Sousage Ft 550-700, Mains Ft 700-900, Dessert Ft 300.
- 3 Orchidea Confectory (Orchidea Cukrászda), Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca 12 (S 200 m), ☏ +36 35 311450, fax: +36 35 500035, [email protected]. M-F 09:00-19:00, Sa Su 08:00-19:00.
- 4 Orchidea Café (Caffé Orchidea), Rákóczi fejedelem Road, ☏ +36 35 311450, [email protected].
- 5 Trattoria Dolce Vita, Thököly Street 20., ☏ +36 20 231 1920. M-Th 11:00-22:00, F Sa 11:00-24:00, Su 11:00-22:00. Italian cuisine.
- 6 AztaPasta, Rákóczi fejedelem Road 29. (Center), ☏ +36 30 712 44 34, [email protected]. M-Th 10:00-20:00, F Sa 10:00-21:00. Pasta bar and pizzeria in the city centre.
- 7 Cake Point (Torta Pont), Telei László Street 5 (Center), ☏ +36 20 237 8801, [email protected]. Tu-Sa 10:00-18:00.
- Opi Menü (Opi Menu), Balassagyarmat, Bargár Ödön u. 24, 2660, ☏ +36 30 627 8206, [email protected]. M-F 09:00-14:00. 2 types of daily menu is available to order, takeaway or at the place.
Drink
[edit]- Pince Pizza Bar and Pub (Pince Pizza, Pinze Borozó, Makk-Ász Söröző és Pizzéria), Kossuth Lajos út 18., ☏ +36 35 302848. Draft and bottled beers and wines
- Kapsreitter Pub (Kapsreitter Söröző), Rákóczi út 83, ☏ +36 35 310006. Draft and bottled beers.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Star Motel and Restaurant (Sztár Motel), Kóvári út 12. (West one km), ☏ +36 35 301-152, fax: +36 35 301-152, [email protected]. Check-in: 10:00, check-out: 09:00. Open year round, 0-24. Capacity: 8 rooms, 16 beds. Wi-Fi. Non-stop catering facilities (130 persons), parking, conference room, 24-hour reception, Pets Allowed, satellite/cable TV, sauna. Dbl HUF6500.
- 2 Pension Club (Club Panzió), Teleki László utca 14 (Center), ☏ +36 35 301824, +36 20 9157502, fax: +36 35 301-824, [email protected].
- 3 Cédrus Club Hotel, Luther utca 2, ☏ +36 35 887 130. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 10:00.
Connect
[edit]- Telephone numbers to Balassagyarmat from abroad +36 35 XXXXXX, from Hungary 06 35 XXXXXX
- 5 Post Office #1 (Magyar Posta Városi Fiók 2660 B.gyarmat 1), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 24 (Center), ☏ +36 35 301-240, fax: +36 35 301-629.
- 6 Post Office #2 (Magyar Posta, B.gyarmat 2), Leiningen Károly utca 29. (Center), ☏ +36 35 300-348.
Go next
[edit]- Budapest, toward SW take a bus or a train
- Salgótarján, toward east a bus (hourly or so)
- Vác, toward west take a bus or a train
- Slovakia, toward north walk across over Ipoly