Békés County

Békés county is in Southern Great Plain in south-eastern Hungary, on the border with Romania.

Understand

The main tourist centre of the county is Gyula, with its castle and castle bath. The Almássy Castle in Gyulavár houses a museum. Szarvas and the neighboring Békésszentandrás are also popular places, which rely mainly on domestic tourism. In the summer, many bathers and anglers come to the backwaters of the Körös. Füzesgyarmati, Gyopárosfürdo, Nagyszénás and the spa will attract visitors, while Békéscsaba mainly attracts visitors to its Csaba Sausage Festival.

There are many castles in the county, but most of them are neglected. Hunting tourism is also worth mentioning, as Békés county is quite rich in small game.

See

• 1 Dévaványa. Bustard reserve 
• 2 Szeghalom. Reformed Church 
• 3 Vésztő (Vésztő- Mágor Történelmi Emlékhely) (5 km NW from Vésztő centre). Monastery ruins of Mágor 
• 4 Gödény-Pelican mounds (near Békésszentandrás). Hungary's largest kurgans 
• 5 Szarvas. Lutheran Old Church, Historic Memorial Road, Mills of Szarvas, Anna - park, Elizabeth Park, Szarvas Arboretum 
• 6 Méhkerék. Cucumber festival 
• 7 Geszt. Tisza mansion with crypt 
• 8 Orosháza. Evangelical Church, Monori inn, Rágyánszky Arboretum, Holecska Joseph's bush farm, Fountains Museum, Gyopárosfürdő, Historical Memorial Park of Gellértegyháza, Literary Memorial House of Darvas József, Museum of Szántó Kovács János 
• 9 Kardoskút. Livestock farms of Sóstó 
• 10 Pusztaföldvár. Ancient lawn of tatársánc (Tatarian earth rampart) 
• 11 Tótkomlós - Nagykopáncs (Nagykopáncsi Templom Szent István Kápolna). – 12-13th century-old Arpad dynasty church (partly reconstructed) 
• 12 Szabadkígyós. 'Wilderness' of Kígyós, Wenckheim Castle 
• 13 Újkígyós. - Ipolyi Arnold Adult Education exhibitions: Moldavian folklore exhibition, religious relics exhibition of Banat's Swabian folk, Local History Exhibition (Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian folk memories) 
• 14 Gyula. - Almasy Castle, Castle Bath, Downtown Church, County Hall, ruins of Franciscan Monastery garden, Béke (Peace) Avenue, Orthodox Church of Miklósváros, Ferenc Erkel's Birthplace, Városháza (Town Hall), Street Promenade, Centenary confectionery, Ladics house 
• 15 Kaszaper. Railway Exhibition 
• 16 Mezőhegyes. County farm, historic city centre, stud of Mezőhegyes, Indoor riding with a 200-year-old sycamore tree, Manor No.18: The Wrangler's home 

Do

• 1 Mágor wilderness (Mágor puszta) (Bus to Vésztő further walk). 
• 2 Biharugra (Biharugrai-halastavak). – lake system. The heaven for anglers 
• 3 Körös-Maros National Park (Körös-Maros Nemzeti Park) (Békés County). M-Th 08:00-16:30, F 08:00-14:00. HQ: Szarvas, Anna-liget 1 

Events

• Várjátékok (Castle Games) in Gyula

Eat

The best-known gastronomic specialties of Békés county are the Csaba sausage, the Gyula sausage and the Békés plum brandy.

Cope

Consulates

• Romania, Gyula, St. Munkácsy 12a, ☏ +36 66 464 579, fax: +36 66 465 142, gyula@mae.ro. M-F 9:00-15:00. (updated Dec 2021)