Mezokovesd

Mezokovesd only 150kms from Budapest (1hour by car,1:30 by train) with its 18.000 inhabitants is situated at the half-way line of two regions, in the north is the range of the Bukk mountains, in the south the river Tisza, at about the same distance.
We are in the southern corner of the county Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen which is the second largest county of Hungary, as for the territory and population, in 130 km from the capital, 50 km from the center of the county, Miskolc, and 20 km from the wonderful baroque town, Eger.
Matyo? Matyoland? The first word refers to a group of people, the second one to two more villages besides Mezokovesd, Tard and Szentistvan. The antropological research can not show a homogenous matyo type, and it is only the product of a romantic fancy that the name "matyo" comes from the great benefactor, king Matthias, who gave the rank of a market-town and several privileges however to Mezew-Kevesd, but in fact this is a nickname and the people of the neighbouring villages being calvinists mostly, called so the strongly catholic ethnic group.
Both during the Turkish occupation of Hungary (in the 16th and 17th century) and later, the people of Mezokovesd have suffered a great deal. But being very hard working citizens they have always reconstructed their town if it was destroyed. They lived in straitened circumstances, though theirs is the most ornamented Hungarian traditional costume. According to the legend, during the days of the skirmishing on the borders with the Turks, the enemy carried off a young lad, who was in love with a Matyo girl. The girl wanted him back, but the Sultan refused, unless she paid a special ransom. In the depth of winter she must gather in her apron all the flowers of the forest and field. The girl solved the problem by embroidering her linen apron with all the flowers of spring and summer. The Sultan was impressed and, being a man of his word, set the young man free. Mezokovesd got its home, then more and more increasing foreing fame at the turn of the century with its national costume and free drawn embroideries which are the products of an opulent imagination. The ends of bed-sheets, the flaming sleeves of the lads' shirts, the bottom part of aprons, the covers of decorative things and those of use, blouses, dolls dressed in small matyo dresses, and later on the painted matyo furniture have become world famous. The unique variety of forms, dazzling matyo national costume in the forties of the century totally disappeared as a day wear but it can be seen in the local Matyo museum even today in its full glamour. And the folk, musical, dancing, playing, customs have come to life again in the performances of the Matyo Ensable having some great successes at home as well as abroad.
In the Matyo Museum you can see examples of the costumes once worn every day. Visitors can admire the long, bell-shaped skirts and richly coloured ornamental headdresses worn by the women and the long, loose-sleeved shirts, also highly embroidered, of the men. The traditions and way of life of the Matyo are also exhibited. At the entrance to the Museum there is a bust of Bori Kis Janko (died in 1954), who established a school of this art and who is referred to as ''the writing woman of a hundred of roses". Her home, built around 1850, is today a museum dedicated to her. You can see the bright colours of her work and get an insight into the life of the poor peasantry of the old days. In the district of Hadas, which is noted for preserving the old Mezokovesd, there are many houses specific to the region. They are also used as activity and leisure centres. In these houses visitors may be introduced into the mysteries: how to make a doll, how to weave and spin, how to paint the furniture, how to embroider; or you can try your hand and pottery and glass-grinding. In the Town Gallery there is a permanent exhibition made of the pieces of the colourful world of Matyo embroidery.
An important architectural historical sight in mezokovesd is one of the capels, the Szent Laszlo parish church. The parish-church was given a Baroque appearance in 1770 and initially it was a sanctuary of a 15th century Gothic church. The frescos are made by Istvan Takacs, whose art was deeply influenced by the Matyo folk art. One can see this artist's frescos and altar-pieces in around 250 Hungarian Churches. The parsonage built in the 18th century is of interest in that the Hungarian Holy Crown spent a night in a box room here in 1806, during one of its rescues. The box room is now known as '' the room of the Crown". The collectoin of the Agricultural Machine Museum of Mezokovesd , with many thousands of exhibits, is well known for its unique collection. There are tractors, steamengines, horse-gins, water-wheels from water mills and turbines from the last century. There are also thresing-machines, grinders, hemp breakers, food-cutters, horse-drawn agricultural machines and means of transport. there is an important collection containing the work of blacksmiths. Many Hungarians and foreigners know and enjoy the famous Zsory thermal bath, which is open both winter and summer and is worth a visit. Its thermal water is applied succesfully both in the treatment (water therapy and drinking cure) of locomotor disorders and women's problems and in the after -treatment of injuries and orthopaedic operations. There are open-air and indoor medical pools and wave pools in the garden park, waiting to serve their guests.

Getting around in Mezokovesd

It is really easy, if you are coming by trainyou can catch bus number 2,5,5b to the city center or buses to bogacs,cserepvaralja,tard.or go on foot just follow the tower of the temple
by caryou have the take exit from the M3 highway and go straight through the roundabout, the train and you go straight to the center.Parking is not free in the downtown, you have to buy parking ticket from the parking machines(use only coins).

Shopping, Entertainment

All major stores available in Mezokovesd, like Tesco, Lidl, Spar, Profi and local Coop supermarkets.
Free bus available from Tesco to mezokovesd center.

Hospital
Local hospital located in centre of Mezokovesd, on the corner of the road to the train station (szechenyi and matyas kiraly streets).

Pharmacies available 24/7, although not all open at all time, but sign display which one is open and where's the next open pharmacy. Several type of tablets and pills available on petrol stations and DM (drogie markt) shop.

Marketplace
Local vegetable and fruit market on wednesdays and saturdays on the city marketplace, which is behind the bus station in the city center.

Entertainment
Cafes, pizzerias, restaurants available in Mezokovesd where you can enjoy local food or italian style pizzas.
Disco on the main street of Mezokovesd, so called 'the Movie', since it was a movie before.


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