Kecskemet

About

In the heart of Hungary’s Great Plain, Kecskemét is ringed with vineyards and orchards that meld into the countryside. With its convenient location, the city raked in agricultural wealth, and used it wisely. Starting in the main square, the city gives visitors a crash course in the regional Art Nouveau style. The sandy pink City Hall is bedecked with ceramic tiles and combines Art Nouveau and Romantic styles. Every hour, it chimes out music from local composers Zoltán Kodály, or classical composers like Beethoven and Mozart. The Baroque church next-door is the largest in the region, and displays large tablets honouring the many citizens who died defending Kecskemét. A walk across the square brings visitors to one of city’s most representative Secessionist structures: the Cifra Palota, or Ornamental Palace. Built in 1902, the Kecskemét Gallery is housed within its wavy walls and colourful roof tiles.