Balassagyarmat

Hungary

Balassagyarmat (formerly Balassa-Gyarmath, German: Jahrmarkt) is a town in Nógrád county, in Northern Hungary. It was the seat of the Nógrád comitatus (county). Now this is the center of Balassagyarmat district. The town lies on the left bank of the Ipoly river, which marks the state border with Slovakia.

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.

Former County Hall

  • Former County Hall, 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
  • Tourist Information Point, Rákóczi fejedelem u. 12 (Center, +36 35 505-973. Inside the Town Hall.

Former County Hall, 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

Tourist Information Point, Rákóczi fejedelem u. 12 (Center, +36 35 505-973. Inside the Town Hall.

Reformed Church, Ady Endre utca 19 (Center.

Balassagyarmati Lutheran Church, Kossuth Lajos út 34-36 (Center. Baroque. Built in 1786. The tower was built in 1794,

St. John Salesian monastery and church, Kossuth Lajos út 41 (Center, +36 35 300693. Built in 1935

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Rákóczi fejedelem útja 20. Baroque, built between 1740-1746

St Mary church, Perczel Mór utca - Honti utca corner (SW 1 km. Built between 1995-1998

Civitas Fortissima Exhibition

  • Paloc Museum and Skansen, Palóc liget 1. (Center, +36 35 300 168. 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).
  • Civitas Fortissima Museum, Széchenyi utca 13. (Center.
  • Pannonia Motorcycle Museum, 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.
  • Jánossy Gallery, Civitas fortissima tér 5. (Center, +36 35 300186. Tu-Sat 9:00-17:00. Contemporary art collection. Adults: Ft 150, students Ft 100.
  • Stars house, Rákóczi fejedelem útja 107 (East one km, +36 35 300663. M-F 08:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00. Classical buildings, local history collection.
  • Endre Horváth Gallery, Rákóczi fejedelem útja 50. (E 500 m, +36 35 300622. Daily 8:00-20:00. Inside Mikszáth Cultural Center: temporary exhibitions. Free.
  • Serbian Church, Szerb utca 5. (Center, +36 35 300622. Tu-Su 14:00-18:00. Built in 1910. Neoclassical building. Temporary exhibitions Free.
  • Jewish Collection of Along Ipoly river and Jewish Prayer House, Hunyadi utca, 24. (East 0.5 km, +36 35 505985. By appointment throughout the day, possibly by asking the previous day advance sign-phone.

Paloc Museum and Skansen, Palóc liget 1. (Center, +36 35 300 168. 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).

Civitas Fortissima Museum, Széchenyi utca 13. (Center.

Pannonia Motorcycle Museum, 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.

Jánossy Gallery, Civitas fortissima tér 5. (Center, +36 35 300186. Tu-Sat 9:00-17:00. Contemporary art collection. Adults: Ft 150, students Ft 100.

Stars house, Rákóczi fejedelem útja 107 (East one km, +36 35 300663. M-F 08:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00. Classical buildings, local history collection.

Endre Horváth Gallery, Rákóczi fejedelem útja 50. (E 500 m, +36 35 300622. Daily 8:00-20:00. Inside Mikszáth Cultural Center: temporary exhibitions. Free.

Serbian Church, Szerb utca 5. (Center, +36 35 300622. Tu-Su 14:00-18:00. Built in 1910. Neoclassical building. Temporary exhibitions Free.

Jewish Collection of Along Ipoly river and Jewish Prayer House, Hunyadi utca, 24. (East 0.5 km, +36 35 505985. By appointment throughout the day, possibly by asking the previous day advance sign-phone.

Civitas Fortissima Sculpture Former County House

Town Hall, Rákóczi fejedelem útja 12 (Center, +36 35 505 900.

Orthodox Jewish cemetery, Temető u. 8, +36 30 418 1886. By appointment throughout the day, possibly by asking the previous day advance sign-phone. A monument

The former Financial Palace, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca 6 (Center. Now a police station.

Nógrád county courthouse, Köztársaság tér 2, +36 35 501-200.

Balassagyarmat prison, 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.

Mikszáth residential house, Madách utca 8. (Next to the prison.

Lőrinc Szabo residential house, Szabó Lőrinc utca 10 (NE 500 m.

Baroque storey townhouses, Rákóczi fejedelem útja (East. Built around 1780.

Art Nouveau villas, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út (Center. Built around 1910.

Former English Misses convent, Civitas Fortissima tér 7 (Center.

Former Hotel Balassa, Rákóczi fejedelem útja 39. Classicist Petofi Sandor stayed here twice.

  • Cinema Madách, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 8.
  • City Culture House and Library. Here is the Endre Horváth Gallery (see above about details).
  • Paloc Park. Botanical rarities.
  • Nyírjes ponds, Nyírjes (S-SW 2 km. Fishing. Protected forests and srings.
  • Nyírjes Wildlife Park and Botanical Garden, Between Nyírjes and Kincsempuszta (S 2.5 km. Visitor center.
  • Éger. Alder wetland conservation nature trail. Here is the county's finest, most diverse wetland wildlife. 106 hectares of protected area.
  • Ipoly river. Fishing paradise.
  • Sports and leisure center, Ipoly-part utca (End of Madách street toward state border. Artificial grass football field, City Sports Hall, skateboard track, indoor swimming pool.

Cinema Madách, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 8.

City Culture House and Library. Here is the Endre Horváth Gallery (see above about details).

Paloc Park. Botanical rarities.

Nyírjes ponds, Nyírjes (S-SW 2 km. Fishing. Protected forests and srings.

Nyírjes Wildlife Park and Botanical Garden, Between Nyírjes and Kincsempuszta (S 2.5 km. Visitor center.

Éger. Alder wetland conservation nature trail. Here is the county's finest, most diverse wetland wildlife. 106 hectares of protected area.

Ipoly river. Fishing paradise.

Sports and leisure center, Ipoly-part utca (End of Madách street toward state border. Artificial grass football field, City Sports Hall, skateboard track, indoor swimming pool.

TESCO Balassagyarmat hypermarket, Mikszáth Kálmán utca 56 (next to Bus Station, +36 20 827 0000.

Double plane tree lines, a townscape memorial

  • Svejk, Szabó Lőrinc Street 16, +36 35 300-999, +36 30 625-1040. 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.
  • Excalibur, Teleki László utca 2, +36 20 318-6622. M-F 11:00-15:00. Self service. Home delivery. Soups Ft 250, Sousage Ft 550-700, Mains Ft 700-900, Dessert Ft 300.
  • Orchidea Confectory, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca 12 (S 200 m, +36 35 311450. M-F 9:00-19:00, Sa-Su 8:00-19:00.
  • Orchidea Café, Rákóczi fejedelem Road, +36 35 311450.
  • 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.
  • AztaPasta, Rákóczi fejedelem Road 29. (Center, +36 30 712 44 34. M-Th 10:00-20:00, F-Sa 10:00-21:00. Pasta bar and pizzeria in the city centre.
  • Cake Point, Telei László Street 5 (Center, +36 20 237 8801. Tu-Sa 10:00-18:00.

Svejk, Szabó Lőrinc Street 16, +36 35 300-999, +36 30 625-1040. 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.

Excalibur, Teleki László utca 2, +36 20 318-6622. M-F 11:00-15:00. Self service. Home delivery. Soups Ft 250, Sousage Ft 550-700, Mains Ft 700-900, Dessert Ft 300.

Orchidea Confectory, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca 12 (S 200 m, +36 35 311450. M-F 9:00-19:00, Sa-Su 8:00-19:00.

Orchidea Café, Rákóczi fejedelem Road, +36 35 311450.

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.

AztaPasta, Rákóczi fejedelem Road 29. (Center, +36 30 712 44 34. M-Th 10:00-20:00, F-Sa 10:00-21:00. Pasta bar and pizzeria in the city centre.

Cake Point, Telei László Street 5 (Center, +36 20 237 8801. Tu-Sa 10:00-18:00.

  • Pince Pizza Bar and Pub, Kossuth Lajos út 18., +36 35 302848. Draft and bottled beers and wines
  • Kapsreitter Pub, Rákóczi út 83, +36 35 310006. Draft and bottled beers.

Pince Pizza Bar and Pub, Kossuth Lajos út 18., +36 35 302848. Draft and bottled beers and wines

Kapsreitter Pub, Rákóczi út 83, +36 35 310006. Draft and bottled beers.

  • Telephone numbers to Balassagyarmat from abroad +36 35 XXXXXX, from Hungary 06 35 XXXXXX
  • Post Office #1, Rákóczi fejedelem útja 24 (Center, +36 35 301-240.
  • Post Office #2, Leiningen Károly utca 29. (Center, +36 35 300-348.

Post Office #1, Rákóczi fejedelem útja 24 (Center, +36 35 301-240.

Post Office #2, Leiningen Károly utca 29. (Center, +36 35 300-348.

  • 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