Gyöngyös

Gyöngyös is a town of 28,000 people (2021) and a district in Hungary, west of Mátra, the highest of the Hungarian mountain ranges.

Orczy palace of Orczy family.

The Art-Nouveau and Baroque buildings around the main square were reconstructed after a disastrous fire started in the local hospital in 1917, destroying a number of buildings housing important Jewish institutions and leaving in all around 8,000 homeless.

Gyöngyös was home to a large Jewish community before World War II. Following the occupation of Hungary by the German army in March 1944, 1800 Jews were locked in a ghetto. Some were saved by Hungarian Righteous Among the Nations personnel but most of them were deported to Auschwitz and killed.

By car you can reach the city by travelling on highway M3 (towards Miskolc), about 80 km from Budapest.

Take a narrow gauge train into the vineyards and further to Matra mountains.

• 🌍 Matra (Mátra) (between the towns Gyöngyös and Eger; from Budapest turn off from main road at Gyöngyös and drive toward north; by public transport maybe the easiest way take a direct bus to Kékestető). Include Kékestető the highest peak of Hungary (1014 m a.s.l.), a popular winter sports resort. 

• "Kékes Étterem" (restaurant): it's in the central square of the city. It may be one of the best restaurants in Hungary (food is excellent and the service matches the food), though its looks could have been improved.

Mátra is one of the famous wine-producing regions. Try some of their whites!