The Kondorosi Csárda, which still serves its original purpose, shapes the way visitors see the history of the town. Other attractions include an interactive exhibition, local collections, betyár traditions and the birdlife around the lake. The wider Békés destination also offers other nature and cultural themes.
The Csárda as a Historic Monument and Exhibition
The Kondorosi Csárda was built around 1740 at the meeting point of eight roads and rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1784. The historic monument was restored to its original condition and still serves its original purpose. The csárda houses an interactive exhibition showcasing the world of csárdás and the era of the betyárs. Here, a historic building and an exhibition about csárdás and betyárs offer two distinct cultural and historical themes.
Collections and Local Traditions
The Táj- és Alkotóház offers a different focus: it houses memorabilia of the Kondoros-born figures Balczó András, Csernus Tibor, Ónodi Henrietta and Kepenyes Pál, as well as the collection of the Alföldi Vadásztársulat Alapítvány. While the csárda exhibition explores broader themes, this collection focuses on specific individuals and a named collection.
Culinary traditions and betyár culture are also part of Kondoros’s heritage. On 3 October 2019, the Kondorosi Gulyás was granted the right to use the Hagyományok-Ízek-Régiók (HÍR) trademark by the Magyar Nemzeti Értékek és Hungarikumok Szövetsége. The Betyár Napok celebrate the characteristic betyár traditions of the Great Hungarian Plain. They showcase the history and legends of the betyárs, as well as the region’s equestrian culture.
Lake and Birdlife
The Iskola úti rainwater retention and boating lake was restored by August 2003. An artificial island was created in its centre to protect the area’s rich birdlife. Alongside Kondoros’s architectural and cultural attractions, this adds a natural dimension: the birdlife the lake was designed to protect.
More Nature Experiences in the Wider Békés Destination
The Körösvölgyi Animal Park in Anna-liget, Szarvas, includes a 26-hectare grove. A walking trail of about two kilometres passes bird aviaries, animal houses, wetlands and spacious enclosures. At the Sterbetz István Bustard Conservation Visitor Centre in Réhely, near Dévaványa, this is the only place in Hungary where visitors can see great bustards up close. Guided tours, birdwatching, nature photography, themed programmes and astronomy presentations can be arranged there.
The Jégmadár Water Nature Trail starts at the pier in the Körösvölgyi Animal Park and follows a one-kilometre stretch of the Szarvas–Békésszentandrás oxbow lake. Eight floating buoy stations introduce visitors to the oxbow lake and its flora and fauna. The trail is intended primarily for canoeists and rowboaters without an expert guide, and can only be reached by canoe or boat. The region’s nature experiences therefore also differ in how visitors get around: one offers a walking trail in the animal park, while the other is accessible only by watercraft.
The Kardoskúti Fehértó in the wider Békés destination offers another birdwatching opportunity. This internationally recognised wetland has been protected under the Ramsar Convention since 1979. Two observation towers make it easier to watch the birdlife.
Discover more destinations: Szarvas, Gyomaendrőd, Békésszentandrás.
Go to the overview of the wider destination: Szarvasi.
