Discover Becskeháza
Accommodation in Becskeháza
For culture-focused travel planning, Becskeháza offers a clearly defined historical trail: the succession of four Reformed church buildings and the inscriptions on two bells. Visitors planning a stay can distinguish this local focus on history from the diverse themes of the wider travel destination of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén.
Becskeháza at a glance
The present-day, fourth Reformed church was built in 1928 to plans by architect Doszpoly Károly. Its tower stands in front of the south façade and is 20 metres high. The furnishings include a 150-kilogram bell with an inscription dating from 1928 and an 80-kilogram bell whose inscription refers to it being cast in 1834.
How did the Reformed church develop?
The building history spans several centuries. The first Reformed wooden church in Becskeháza was destroyed during the Ottoman raids. The second church was built around 1728 and probably had room for 50 to 60 people. It was closed in 1775 and reopened only after Joseph II’s Edict of Toleration.
A new building was erected in 1847 as the third church. The present-day church is the fourth in this sequence: it was built in 1928 to plans by Doszpoly Károly.
What do the bell inscriptions tell us?
The two bells offer different clues about their origins. The 150-kilogram bell was made by Szlezák László. Its inscription names Székely István and his family, as well as the year 1928. The inscription therefore dates from the same year the present-day church was built.
According to the inscription on the 80-kilogram bell, it was cast in Kassa in 1834 at the expense of the Reformed congregation of Becskeháza. The bell founder named is Wiesner Lajos. These details point to an earlier phase in the church’s history than the more recent bell and the present-day church. Together with the 20-metre-high tower, the bells provide concrete architectural and historical points of reference.
What other themes does Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén offer?
The wider travel destination of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén also offers other cultural and natural themes. The Baradla-Domica cave system is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst. For a shorter outing, the short Aggtelek Cave Tour is a separate option: it is one kilometre long, takes 60 minutes and is rated easy.
A nature trail connects the Aggtelek and Jósvafő entrances to Baradla Cave and presents the area’s natural and cultural-historical values. Those more interested in wildlife viewing can visit the Hucul herd year-round in the pastures of Gergés-lápa, around 1.5 kilometres north of Jósvafő. As animal-management arrangements may change, it is advisable to check the latest visitor information in advance.
These examples help put different interests within the wider travel destination into context: church history in Becskeháza, cave-related attractions and a nature trail in Aggtelek and Jósvafő, and the Hucul herd in its pastures.
FAQ
When were the present-day Reformed church and its bell built?
The present-day, fourth Reformed church was built in 1928 to plans by Doszpoly Károly. The 150-kilogram bell by Szlezák László also bears an inscription with the year 1928.
What is known about the older bell?
According to the inscription on the 80-kilogram bell, Wiesner Lajos cast it in Kassa in 1834 at the expense of the Reformed congregation of Becskeháza.
Which short cave and nature activities are mentioned in the wider travel destination?
The short Aggtelek Cave Tour is one kilometre long, takes 60 minutes and is rated easy. The Hucul herd can be visited year-round in the pastures of Gergés-lápa, around 1.5 kilometres north of Jósvafő; check the latest visitor information in advance.
Go to the wider travel overview: Edelényi.
