Gyöngyös: Church, Monastery Library and Museum

• The Szent Bertalan-templom stands at the edge of Fő tér.
• The Magyar Ferencesek Gyöngyösi Műemlékkönyvtára is the country’s oldest Franciscan monastery library.
• The Mátra Múzeum has been housed in the Orczy-kastély since 1957.
• The zoo covers 2 hectares; nearly 100 species and almost 500 animals are reported. These figures may change.

When making your selection, you can distinguish between a sacred building, Franciscan library history and a museum theme. The zoo adds a different focus to these cultural sites.

The Szent Bertalan-templom and the library are two distinct points of reference for the city’s ecclesiastical history. The church stands at the edge of Fő tér; the library is located in the church and monastery complex at Barátok tér. As the country’s oldest Franciscan monastery library, it holds a precise superlative: this refers specifically to this type of library. For culture enthusiasts, the church building and monastery library therefore stand side by side as separate themes.

The Mátra Múzeum has been housed in the Orczy-kastély since 1957. This adds a museum theme to the ecclesiastical sites. When planning your trip, you can explore Gyöngyös not only through individual sights, but also through different interests: sacred architecture, library history or museums.

The zoo in Gyöngyös covers 2 hectares. Nearly 100 species and almost 500 animals are reported; these figures may change. The area figure describes the size of the grounds, while the approximate numbers give an idea of the number of species and animals. If you plan to visit the zoo, check the latest visitor information before your visit.

In the wider travel destination of Heves, the Hevesi Füves Puszták Landscape Protection Area lies in the southern part of Heves County. It covers 16,114 hectares and was designated in 1993. Extensions in 2005 and 2008 brought it to its present size. Its area, protected status and development over time give this natural attraction a different scale from the cultural sites in Gyöngyös.

The educational trails in Heves also have different focuses. The 6.5 km Ilona-völgyi Educational Trail along the Ilona stream passes the geological features of the Eastern Mátra Mountains and remnants of former ore mining. The Pély-Ludas Educational Trail introduces visitors to the grassland habitats of the Hevesi-sík: these include saline grasslands, marshes, bodies of water, shrublands, semi-natural wooded areas and forests, as well as their wildlife and the European roller population. This lets you choose between a trail focused on geology and mining history and one centered on habitats and wildlife.

The Hevesi szőttes is a textile heritage from Heves County associated with Heves, Mátraderecske and Bodony. The Szépasszony Valley in Eger has a different cultural profile: it comprises Eger’s largest continuous area of wine cellars. Wine culture and its associated gastronomy are among the area’s most important tourist attractions. These themes offer different points of connection for comparing the region’s cultures.

Activities in Heves also vary by theme and season. The Heves County section of the Országos Kéktúra includes the ascent of Kékestető, Hungary’s highest point. In winter, fans of active tourism can enjoy winter sports at Kékestető. This offers a route-and-summit theme as well as an explicitly seasonal activity.

Discover more destinations: Galyatető, Gyöngyösoroszi, Domoszló, Abasár, Mátraszentimre, Gyöngyöstarján, Gyöngyössolymos, Markaz.

Where is the Szent Bertalan-templom?

It stands at the edge of Fő tér in Gyöngyös.

Since when has the Mátra Múzeum been housed in the Orczy-kastély?

The Orczy-kastély has housed the Mátra Múzeum since 1957.

What are the size figures for the zoo in Gyöngyös?

The zoo covers 2 hectares. Nearly 100 species and almost 500 animals are reported; these figures may change. Check the latest visitor information before your visit.

For the wider travel overview: Gyöngyösi.