Discover Nagykáta: History, Culture and Surroundings

• The Szent György Church was built in the 16th century and rebuilt around 1745.
• On April 4, 1849, Görgey's headquarters were at Keglevich Castle; today, the building houses the mayor's office.
• The Kátai Tánctalálkozó takes place annually, and TápióFeszt is held every September.
• The wetlands in Egreskáta, to the east, include 350 hectares of reed marshes.

The Szent György Church and the Keglevich Chapel represent architectural history from different centuries: the church was built in the 16th century and rebuilt around 1745, while the chapel was built in the 18th century. This timeline offers a brief overview of two historic buildings in Nagykáta without conflating their histories.

The history of events comes into focus at Keglevich Castle. On April 4, 1849, Görgey's headquarters were located there. Kossuth visited the wounded from the Battle of Tápióbicske at the castle; the battle was fought partly within the town limits. Today, the castle houses the mayor's office. This historical connection links a specific date associated with the battle to the building's present-day function.

April 4 is Nagykáta's official town day. At the annual commemorative ceremony, Hungarian and foreign military reenactment groups remember the 1849 battle. The program begins with a remembrance of the fallen and a wreath-laying ceremony on the bank of the Tápió, at the former battlefield. Individual program items may vary.

The international Kátai Tánctalálkozó is also held every year in Nagykáta and has a tradition spanning several decades. TápióFeszt is a festival celebrating gastronomy and culture while preserving traditions, and takes place every September. The established calendar dates therefore differ: Town Day falls on April 4, the festival takes place in September, and the dance gathering is also annual, distinguished here above all by its international character and long tradition. If you would like to plan your trip around TápióFeszt, check the schedule for the current edition.

Egreskáta lies east of Nagykáta on the Hajta stream and is part of the destination's surrounding area, not the town itself. The landscape includes 350 hectares of reed marshes, surrounded by saline and sandy grasslands, as well as salt lakes. Between the wetlands there is also a remnant of steppe oak forest covering a few hectares. The bodies of water include Bata-tó, Monori-tó and Sós-tavak.

Several types of landscape are found here side by side: wetlands, grasslands, salt lakes and a small remnant of woodland. Conditions in the wetlands change with the seasons. These offer a different way to plan your timing than recurring cultural events: events have calendar dates, while the landscape is subject to seasonal changes.

Discover more destinations: Tápiószele, Tápiószecső, Tápiószentmárton, Tápiógyörgye, Mende.

What is the historical significance of Keglevich Castle?

On April 4, 1849, Görgey's headquarters were at the castle. Kossuth visited the wounded from the Battle of Tápióbicske there; the battle was fought partly within the town limits. Today, the building houses the mayor's office.

Which annual events take place?

The official town day and commemorative ceremony take place on April 4. The international Kátai Tánctalálkozó is held every year, and TápióFeszt, celebrating gastronomy and culture, takes place every September. For TápióFeszt, it is worth checking the schedule for the particular edition.

Where is Egreskáta, and what characterizes its landscape?

Egreskáta lies east of Nagykáta on the Hajta stream. The nearby landscape includes reed marshes, saline and sandy grasslands, salt lakes and a small remnant of steppe oak forest. Wetland conditions change with the seasons.

For the broader travel overview: Nagykátai.