The Alföld (the Great Plain) also called the „Puszta”, is a place of legends, and legendary sights. The bird nature reserves its two counties contain, the Hortobágy and the Tisza Lake, have made it onto the UNESCO World Heritage list. Three national parks can be found within its borders. Other sights include Europe’s largest fruit producer, one of the Greek Catholic faith’s oldest sites, Central Europe’s biggest windmill, the plain’s only medieval stone castle, Hungary’s oldest railway station, and the world’s second-largest panorama painting. The Alföld is bordered on the west by the Danube, and in the east by the Rumanian border. Hungary’s second largest river, the Tisza, has a different life from its nearest neighbor, the Danube. The Tisza has very little commercial boat traffic, but many touring boats. It has few bridges, but many ferries, in fact in 11 places simple boats provide a crossing. Just like in the olden days. You only have to stand on its banks once to understand why it’s been known for centuries as the fair or “blonde” Tisza. The very fine, almost unnoticeable sand grains floating in it give it its golden color. For its entire Hungarian length, these fine grains or fine pebbles transform its edges into many a fine beach.
The sunshine is said to bathe in thermal waters in the southern Alföld, which has the country’s highest amount of daylight hours. The famous thermal baths of this region back right onto each other. This wealth of sunshine also ripens such Hungarian produce as the golden apricot, from which is made the barackpálinka of Kecskemét. Paprika, the most essential herb for Hungarian dishes such as pörkölt, halászlé, and gulyásleves, also grows here. The region’s most notable produce is the red onion of Makó, which in the town of Makó itself is celebrated in builds like The Onionhouse.
There isn’t a region in Hungary that has as many events and festivals connected with gastronomy. Baja has its halászlé cooking folk festival, while in Pusztamérges they hold the Szeged district’s halászlé cooking competition. In the Szatmár region, they hold a plum jam-making contest, while in Békéscsaba sausage and salami, in Bereg, gulyás, and this is not to mention the many wine tastings and events.
Only those happy in the mountains can’t find something they like in the Alföld. Everyone else partakes in memorable events.
