"Hey, Nagykőrös famous town"

archeological, local historical, literary historical, ethnographical permanent exhibition

Nagykőrös is not only one of the most characteristic country-towns of the region between the rivers Duna and Tisza, but also that for the whole of the Great Hungarian Plain. The exhibition displays its history and its development into a country-town.

A diploma issued in 1266 by King Béla IV is on show, in which also the name of Kőrös was mentioned. In the 11th and 12th centuries there existed seven hamlets in the surroundings of Kőrös. They were destroyed during the 13th century. Sacred relics (e.g. the famous cross of Ludas), jewels, agricultural implements, household utensils represent this period of village-like character.

The decay of these villages promoted the development of Kőrös. In the 16th century the immigration of the population gave an impulsion to the development into a country-town. Under the Turkish rule Kőrös became a privileged community, having obtained the status of a "Khász" town. This epoch has been documented by Turkish charters, other writings and objects (copper stirrup, Turkish vessels). The town grew stronger; it became an autonomous organisation under the Turkish rule (16th to 17th centuries), and safeguarded its independence also in the 18th century. Its landowners could not lower the inhabitants into serfdom. The more intensive ways of 18th century farming are represented by farming implements (wooden plough, harrow made of thorny twigs etc.), further by material and document remains of the guild organisations and by their products.

During the feudal period mainly animal husbandry, farming and vinegrowing were pursued in the town and in its surroundings. Industry was practised in guilds within the town-walls.

In the years 1848/49, during the War of Independence Nagykőrös had a significant role. Two "honvéd" cavalry regiments were organized in this town: the Thirteenth ("Hunyadi") and the Sixteenth ("Károlyi") Hussar Regiments.

After the military defeat of the Hungarian fight of freedom, the town, being in possession of significant economic resources, was able to make itself independent from the policy of suppressive absolutism. The most distinguished scholars of Hungary were invited to teach in the famous secondary high school of the town, scholars who became fate-stricken because of their taking part in the War of Independence. Six members of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences taught at Nagykőrös between the years 1850 and 1867.

One of these professors was János Arany, an outstanding poet in our literary history. He taught Hungarian and Latin languages and literature from 1851 to 1860. This exhibition displays the relics of his teaching activity, of his literary work (his original manuscripts) as well as several personal relics of him.

The activity of a teaching staff consisting of academicians denoted the intellectual flourishing time in the course of development of the country-town.

This was followed, however, by a period of decadence. Numerous documents and objects from this period (First World War) are exhibited.

Important local documents of the first Hungarian proletarian state, the Hungarian Soviet Republic (1919) are to be seen.

Between the two World Wars several social and economic changes took place in the town. The can factory was established at that time. In 1925 the Arany János Társaság (János Arany Society), in 1928 the Museum was founded. The agriculture of the town is to be characterised by the growing intensity of animal husbandry, by vegetables and fruit production and by the field growing of plants.

In the last part of the exhibition documents of the liberation is the autumn of 1944, and those of the epoch of socialist construction are exhibited.

The famous cross of Ludas

Avar princely sword from the VII. century

Symbol of the Turkish rule: A Hungarian and a Turkish soldier are
fighting for the Arms of Nagykőrös

Member of the "Károlyi" Hussar Regiment

János Arany
Painted by Miklós Barabás, copied by Alajos Kladács

The Hussar-Barracs in 1920

The Museum got place here in 1950