Ács

Ács is located in the northeast of the Kisalföld–or Little Hungarian Plain–region, just a few kilometers from the River Danube. Ács had been named after the royal carpenters (ács) who settled here during the Árpád Era (1000-1301). Located in Komárom-Esztergom county, the settlement is accessible by public road along Motorway M1 and Main Road 1 or by rail taking a train along the Budapest–Rajka line. The remains of a fortress stand witness to the fact that there were two Roman military camps within the territory of the city. Up until the 20^th century, the sandy bank of the River Danube was a popular site for gold panners. During the 19^th century, two major battles were fought near Ács. In 1809, it was here that, led by Fülöp Batthyány, the Cavalry of Vas County fended off the attack of Napoleon’s troops. In 1849, Artúr Görgey’s soldiers fought a victory over imperial forces led by Haynau. The obelisk erected in the Ács woods honours the soldiers defending the nation’s independence.

The most widely known monument of the town is the Zichy Mansion, also known by its former name as the Esterházy Mansion. Complete with a 70 ha park, the mansion was built in the Baroque style at the end of the 18^th century by the Esterházy family. Later on, the estate was purchased by Alois Liechtenstein, Archbishop of Nikolsburg. At the end of the 19^th century, ownership passed to the Zichy family, who converted the building mostly in a Neo-Baroque style. The mansion and its park of 70 ha are right in the middle of the city, currently operating as a library and culture house. It is home to a sugar industry exhibit and to Sméja Gallery, which organises temporary exhibitions. Anglers visiting the town may enjoy either Malom (“Mill”) Lake just outside the settlement or the undisturbed bank of the River Danube, which has two camping sites as well. In Vaspuszta, which forms part of Ács, a horse riding farm awaits equestrian sports aficionados with both riding and a wide range of other entertainment and leisure time opportunities.

Sources: http://hu.wikipedia.org/, http://www.acsvaros.hu/, http://www.kapcsolat-kapcsolat.hu/