Szigetbecse

Szigetbecse lies in the southern part of the Csepel-island, along the dead channel of the Ráckeve branch of the Danube, at a distance of 48 km from Budapest. We can reach the village by road on the main road leading through the island or on route 51, making a turn in the direction of Ráckeve. It is also accessible from the capital by public transportation. We can reach Szigetbecse by suburban train departing from Közvágóhíd terminal in the direction of Ráckeve, then changing to the local bus service.

Arriving in the village, we can explore a number of Swabian houses with porches and iron fence indicating the multi-ethnic population of the village. The village abandoned during the Turkish thraldom was populated first by Serbs, then later by Styrian and Swabian settlers. Until the 1950s the composition of the village population was up to 85% of German origin. Even today Szigetbecse is inhabited by many Swabians. The village vigorously preserves its folk traditions, one of the most famous ones is the so-called “egg running” (tojásfutás) taking place on Easter Sunday. In course of the “egg running”, lads clad in traditional costumes greet the guests first by running through eggs laid out on the street, then by picking the eggs up throw them among the guests.

One of the most characteristic symbols of the settlement is the tree of life set up in 2007, created by Ferenc Nemes wood sculptor. Each year during the Mother’s Days celebration, medals made of enamel holding the name and birth date of children born in Szigetbecse after 1st January 2001 are mounted on the tree of life. The sculpture is well-respected and honoured by the village dwellers, who care for its environment decorated with flowers. It is worth to pay a visit to the André Kertész Memorial Museum, where the world-famous pictures and personal objects of the remarkable photo artist of the 20th century are displayed. The patron saint of the village’s simple Catholic church of late rococo style is St. Michael, on the saint’s day a village festival is organised.

It is recommended to visit the village also for its beautiful natural ambience. Szigetbecse is surrounded by a nature reserve comprised of dead channels, flood-plain forest and willow-trees in Királyrét. A more than hundred years old back poplar stands at the village border on the King’s Meadow (“Királyrét”). Following a stroll in the village and surroundings, the visitors can relax by the pond at Balassi Square. The village is a popular resort with a 9-km row of holiday homes lining the waterfront of the Ráckeve Danube branch. In summer the waterfront of Szigetbecse welcomes the visitors with a free beach and angling opportunities.

Sources: http://www.szigetbecse.hu/, http://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szigetbecse