Verőce

The village is situated on the left bank of the Danube river between the towns of Vác and Nagymaros. Verőce lies along route 12, thereby it is easily accessible by car and coach. Travelling by train, it can be reached by the Budapest-Vác-Szob and the Vác-Balassagyarmat railway lines. The settlement lying at the foot of the Börzsöny mountains is an ideal recreation and excursion area due to its natural environment. The development of the village started at the end of the 19th century, bringing along the flourishing of cultural life. Endre Ady, Dezső Kosztolányi, Frigyes Karinthy, Zoltán Kodály and Zsigmond Móricz owned holiday resorts in Verőce. One of the characteristic features is the line of villas overlooking the Danube, built on a high stone wall designed by Miklós Ybl.

A carved tree of life set up along route 12 signals our arrival to Verőce. The wooden belfries rising at the bank of the river symbolise the seven tribe leaders settling in Hungary. The main road houses the Radio Museum, presenting the development of radio technology. The majority of over a hundred radio equipment, tape recorders, gramophones and record players pertaining to the private collection of Sándor Perneky is still operating. The Ceramic Museum commemorates Géza Gorka, who played a pioneer role in the history of ceramic craft. The works of the recognised ceramist artist, based on folk traditions and combining Mesopotamian, Persian and Egyptian elements, are complemented by the ceramics of Lívia Gorka and Géza Focht. The summer residence of the former bishop of Vác, Kristóf Migazzi, can be found also in Verőce. The palace, which is in perfect condition, originally featured late baroque elements was reconstructed to classicist style in the early 19th century.

The environs of the settlement are covered by footpaths. The marked tracks lead to the Nógrád fortress, to the Les-valley (Les-völgy) and Királyrét (King’s Meadow). A favourite destination for families is the children’s train running between Kismaros and Királyrét. The Via Margaritarum pilgrimage (Pearl Route) cuts through the so-called Csattogó-völgy (Clashing valley) belongint to Verőce. The Pearl Route (Gyöngyök útja) connects Mátraverebély-Szentkút with Mariazell, the two significant national pilgrim locations. Each year in July a three-day event titled “Transylvania is my land” (Erdélyország az én hazám) is organised in the Csattogó Valley camp, where those originating from Transylvania and those having the destiny of Transylvania at heart can meet. The wooden holiday bungalows of the Csattogó Valley housing the event are of varying comfort levels and welcome visitors the year round.

Sources: http://www.veroce.hu/, http://www.erdelyhon.hu/, http://hu.wikipedia.org/, http://www.vendegvaro.hu/