The fabulous architecture of Hungary, the abundance of thermal springs and the enchanting folklore history give the country enduring popularity. However, in addition to its famous attractions, the country has secrets unknown to many visitors.
This is a very curious country in the heart of Europe. You may know a lot of things about her, but here are some interesting facts about Hungary that you may never have heard of.
10. Hungary is one of the oldest states in Europe
Founded in 897, Hungary is one of the oldest countries in Europe. (before France and Germany became separate entities, and before the unification of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms).
9. Budapest has the largest synagogue in Europe
The Dohany Street Synagogue, also known as the Great Synagogue, is the largest in Europe. The construction was completed in 1859. This neological synagogue, built in the style of the Moorish revival, can accommodate up to 3,000 people. It is also the third largest in the world after the Great Belz Synagogue in Jerusalem and the Emanuel Temple in New York.
The neological Jewish synagogue community embraces a less traditional form of Judaism, which allows women to sit in the same room with men and allows the use of organ music during the ceremony.
8. The Hungarian Parliament - the largest building in Hungary
The Hungarian Parliament Building, located on the banks of the Danube, in the Budapest district of Pest, has witnessed one of the most important moments in the country over the past 200 years.
In the 1880s, a competition was held to find an architect for the new building of the Hungarian parliament, which would represent the sovereignty of the country. Drawing inspiration from the London Houses of Parliament, the winner was Hungarian architect Imre Steindl, who designed the grandiose neo-Gothic building that stands to this day.
The Hungarian Parliament, 268 meters high, 123 meters wide and 96 meters high, is the country's largest building, the tallest building in Budapest and the third largest parliament building in the world. Inside its great walls there are 691 rooms, 10 courtyards and a staircase of 12.5 miles. Architecturally, the building was built in the style of the Gothic revival with a dome in the Renaissance style.
7. 465 Olympic Medals
Did you know that Hungary won second place in the number of gold medals at the Summer Olympics of all countries per capita? They won gold medals at every Olympics in which they participated..
And what makes this even more interesting is the fact that Hungary was banned at the 1920 Olympics and joined the Soviet boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics.
6. Included in the top five European countries by the number of thermal healing springs
Hungary is extremely rich in thermal waters, the stock of thermal waters on a global scale is significant, and in Europe - an outstanding. Most mineral and medicinal waters contain dissolved minerals that provide medicinal and medicinal properties and make them suitable for bathing and drinking.
Currently, Hungary has more than a thousand wells, of which most of the water is healing water. Healing waters can be found in almost all regions of Hungary, and about three quarters of the wells are located on the Great Hungarian Plain.
5. Hungarians invented a ballpoint pen and a Rubik's Cube
Erno Rubik was a professor of architecture as well as a sculptor who invented one of the most beloved puzzles in the world, a puzzle that still affects the minds of people around the world.
Rubik's Cube - the best-selling toy in the world, A 3D puzzle game that is loved by both adults and children. It was invented in 1974 and has been making people use their minds for more than 4 decades.
In the 19th century, people still wrote with fountain pens. For Laszlo Biro, this was a burden. He was a journalist, and it took him a long time to fill up a pen, and his paper was always saturated with ink. That's why he came up with the idea of using newspaper-like inks to dry faster.
Together with their brother György, who was a chemist, they came up with a solution that included a ball-head mechanism that made all this possible. So, in 1938 they patented it, and now their invention is used by millions of people around the world. From China to the UK, everyone has heard of a ballpoint pen, but few people know they invented it in Hungary..
4. Ikarus buses were produced in Hungary
Ikarus is a bus manufacturer based in Budapest, Hungary. It was founded in 1895 as Uhri Imre Kovács- és Kocsigyártó Üzeme.
By 1913, the company focused mainly on the production of automobiles, and due to the increase in sales during the First World War, it received a large profit.
In 1927, Ikarus won an international tender, and it was in this year that large-scale production could begin with the supply of 60 shuttle buses. After the collapse of Wall Street, the company went bankrupt because it did not receive any significant orders, and it had to be closed.
In 1935, the company resumed production and was fully operational during World War II. On February 23, 1949, Ikarus was formally established after the merger with aircraft manufacturer Ikarus Gép és Fémgyár Rt.
3. Hungarian Lake Balaton - the largest in Central Europe
Lake Balaton, the largest lake in central Europe, located in central Hungary about 50 miles southwest of Budapest. It has an area of 231 miles² and extends 48 miles along the southern foothills of the Baconian mountains in Hungary.
At its widest point, Lake Balaton is about 9 miles wide. Its maximum depth is 37 feet. The Zala River provides the largest influx of water. The outflow of water through the lock gate of Siofok, to the eastern tip of the lake, and the entire contents of the lake is replenished every two years.
2. Famous Tokai wines are produced in Hungary
A visit to Tokai is a revelation for any wine lover. Everything in this region in northeastern Hungary - from its unique volcanic soil and microclimate to its local grape varieties and the underground labyrinth of moldy cellars - contributes to its distinctive wines.
This region owes its fame to the special vein of the fungus Botrytis (or “noble rot”), Which turns overripe grapes into small, wrinkled, raisin-like berries with concentrated sugar and aroma.
Tokai is best known for its incredibly complex sweet wine called Tokaji Aszu. But producers in the region create a wide range of white wines, ranging from dry Furmint bones to Tokaji Eszencia, a nectar so decadent that sugar prevents fermentation to more than 4% alcohol.
1. Hungarian factory "Herend" produces world famous china
Porcelain is the noblest material in the ceramic industry. What distinguishes it from other ceramic products is its hardness, transparency and special whiteness.
Herend Porcelain Manufactory is today the world's largest porcelain manufactory and a profitable enterprise. Herend strikes a balance of tradition and innovation, conveying 19th century traditions to the 21st century.