Kalocsa Famous for its red paprika and its embroideries,
this city also has a significant historic past. The first king of
the Hungarians, Stephen I, founded an archiepiscopacy here, which
made Kalocsa a blooming Medieval city. Under Turkish rule the city
became uninhabited, and during a fire in 1608 the Medieval basilica
burned to ashes. The ecclesiastical buildings were rebuilt in a
homogenous style in the 18th century, and this Baroque atmosphere
can be enjoyed today while walking downtown. In the exhibition of
the Kalocsa Roman Catholic Archiepiscopal Treasury there are
numerous ecclesial art pieces that visitors can take pleasure
seeing.
The embroideries of the women of Kalocsa and neighborhood can be
found everywhere in the country. Only few people know that the
colorful embroideries only became truly popular in the 20th
century. We can also discover the ancient patterns and colors in
the exhibitions of the Regional House of Folk. In accordance with
traditions its walls are decorated by the local women with the
painted versions of the patterns of their beautiful
embroideries.
The other famous product of Kalocsa, ground red paprika, is an
essential ingredient in many of Hungary's most favorite dishes,
i.e. paprika chicken stew, goulash, and fish soup. The Hungarian
Spice Paprika Museum introduces us to the production of this
Hungarian spice.
We would like to draw the attention of those who like minerals
to the mineral and gem collection of the Károly Viski Museum, and
of those who like modern art to the Nikolas Schöffer Museum in
which the collection of mobile and light sculptures given the city
of his birth by the Parisian artist are on display.
During the trip you can see the most beautiful parts of the
town, for example: The Cathedral St. Stephen, the Castle of Bishop,
the Bishop's Garden, the Schöffer-tower, the Folks-Art House
etc.
There is also a special place in Kalocsa, a "tank-cemetery":
the Hungarian Army's tanks withdrawn from the troops are here
stored before destroying. You can't go into the barrack, but you
can see the tanks through the fencing.