About city of Miskolc

            The origin of the city name (pronouncing it as Mishkowltz) comes from the male first name MICHAEL as researchers recently discovered. Miskolc is situated in the north eastern area of Hungary where the mountains of the Highlands become hills and the rivers Sajó and Hernád flow toward the Great Hungarian Plain. From the 200 metres high hill of Miskolc, the Avas, a beautiful view opens up to the surrounding area: to the west the Bükk (termed after its beach trees in Hungarian) mountains climb over the horizon, and to the east the massive Tokaj hill can be seen above the royal wine-district. At the intersection of the two geographical regions lies Miskolc.

Between twenty and thirty thousand years ago in the early stone age this area was inhabited by people living in settlements like in the Szeleta cave above Hámor-Lillafüred and at Tapolca where the University Campus is located . Several discoveries provide evidence of the presence of people living here in the Bronze and Iron Ages and after. Among them the most notable is the Celtic ring fortress and the extensive settlement with the first traces of iron making above Bükkszentlászló (Ó-Huta) at the Nagy Sánc hill. The name of this hill still bears the name of that ancient fortress. The Szinva-valley was inhabited even during the chaos of the huge migration of people in Europe.

The origin of many villages that form today's Miskolc goes back to the age of the first royal dynasty, mentioning Hejőcsaba (1067), Miskolc (1219), Tapolca (1219), Diósgyőr (1248). Through six centuries after the Tartar invasion the centre of the area was Diósgyőr. The castle of Diósgyőr, which was rebuilt after the Tartar occupation was a favourite place of the kings and queens during the 14^th and 15^th centuries. The peace of Venice was ratified here by Louis the Great of the second, the Anjou dynasty (1342-1382) in 1381, while, as a Polish king, he welcome the visits of foreign envoys to the castle.

The civil wars and the Turkish invasion had a fatal impact on the city. The castle of Diósgyőr resisted the attack of the Turks in 1596, and later on for seven decades Hapsburg troops left it to ruins. In this wild age only the city of Miskolc and its protestant citizens could survive: because of its trade and industry the city became an important centre of royal Hungary in the Highlands and the Turkish area of the Great Hungarian Plain. Based on its great viniculture and famous wines, Miskolc turned into the hub of the wine trade. By the end of the 17^th century the population was around 6000 and in the middle of the 16^th century the Protestant Church founded the first grammar school in the city.

In the peaceful 18^th century new industries burst into life with support from the exchequer: glass making (Ó-Huta-Bükkszentlászló), paper making (Diósgyőr), iron industry (Ó-Massa, Új-Massa, Hámor) and coal mining (Diósgyőr). Miskolc rebuilt and restructured itself. The development of Miskolc was based on the industrial improvement in the second half of the 19^th century: the iron industry of Diósgyőr played a significant role in this process. A new iron and steel works was established in the outskirts of Miskolc in 1870. This factory became one of the most significant plants of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. By the turn of the century there were around 6000 employees, while at the beginning of World War I more than 8000 people worked there. The coal mine – that belonged to the iron and steel works – had 1000 to 1200 employees by that time. More than 10,000 people could live in civilised homes.

After one century the trade of Miskolc reached its highest level: crops, fruit, wine, spices, iron, textiles and petroleum have left impact on the face of today's Miskolc. At the end of the 19^th century the phyloxera brought to an end the 500-year-old vineyards of the Miskolc-Diósgyőr area.

Culture and education in the city remained intact throughout the changing times of the 19^th century. In addition to its two grammar schools the number of the city's secondary schools was expanded by the girls' grammar school of the Protestant Church (1846) and the state school of commerce (1895).

Within the new national borders due to the peace treaty of Trianon Miskolc played an entirely new role in the life of Hungary.

The County of Borsod (its capital is Miskolc) gained vital importance in the economy of the country (iron and steel manufacture in Diósgyőr and Ózd, the iron-ore mining in Rudabánya, the coal-mining of Borsod), while Miskolc has done its best. The city gave a home (1919) to the famous Academy of Law of Eperjes run by the Evangelical Church and founded in the 17^th century. Between the two World Wars there were 4 secondary grammar schools, 3 teacher training colleges, 2 commerce and 7 lower secondary schools and one metal and timber technical schools in Miskolc.

At the end of World War II Miskolc, Diósgyőr and Hejőcsaba were united. In 1950 more villages were connected to Miskolc: Tapolca, Görömböly, Szirma, Hámor-Lillafüred, Ó-Massa and Bükkszentlászló closed the line.

In the latest four decades new housing estates have been built to provide good, healthy environment for half of the city's population. Up-to-date roads, public transport network and the public utilities have been established. In 1949 Miskolc became a university town. Secondary education developed to a great extent: today Miskolc – in terms of both students and class rooms – is the second one to Budapest. In its 15 secondary schools there are 10 000 full-time students, in technical schools 8000 students studying. Today, in addition to the university library (which has 600 000 volume), numerous scientific, technical and entertaining libraries are in the city.

Miskolc is often said to be a spa (thermal spring) city. For centuries the Tapolca valley – surrounding the Hejő hot-water spring – has been a spa. Thousands of Hungarian and foreign visitors a day take advantage of the recovery effects of the cave-bath and the open-air swimming pool which occupies a huge area at Tapolca.

Cultural life is well worth mentioning: the National Theatre being a pearl in the city entertains visitors by world-famous performances in the world of dramas, comedies, musicals, operettas, opera plays. In Summer-time opera festivals are organised inviting famous companies. The city has its own broadcasting and television programmes, museums, exhibitions of various kind. Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Protestant Churches, Synagogue attract also visitors in addition to their believers and members. Sport throughout the year is popular, various teams are in the first league and both open-air and built premises are available for people to improve their health condition.

Further information: www.miskolc.hu