A
Word from the Mayor
Dear
Reader,
Welcome to our new homepage!
No secret our first website was made
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to introduce Borsodszirák's historic past,
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to show the relationship between Béla Bartók and
this village,
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to help you discover the natural beauties of Borsodszirák
and its surroundings,
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to raise the interest of investors and entrepreneurs,
and
to invite you to come and see us in person.
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We
have renewed this page already so popular with local and
international visitors alike to further stimulate public
attention towards Borsodszirák. Preserving the aims of the
previous website, we have refreshed and enhanced it with
more conspicuous technical solutions to make it more user
friendly and attractive to the visitor. Borsodszirák is
near Miskolc, the administrative centre of BAZ county, not
far from the towns of Edelény, Sajószentpéter, Kazincbarcika
or Szendrő. It is easily available both by road and railway.
Its excellent infrastructure and the entrepreneur-friendly
attitude of the Local Authorities guarantee success to enterprises
and a comfortable life to the inhabitants.
I am confident that the information on this website complete
with the illustrations showing the development of Borsodszirák
and its institutions will attract your attention and you
will come and see us soon.
I
am looking forward to meeting you.
Attila
Tóth
Mayor
Mayor's
Office
Information
Address:
35 Fő út, 3796 Borsodszirák
Tel.: +36.48.525.003
Fax: +36.48.342.894
E-mail: polghiv.bszirak@parisat.hu,
borsodszirak.ph@parisat.hu
Web: www.borsodszirak.hu
Mayor: Attila Tóth
Notary public: Lippai Istvánné
Vice-mayor: Dr. Zoltán Kresák
PR office
Monday: 8.00 to 16.00
Wednesday: 8.00 to 17.00
Friday: 8.00 to 12.00 |
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Geography
| Location
Borsodszirák is a village in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén
county. It is in Lower Bódva valley, near Miskolc
and the Slovak border, not far from the cities of
Kazincbarcika, Edelény and Sajószentpéter. On north-east
it borders upon the Cserehát mountain, on south-west
the river Bódva and the upper section of the Kis-Bódva
creek.
The natural endowments of Borsodszirák and its surroundings
are determined by the Bódva river that runs 100 kms
from the Gömör-Szepes Erzgebirge to form a characteristic
landscape as far as the point it flows into the Sajó
at Sajóecseg. To the east of the terraced Bódva valley
is the Cserehát, while to the west, the Aggtelek karst
and the Borsod hills offer a picturesque view.
Availability
By road: Borsodszirák is easily available on principal
roads from Miskolc, Boldva, Sajószentpéter and Edelény.
1.
From Miskolc:
M3 motorway -- M31 ring around Miskolc --Miskolc-Északkelet
exit towards Tornyosnémeti -- from the roundabout
via Arnót-Sajópálfala-Sajóvámos-Sajósenye-Boldva-Borsodszirák.
Miskolc-Ózd, road 25 Szirmabesenyő-Sajóvámos-Sajósenye-Boldva-Borsodszirák
Miskolc-Ózd, road 25
Sajóecseg-Sajósenye-Boldva-Borsodszirák
Miskolc-Ózd, road 25 via Sajószentpéter
2.
From Edelény
Miskolc-Ózd, road 25 Sajószentpéter-Edelény-Borsodszirák
3.
Public transportation:
By Borsod Volán bus line from Miskolc.
By rail: Borsodszirák station is on the Miskolc-Tornanádaska
line. |
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History
of the village
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The
name
The suffix of the village's name has survived in a lot of
varieties both in speech and writing. The current form is
a result of century long development. The earliest form
derives from 1261 and reads Zyrakh in a list of Eger episcopal
lands. However, latest research suggests that the village
took its name from a Bulgarian boy called C?pa? [szirák],
who became an orphan following his father's death.
The prefix Borsod has been officially used since 1907 to
indicate the county the village belongs to.
History
The first written reference to Szirák and the Bódva valley
dates back to the late 13th century.However, abundant findings
prove that this area had already been inhabited by man since
pre- historic times. The written history of Szirák began
in 1261 when it was put down as an Eger episcopal land.
The village remained a Roman Catholic Church property until
1945.
The year 1804 brought about a change for the Eger See as
it became an archdiocese. Szirák continued to belong to
Eger, but the territory of the Eger See had been split and
the Kassa See was created from it. The Bishop of Kassa received
the episcopal lands around Szirák together with all the
revenue deriving thereof.
This goes to show that the Church as an organization has
been an important factor in the history and development
of our village for as many as seven centuries.
The above Sees complete with the religious, economic, cultural
and social systems have been of great help to Szirák during
the hard times the village has had to face. The village
was not once destroyed and abandoned, or natural disasters
like plague, drought, invasion of locusts, and fires hit
it. Also, there were times that the relationship between
these parties was not quite bright but, sooner or later,
the situation returned to the old groove. The Church leaders
finally adapted to the changing world and decided to take
part in the development of our village.
Valuable memories of this era, like the baroque Roman Catholic
church that was built in the late 18th century, the parish,
or the bailiff's house from the year 1777 are well preserved
to show our commitment to the past.
From the mid 19th to the mid 20th century, Borsodszirák
was featured by a leasehold system, where episcopal lands
were rented or even purchased. This led to the formation
of an intensive small peasant farming system that brought
so much fame to Szirák. The construction of the 58 kilometer
long Sajóecseg-Torna railway in 1896 gave big boost to the
development of Szirák. The sand and gravels for the construction
were explored outside the village. That's when ground water
sprang to the surface only to form a lovely fish pond.
The year 1945 brough about the division of church lands
which, in 1960, was followed by the establishment of the
Bartók Béla Co-operative. The co-op has gradually become
one of Hungary's most prosperous co-operatives and the most
famous agricultural-industrial co-op in BAZ county. The
co-op has expanded its range with large-scale food economy
activities. A workshop producing plastic products and decorite
plates, a machine shop, and a nickelizing shop have been
built, but building materials, meat, dessert, mineral water
and soft drink are also produced. Transportation services
are offered and there is work for the disabled as well.
The co-operative makes investments and sponsors cultural
events. The fame of Borsodszirák has grown as that of the
co-op has. In the 1990s, when entreprises were started,
several ventures broke away from the co-operative. These
companies are still successful and are playing an important
role in the life of the village.
Ethnography
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Borsodszirák
stands out of the surrounding settlements as to its ethnographic
values. The reasons for the unique features are its geographical
position, micro-economy and religious homogeneity.
The first ethnographic description of the village reads
as follows in a geographical thesaurus by Fényes Elek: "Its
inhabitants are purely Hungarian and economical people.
They are dressed in a simple and natty way. The women are
the prettiest and the most beautifully dressed of all in
the region. The men are also very well dressed. On the face
of it, the whole of the village shows the wealth of its
inhabitants; the houses are neat and well-built, the courtyards
are clean and well cared for..."
At the 1896 Exhibition, the villages of Mezőkövesd and Szirák
were chosen to represent Borsod county. Unfortunately, the
renowned national costume had disappeared by the years 1920-1930:
as the generations born at the turn of the century had died
out, the national dress had ceased to be used in everyday
life. Now we can see it only in drawings or photos.
Ancient monuments
The
characteristic plan of Borsodszirák makes it one of the
villages with the most interesting plan in BAZ
county.
The single-street centre is organized around a water crossing.
The elongated gardens meander toward the stream Kis Bódva
like feathers of a fan. The triangular main area is surrounded
by historic public buildings, such as the Roman
Catholic Church, the former Catholic school
and the Parish.
Catholic
Church and Parish
The oldest monuments are situated in the centre of
village. Classified monuments are the Roman
Catholic Church, the Parish and the former
Grieve's House which has also been
used as a school. The Catholic Church
was built by Count Esterházy Károly,
Bishop and landowner, from episcopal revenues. The
plans were made by Fellner Jakab in
1777.The Catholic Parish was built
from 1778 to 1780 in a late Baroque
style. It 2+2+2 axis centre has a huge French roof
and Chech cross-bar ceiling.The main altar is a masterpiece
by the Eger sculptor Halblechner Vencel,
while the altar-piece - Ascension of St. Mary - was
painted by Johann Zirkler in 1785.The
main altar was gold-plated by Mandik Ferenc
of Eger in 1785.
The organ was made by Rimaszombat
organist Müller József in 1889.Some
pieces of the church furniture were made in a Zophian
style. These are: main altar, pulpit, font, the benches,
sacristy cabinet, and the processional crucifix.The
church is surrounded by houses from the late 19th
century including a former school, most of which have
been rebuilt. The 18th century buildings
on this triangular site render it a Baroque atmosphere. |
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The
'Little School'
This
single-floor building on the corner at 50 Bartók
Béla utca was built in a late Baroque style. Its
halls and rooms are accessible from an arched corridor.
The lettering above the entrance to this four window building
puts the year of construction to 1777.
Probably this is where builders of the church and the parish
were living. When work finished, the building was given
for use by the grieve, who looked after revenues of the
See. Later, when renting became widespread, it was inhabited
by the bishop's renters. Then it was used as a school from
1927.
War
Memorial
This memorial is situated on St. John's Motte.
It is dedicated to the victims of World Wars I and II and
fits in with the Baroque centre of village very well.
Statue
of St. John Nepomuk
The Baroque centre of village is ornamented with sculptures
and statues. The iron statue of St. John Nepomuk stands
near the church since 1839.
Tomb
of Bartók Béla's great-great grandparents
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We
are very proud of the 20th century cultural
discovery that the only known birthplace of Bartók
Béla's ancestors is here. The great-great grandparents
of the great composer were buried in Borsodszirák,
and his great-grand- father was also born here.
This discovery was made in 1954 by Denijs
Dille, Belgian professor of French language and
literature, who had the biggest Bartók
collection at the time. What is even more interesting is
that only these two graves remain from the old cemetary.
The graves have been classified and renovated by the village.
The epitaphs on the two marble tombstones read Gregorius
Bartók 1825 and Gondos Mária 1820.
According to the Service Book, Bartók Gregorius
alias Bartók Gergely, Bartók Béla's great-great
grandfather got married with Gondos Mária in
1771. Their son Bartók János, Bartók
Béla's great grandfather was born here. It was
him that erected the tomb for his parents. Bartók
János moved to Magyarcserna in
Torontál county, where Bartók Béla
was born in the third generation.
We are proud of the great composer and cherish his cultural
inheritance. The Bartók cult manifests
itself not only in giving his name to the newborn or preserving
his memory but also in maintaining the public monuments.
Washing
well
The washing well is near the centre. It is of great etnographical
importance.
"Crossbarn" construction
Another important feature of Borsod-
szirák's architecture is the great number of crossbarns.
