Kistarcsa is a town in Pest county, Budapest metropolitan area, Hungary. A site of the Kistarcsa concentration camp during the Holocaust. Later an internment camp of State Protection Authority for political prisoners during the 1950s.

Sights

In 2017, the Kistarcsa Cultural Association (KIKE) published a publication entitled “Sights of Kistarcsa”  ⁱⁿ which it presents numerous well-known and several sights, even less well-known to locals. A good few of the following are mentioned on the pages of the publication:

• Joseph Simándy statue (Simándy square)

In 2006, KIKE erected an entire statue in the center of Kistarcsa on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the birth of the great artist. The sculpture, which depicts Simándy in his greatest role, in the title role of Bánk bán , was created by the sculptor Frigyes Janzer.

• Statue of Prince St. Imre (Thököly út – Szent Imre tér)

In front of the old Health House stands the statue of St. Imre, made in 1938 by the sculptor Ferenc Sidló (recognized throughout Europe) , which was erected in 1938.

• Stone mosaic (St. Imre Square)

The area in front of the statue of St. Imre is decorated with a stone mosaic 3.5 meters in diameter, unique in its kind. The work was created by the participants of a mosaic making course organized within the framework of one of the KIKE projects supported by the European Union. Placing the mosaic in a worthy setting also required the renovation of the statue and the entire space. The joint inauguration ceremony of the whole composition took place on June 2, 2013.

• Memorial Wall (October 23rd Square)

Two special memorial plaques in memory of the people detained in the Central Internment Camp in Kistarcsa, where the blood of many known and anonymous martyrs was shed. One of the signs was erected by the Hungarian Catholic Church and the other by the Kistarcsa Municipality. Between the two is the ceramic relief of the martyr Bishop Zoltán Boldog Meszlényi .

• Relief by Zoltán Boldog Meszlényi

The Kistarcsa Cultural Association commissioned a ceramic relief, the inauguration ceremony of which took place on March 2, 2014 in Kistarcsa, on October 23 Square, at the memorial wall of the former internment camp. The memorial plaque was inaugurated by Miklós Beer, Bishop of Vác County.

• Heroic Headstone (October 23rd Square)

The individually crafted work was erected in memory of the victims of communism at a ceremony on October 23, 2008 . In addition to local leaders, the inauguration was attended by the president and several members of the 56th Association. The headboard was made by master wood carver Sándor Nagy.

• Szekler Gate (Heroes’ Square)

It was offered by the Transylvanian Torja (Kistarcsa sister settlement) with the participation of the Vojna family during the inauguration (2005). Special carvings, unique visuals and wonderful handwork characterize Kistarcsa’s new pride.

• Heroic Monument (Heroes’ Square)

In the field of heroes, there is a “artistically shaped” public work commemorating the people of Kistarcsa who fell in the First World War , which was erected in 1937. For the body of the monument, a plaque commemorating the heroes of World War II was made on the pedestal of the statue after the change of regime.

• Francis Flór bust (fluorine walkway)

The hospital in Kistarcsa is named after Ferenc Flór, a surgeon, medical specialist, lieutenant colonel of the Hungarian Armed Forces, head of the health department of the Ministry of Defense in the Revolution and War of Independence of 1848–49, and a corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences . A bust erected in his honor was located in the central square of the inner promenade.

• Tomb of László Bódi (Shoes)

Composer, lyricist, singer, the Republic co-founder, lead singer and frontman 2013 . He died at dawn on March 11 in Budapest, the forty-seventh year of his life. He was buried near his father’s grave.

• Youth space

Community-designed ornament and event space where the city celebrates Kistarcsa Days, Everyone’s Christmas

• Extreme bike track

A course for young people and young people in spirit with 5 obstacles, free wifi use.

Culture 

Non-governmental organizations

• Kistarcsa Cultural Association (KIKE)– The primary goal of the Kistarcsa Cultural Association, founded in 1993, is to contribute to the more colorful cultural programs of the settlement, to stimulate and develop the community life of Kistarcsa and the surrounding settlements, and to help the activity of local self-organizing groups. Its membership is around 60 people. Its main activities are: organizing weekly educational lectures, providing opportunities for talented children of the settlement and amateur and professional adult performers to perform in the framework of program evenings, announcing literary, fine arts and city beautification competitions to the population of the settlement every year. Every autumn they organize cultural weeks, their colorful program is the gastronomic festival, they publish the Kistarcsa Calendar every year, they organize memorial days on outstanding historical anniversaries. Seminars,
• Pannonia Folk Dance Ensemble – A large number of children and adults alike take part in the life of the Pannonia Folk Dance Ensemble. The band was formed in 1992 in Kistarcsa. The aim of the joint operation is to revive and preserve the local Slovak heritage, and also to nurture the Hungarian folk tradition. Of the dancers in the five age groups, the children’s group also participated in an international festival, and the adults complied with an invitation from England. They take part in most of the local events, and in the Kistarcsa Days they host the folklore afternoon. They give an independent evening once a year.
• Devil’s Circle – The Ördögi Circle Acting Workshop, created by the students, was initially a successful guest in several nearby settlements, but since they have had good success at national acting meetings, they have hardly been able to meet the invitations.
• Kéknefelejcs Folk Song Circle – The Kéknefelejcs Folk Song Circle undertakes primarily to search for, collect and perform local Hungarian and Slovak folk songs. The women, dressed in colorful folk costumes, have already aged Kistarcsa’s reputation in many settlements and events.
• Love Folk Song Circle – The Love Folk Song Circle is a choir of retired women who, in addition to folk songs, also performs other songs that satisfy the tastes of the older age group. They perform in dark skirts and white blouses.
• Rosemary Ensemble – The Rosemary Ensemble is also a community of retired women. At first, they only learned hilarious scenes for their own amusement, but seeing their success and giving in to encouragement, they also gave an independent evening surrounded by great pleasure. They are completely independent, their members write the text, they make the costumes. Dressed in local folk costumes, they also perform folk songs.

Cultural and gastronomic events

• Kistarcsa Days – a three-day event launched by KIKE in 1995, organized by the city government a few years ago. All local organizations will have the opportunity to introduce themselves at this series of events in May. The event, which takes place in several locations (Simándy József Primary School, Ifjúság tér, Deres Lovasudvar), is attended by both cultural and sports organizations, as well as health and transport programs. In addition, a number of ensembles and bands deservedly recognized in the country will perform at these local festivals, which are also popular in the surrounding settlements. Usually, a neighboring or foreign sister city is also invited to present their community life. Exhibitors can look forward to exhibitions, theatrical performances and many spectacular events.
• KIKE Cultural Week – Every year since 2004, a series of programs has been held in Kistarcsa every year during September. As part of the program series, the association launched the Butterfly Festival as part of the City Day event, now organized by the municipality . In addition to the roller-skating competition, the program of the event also includes competitions and quizzes, and an all-day program is organized on the stage. At the craft fair, visitors can choose from many attractions. The series of events will take place at several venues, including the Catholic and Reformed churches in Kistarcsa, the Civil House, Simándy Square and the city sports hall.
• Pántlika – for the ethnic folklore meeting to be held within the framework of the KIKE Cultural Week . The guests will take part in the musical parade in folk costumes, and then give a taste of their own folk culture in the framework of a program evening.
• Harvest revelry – Harvest revelry evokes old traditions. The colorful parade on horses and horse-drawn carriages attracts many interested people. Young people, who also march to live music in stages, will stop for a short performance in several places, where the audience will also be involved in the joint dance. The day ends with a ball.

Cultural institutions (Kistarcsa City Cultural, Sports Center and Library)

• Library – the idea of ​​a library first emerged in 1903. Currently, hundreds of readers of the nearly 20,000 Library regularly rotate the books in the collection, but many also come in for data collection or to browse newspapers or magazines. The library has been replaced on the ground floor of the renovated City Hall since 2001.
• House of Culture – The center of the cultural life of the settlement is the institution of the City House of Culture, which operates a house of culture (Snail House) for 300 people and a Civil House for local clubs. The latter building housed the local government many years ago, and the more than 100-year-old building reopened in 2003. The Kistarcsa Cultural Association holds its educational lectures entitled “Deáktanya” every Thursday night . The rooms equipped with the necessary technical equipment provide a test opportunity for various self-active groups, but courses, programs, ceremonies and meetings are also held here. Some are happy to sacrifice their free time for one of several health-maintaining tournaments, while others meet their community needs in the field of martial arts.