Hidden Treasures of Debrecen

While Ben was tutoring two of his adult students the other day, the subject of Debrecen's history came up. He asked his students about the Reformist Tree and where it was in Debrecen. His two student's said, "Hey, we can show you!" And thus began Ben's first Hungarian field trip. They showed him the tree first and then other hidden histories around town. They wouldn't be hidden if we could read Hungarian, but then if we could read Hungarian Ben wouldn't have any more reasons for spontaneous field trips!

The Reformist Tree

First the story of the Reformist Tree. In the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation, Debrecen was one of the major cities that turned away from being Catholic. A Catholic leader one day spoke to a crowd of angry reformers and then broke off a branch of a tree and then stuck it in the ground saying, "Your religion will prosper when this stick turns into a tree." And of course this stick did end up growing. It was even run over by tanks during World War I and continued to grow. Thus, the tree holds special meaning to those in Debrecen who are Protestant today. 

Below are pictures of other historical things around Debrecen. 

A statue of Hungarian freedom fighter Lajos Kossuth 

The house of the Bishop of the Calvinist Church.

One of the first Tribal Kings of Hungary before the year 1000. 

A memorial to a Hungarian explorer from the 17th century.

The other day while Ben was walking to work he discovered this door. There is even a box by the door to drop off more keys.

Can't find your key? Maybe it's here.

We think this Catholic Church is very beautiful, but also very similar to the Calvin Church. What do you think?

Catholic Church

Calvinist Church.

They are also starting to decorate for Christmas around town now! 

Setting up the Christmas tree in downtown.