THINK HUNGARY, MORE THAN EXPECTED THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAIN Ideal destination for families A waterpark and spa redolent of the Mediterranean all year round WELCOME! TRAVEL OppORTUNITIES IN THIS REGION OF HUngARY Health is precious to us all A world heritage site and an excellent and grows even more so in our tourist destination, Hortobágy, Europe’s most extensive contiguous grassland is accelerated lives! The Northern a unique example of balanced co-ex- Great Plain Region offers both istence between nature and traditional physical and spiritual rejuvena- herding culture. tion and helps us to downshift, The site of Europe’s largest aqua park take a break and recover from and a foremost spa town, Hajdúszoboszló exhaustion and stress, even attracts many international visitors. Medicinal thermal water gushing if for short periods only. forth from the depths of the earth has led A unique landscape offered to the evolution of a sophisticated bath by the tranquil Hungarian culture. Medicinal baths, thermal spas, “puszta” and the picturesque excellent services and expertise combine Tisza valley is ideal for outings to superbly cater to the needs of young and old alike. The region is ideal for both physical and spiritual rejuvenation and can be explored by bike, by boat, or on horseback. The romantic landscape, the serenity of nature and the delicious local cuisine are an irresistible attraction for tourists. Animals endemic to the Hungari- an “puszta” (grassland/pasture), e.g. grey cattle and Mangalitsa pigs, serve as in- gredients of unsurpassable quality for healthy food. Plums and apples grown in the region are processed into jam and dried delicacies or “pálinka”. A wide vari- and enjoying fresh air. Debrecen ety of events (e.g. festivals and tradition- al festivities forming part of Hungary’s is Hungary’s second largest city national heritage) offer an unforgettable with a vibrant cultural and univer- experience. sity life. The facilities offered by If you have never been here, this the city also includes an airport region is a must; warm hospitality and handling international traffic. many new experiences await you! The Northern Great Plain » Welcome! | Hungarian Tourism Limited » gotohungary.com 1 WONDEr – WATER HEALTH AND HEALING – SPA AND WELLNESS Based on the thermal waters in the area, a world famous and sophisticated bath cul- ture has evolved in the Northern Great Plain Region, offering plenty to be discovered. Approximately two hundred artesian wells supply the area with thermal water. As regards the composition of the miraculous waters in the Northern Great Plain, it contains mainly alkali hydro- gen-carbonates, iodium, bromine, alkali chlorides and iron. Thanks to an immense supply of medicinal water, 10 certified medicinal baths and 27 thermal baths using certified thermal water cater to those wanting to restore their health. Each is a fine “island of peace” continuously upgraded with modern conveniences. Come and feel the curative effect of medicinal water in the spas in Haj dú szo­ boszló and the Northern Great Plain. Europe’s largest spa complex The Northern Great Plain » Wonder – water | 2 Hungarian Tourism Limited » gotohungary.com Receiving specialised medical care The most famous spa town in the Northern Great Plain is Hajdúszoboszló with Europe’s largest aqua park and spa. Containing over twenty different kinds of dissolved minerals, the water is thought to be capable of “working wonders” and Capacity assuaging the discomforts caused by locomotor disorders, gynaecological and dermatological problems and diseases unparalleled in like osteoporosis, slipped discs, arteriosclerosis, psoriasis, Europe combined high blood pressure, heart diseases and type 2 diabetes. Such with a high beneficial effects have also been underpinned by recent re- professional search. The spa also operates a rheumatology unit, where pa- tients can receive treatments without a referral or being put standard needed for on a long waiting list. curative treatments Superb, unique experiences await those visiting the indoor water park and spa in Hajdúszoboszló, Europe’s larg- est aqua park and spa, an aqua world with a floor area of The Northern Great Plain » Wonder – water | Hungarian Tourism Limited » gotohungary.com 3 15,000 m2 and a water surface of 1,600 m2. A thermal bath in Páva, a tropical bath, an ice cave bath, a movie bath, a cave bath, a Roman bath, a Ganges bath and a sea bath create a unique setting. Water sports buffs can also enjoy a two-lane stand-up paddle board. In the beachlike spa in the neigh- bourhood, an artificial seashore lined with palm trees creates an unforgettable Mediterranean atmosphere and it is hard Splashing in the adventure spa Water buffs can indulge to resist the water slides of all manner and size. The young- their passion in indoor er generation is kept busy with various artificial torrents, medicinal and thermal spas lifelike elephants in the pools, two water slides for children, all year round. a playground with wooden toys and a torrent river. Debrecen has been a major destination of health tourists since 1960. A centre for health tourism, Debrecen offers an outstanding medical and health care infrastructure to com- plete various services. The thermal water in Debrecen has beneficial effects on locomotor, gynaecological and dermato- logical diseases. Medical tourism has been gaining in impor- tance. Quality medical care including medical care, medical screening tests and surgical intervention against payment for a fee has become a recent asset in tourism. It is summertime each day of the year in Hungary’s first indoor water park and spa in the very heart of the Debreceni The Northern Great Plain » Wonder – water | 4 Hungarian Tourism Limited » gotohungary.com Nagyerdő (“the big forest”) with its green tropical forest and unique atmosphere. Banana, palm and bamboo trees create an exotic setting for visitors to the Debrecen spa. Relaxation The gem of the region’s aqua worlds and spas is the “Sóstó with abandon Miracle” in Nyíregyháza. Adults with locomotor disorders for all ages come to experience the curative effects of the thermal wa- ter and the saunas here. A children’s world offering adven- Miraculous medicinal waters are miraculously effective tures, the “Treasure Island”, a konga corner, a pirate ship and a world of watery pleasures makes a visit to the theme park an unforgettable memory for families. The adjacent Park Bath boasts Hungary’s largest pool bar. The thermal water in Sóstó is effective in curing locomotor diseases. The indoor thermal bath with accessibility solutions in Hajdúnánás offers facilities providing medical care for per- sons with locomotor disorders and osteoporosis. The former Semsey Mansion at the very “entrance” to Hortobágy hous- es the Balmazújváros leisure centre and eco baths, which is an ideal destination for families. Medicinal herbs are an es- sential part of curative treatments as can be derived from the name of the bath “Kamilla” (camomile). The Bocskai thermal water in Hajdúböszörmény has been proven to have effective impacts on thyroid disorders. The Northern Great Plain » Wonder – water | Hungarian Tourism Limited » gotohungary.com 5 Regular sauna sessions offer spiritual and physical rejuvenation, improve performance and facilitate healing. Sauna masters make sure that this popular activity is properly carried out. No matter whether sauna sessions involve the use of various aromas, ice, beer or honey, this is where true sauna experiences are at their most intense. Central church of reformation in Hungary Észak-Alföld » fejezetcím | 6 itthon.hu/eszakalfold » itthon.hu The medicinal thermal water in The castle bath in Kisvárda has been op- Berettyóújfalu is particularly beneficial erating in the park of a renaissance castle to the degenerative diseases of the locomo- since the 19th century. The thermal water tor system. here also has a curative effect. The medici- Cserkeszőlő is famous all over the world nal spa in Fehérgyarmat offers a full range of for its iodine-rich thermal water. The coun- balneological treatments. try’s hottest thermal spring can be found The spa in Városnamény focuses on here with thermal water at over 90 °C gush- plum. Treatments based on the beneficial ing forth. One of the locations in Hungary effects of plum are provided in the shade of specialising in treating psoriasis in a man- plum trees in summer and in cosy retreats in ner that combines bathing and traditional winter. The beach spa along the banks of the dermatological methods. The new indoor Tisza River in Városnamény is an ideal desti- adventure world offers six pools for visitors nation for those wanting a day out. A unique and Europe’s longest two-lane textile wa- spectacle in Europe, a show featuring a sea- ter slide. Kisújszállás offers facilities pro- lion offers an unforgettable experience twice viding wellness, massage, saunas and spa daily from May to September. therapy services to visitors. The tree motifs Visitors to Nyírbátor can experience the of the wooden structure of this modern aq- curative effect of the Báthory medicinal wa- ua world are reminiscences of the Cumeni- ter and a state-of-the-art wellness unit all an ancestors. year round. The spa in Matfű offers 5 pools, includ- The superb Neo-Baroque building of ing 2 thermal baths with adventure fea- the thermal bath of Szolnok evoking the Due to recent upgrades, the standard of the medical and health care services provided at the spa facilities in the region has improved considerably. The ultimate sauna experience tures. The 4-metre deep swimming pool style of a Turkish bath lies on the bank of with a 3-metre high diving tower is an ideal the Tisza River in a landscaped setting. The training facility for scuba divers, divers, and thermal and adventure spa in Tiszaliget of- synchronised divers. The facility has a well- fers an ever-increasing number of services ness unit including salt caves, saunas and each year.