- Do extra-terrestrial beings exist? - the Nobel Prize winning Italian physicist, Enrico Fermi, was once asked by his disciples in California.
- Of course, - Fermi answered - they are already here among us, they are called Hungarians...
So, who are these Hungarians? It is not (yet) known quite precisely. It seems certain they arrived somewhere from Asia. Their nearest kinship is with distant peoples. With regard to Hungary's location, world languages generally define it as: Eastern Europe. In fact, our country is situated in the centre of the continent, in Central Europe, in its eastern part: this is the Carpathian Basin, where one thousand years ago, visitors already found a Hungarian state.
This small country is one of the great survivors of history: states and empires emerged, expanded or disintegrated and disappeared around it. Hungary and the Hungarian nation survived the devastation of the Tartars and Turks, Habsburgs and Russians in the Carpathian Basin; survived the fact that it belonged among the losers of both world wars. A stormy history? The national anthem describes the Hungarians as "people torn by fate".
So we are not extra-terrestrials. We learnt and became tempered in the tormenting storms of the world: you can experience a particular organic link between the old and new, between history and the present-day in this country, which is still keenly safeguarding its traditions, culture and arts, but was always perceptive to what is new, different and the future.
Do you know that one of the centres of the Renaissance was here in the 15th century? That the Hungarian statehood is 1,000 years old? That after 1945, the first armed revolution against Stalinism took place in Hungary? That the iron curtain was dismantled on the frontier of Hungary and Austria?
In Hungary, you can see regions with a particular atmosphere, fabulous villages, churches and castles. You are welcome in Budapest, which many consider to be one of the finest cities of Europe. If you are fond of tasty food, and exclusive wines, this is the place that you will like!
Climate and Weather
Hungary has a temperate continental climate that is influenced by three main factors: the Eastern-European continental, the Western-European oceanic and the Mediterranean influence. There are substantial differences among the average temperatures of the four seasons. Usually January is the coldest, while the hottest months are July and August in Hungary. The daily temperature fluctuation is quite high. The annual average temperature is about 12 °C , the maximum is 38 °C , the minimum is around -10 °C.
Spring starts in early April and is accompanied by lots of showers. The summers are dry and warm. Autumns are cool, foggy and rainy. Winters are relatively short, moderately cold and usually dry, but sometimes brilliant sunny. The little snow the city gets usually disappears after a few days. The yearly rainfall is about 415 mm that consist of two stronger (early summer and autumn) and two dryer periods (middle of winter and early autumn).
Culture
Roman, Gothic, Baroque influenced the Hungarian art and architecture and Art Nouveau styles. The musical tradition of the country is also remarkable, famous works are the rhapsodies of Ferenc Liszt, the operas of Ferenc Erkel, the folk-music and gypsy music. The most famous works of literature are connected to the main events of the Hungarian history. Hungary has one of the most valuable folk traditions and folk art. The most important folk crafts: woodcarving, pottery, ceramics, embroidery, weaving, blue painting, tanning, saddler, clothes and costume manufacturer, hatmaker, straw spinner, matting, wicker, lace worker, pearl stringer, jewel and horse jewel manufacturer, felt maker, blacksmith, toy-maker, furniture maker, paper dipper, bone and horn carving, egg painter, farrier, candle dipper, music instrument maker , shoemaker, boot maker. Travellers can familiarize themselves with the Hungarian folk art in museums, exhibitions and markets. The Hungarian applied arts are also remarkable. The products of the Herend, Zsolnay and Hollóház china factories are world famous.
Important Dates of Hungarian History
5th century
The Hungarian tribes left the area of the Urals. They passed along the Volga and the Caspian Sea. After several hundred years of wandering, they reached the Carpathian Basin.
896
Under the leadership of Árpád, the Hungarian tribes settled in the Carpathian Basin. They drove out part of the residents and absorbed the other part.
997-1038
King Stephen of the Árpád dynasty ruled the country.
1000
Stephen was converted to Christianity. After his death, he was canonized.
1055
An abbey was set up at Tihany. The foundation charter was drawn up on the northern shore of Lake Balaton. This is the earliest written record extant in the Hungarian language.
1241
The Mongolian Tatars devastated the country. Their presence, which lasted a year, halted development for at least a century. After the warfare with the Hungarians, the Tatars did not continue towards the west.
1458-1490
The rule of King Matthias. Cultural life of a European standard flourished in his palaces at Buda and Visegrád. For a few decades, Hungary lived on a West European standard.
1526
At Mohács, the present southern frontier of the country, the Turks defeated the Hungarian army. 150 years of Turkish occupation started.
1541
The Turks occupied Buda. Hungary was split into three parts. The Habsburg governed the western part of the country, the central area was ruled by the Turks, and the south-east Transylvanian principality (today part of Roumania) for a long time was the citadel of Hungarian culture.
1686
Buda was recaptured from the Turks. (The Turks - similarly to the Tatars - could only advance in Europe to the territory of Hungary. Here they were faced by obstacles, after which no strength was left for the siege of Vienna.)
1703-1711
A freedom war under the leadership of Ferenc Rákóczi II, Prince of Transylvania, against the Habsburgs. The rebels defeated the Imperial army in several battles, but did not receive the promised French support and failed.
First half of the 19th century
A national reform movement was launched for the political and economic transformation of the country, for Hungarian language and culture. This was when the National Anthem was born, and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences was set up. The building of the Chain Bridge started. The initiator of these was Count István Széchenyi, an eminent figure of the Reform Age.
1848-1849
A revolution broke out in Pest, which extended over the entire country. The Habsburg Emperor was dethroned after the Hungarian army won several significant battles. Lajos Kossuth was elected Governor. The longest European national revolution could only be oppressed in the summer of 1849 by the Habsburgs with the help of the Russian army.
1867
The Hungarians concluded a compromise with the Habsburgs. A double-centred monarchy was set up with seats in Vienna and Pest-Buda. A spectacular industrial upswing started.
1873
Pest, Buda and Obuda were unified: Budapest became a European metropolis. The buildings of that time - the Opera House, the National Gallery and Parliament - still determine the skyline of the city. The first subsurface underground railway on continental Europe was put into operation.
1918
Germany and its allies, including the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, lost the world war. The monarchy disintegrated.
1920
The Trianon Treaty reduced Hungary's area by two thirds and the population by one third. Since then, considerable Hungarian minorities lived in the neighbouring countries.
1938-1940
Germany concluded treaties in Munich and Vienna, according to which Southern Slovakia and Northern Transylvania were returned to Hungary.
1944
The Nazis occupied Hungary, as they did not consider it a reliable ally. During the Second World War, the Hungarians suffered grave losses on the Soviet front. At the end of the war, Fascists took over the governing of the country.
1945
The Soviet Army liberated, then occupied Hungary. At the hastly held elections, the Communists gained only 17 percent of the votes.
1947
The last, relatively free election was followed by the years of Communist control: show trials, executions, forced settlement of hundreds of thousands, imprisonment, harassment, forced industrial development, a drop in living standards, and Stalinist dictatorship.
1956
A revolution against Stalinism. The uprising was defeated by Soviet troops. János Kádár, who acquired power with their assistance, promised democratic socialism; in the meantime, retaliation and executions started.
1965
The new system became consolidated, and cautious economic reforms were launched. Living standards were rising and the iron curtain became penetrable.
1988
The Hungarian transition period began.
1990
The Communist party voluntarily gave up its autocracy. A multi-party parliamentary democracy came into being in the country. The Soviet army left Hungary.
1999
Hungary became full member of NATO.
2004
Hungary became a full member of the European Union.
2011
Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
