Mátraderecske: History, Handcrafts and Medicinal Gas

History between the town centre and outskirts

The Roman Catholic Baroque church was consecrated in 1804 in honour of Our Lady of Sorrows. It now stands in the town centre; formerly, it was on the outskirts. Its architectural style, dedication and changing location make it a tangible point of reference for local history.

A memorial to the 1848–1849 War of Independence stands on the site of the former old cemetery in the town centre. It includes the red-marble tomb of Honvéd Major János Kis. The church and memorial offer different historical perspectives: a religious dedication and remembrance of a war of independence.

Kanázsvár lies on the outskirts of Mátraderecske. The castle was probably built by the Aba clan between the 11th and 13th centuries and was destroyed during Ottoman rule. Its ruins stand on Baláta-bérc, a ridge between Mátraderecske and Recsk, in the wider region around Mátraderecske. The probable date of construction, between the 11th and 13th centuries, contrasts with the church’s consecration, precisely dated to 1804.

The art of hand weaving up close

At the Népművészeti Ház, visitors can see decorative curtains, tablecloths and handcrafted woven textiles being woven by hand. The focus is on making these textiles and the process of hand weaving—a vivid introduction to local crafts.

In the wider destination of Heves County, the Hevesi szőttes is associated with Heves County’s textile heritage and with Heves, Mátraderecske and Bodony. This regional connection places the weaving at the house in a broader cultural context, while the curtains, tablecloths and woven textiles make the craft itself tangible.

Treatments with medicinal carbon dioxide gas

The Mátraderecskei Széndioxid Gyógygázfürdő offers treatments using medicinal carbon dioxide gas. Groups of more than ten people are received by prior arrangement; the offering includes a 25-minute trial treatment. If this offering influences your travel plans, check the latest service details in advance.

Landscapes and trails in the wider destination of Heves County

The Hevesi Füves Puszták Landscape Protection Area lies in the southern part of Heves County and covers 16,114 hectares. It was designated in 1993; after expansions in 2005 and 2008, it reached its present extent. Thus, the wider destination of Heves County offers a broad landscape perspective alongside the local history of Mátraderecske.

The trails in the wider destination of Heves County also have different focuses. The 6.5 km Ilona Valley Nature Trail along the Ilona Stream passes geological features of the Eastern Mátra Mountains and traces of former ore mining. The Pély-Ludas Nature Trail introduces the grassland habitats of the Hevesi Plain: salt meadows, marshes, bodies of water, scrub, semi-natural woodlands and forests, as well as their wildlife, including the European roller population.

The section of the Országos Kéktúra in Heves County includes an ascent of Kékestető, Hungary’s highest point. In winter, fans of active tourism can enjoy winter sports at Kékestető. The examples therefore have clearly different focuses: geology and traces of former mining; grassland and wildlife; or a mountain ascent and winter sports.

When choosing a holiday apartment, it helps to set a clear priority: should local history, crafts and medicinal gas treatments in Mátraderecske be the focus, or are you also interested in landscapes and trails in the wider destination of Heves County? Shape your search around the themes that matter to you on your trip.

Discover more destinations

Tarnalelesz, Parádsasvár, Bodony, Kisfüzes, Szentdomonkos, Bükkszék, Mátraballa, Paradohuta

Back to the wider travel overview: Pétervásárai.