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Balassagyarmat (formerly Balassa-Gyarmath, German: Jahrmarkt) is a town in Nógrád county, in Northern Hungary. It was the seat of the Nógrád comitatus (county). Now this is the center of Balassagyarmat district. The town lies on the left bank of the Ipoly river, which marks the state border with Slovakia.

Understand

The population is currently homogeneous, with a Hungarian majority (Magyars 98%, Romani 2%). At the western entrance of the town is the Égerláp (Alder-marshes) conservation area.

Orientation

Former County Hall
  • 1 Former County Hall (Vármegyeháza), Civitas Fortissima tér 2. (Center), ☏ +36 35 500 640. Tourist information service. Free maps, brochures, accommodation service, tour organization. Buying souvenirs. - About the building: based on Francis Kasselik plans, was built between 1832-1835, neo-classical style 
  • 2 Tourist Information Point (Idegenforgalmi Információs Pont), Rákóczi fejedelem u. 12 (Center), ☏ +36 35 505-973. Inside the Town hall 

Get in

Bridge over Ipel Creek connecting Hungary to Slovakia

By bus

  • 3 Bus Station (Autóbusz-állomás Balassagyarmat), Ipolypart utca 42 (NW 800 m), ☏ +36 35 301-400. Direct bus leaves from Budapest (Pest-Újkapu Station, hourly) and Salgótarján via Szécsény (hourly) and Vác (every two hours). Also there is direct bus to Aszód and all part of Nógrád County except Bátonyterenye. 

By train

  • 4 Train Station (Vasútállomás), Benczúr Gyula utca 1/a, ☏ +36 35-301-803. The city is accessible by train from Aszód (its hourly connected to Budapest) , from Vác. 

By car

From Budapest take the route #2 after Rétság Turning to route #22 towards Salgótarján one and a half hour can be reach the town. Budapest 80 km, Salgótarján and Vác both 45 km away.

Get around

The local public transport is done with bus by KMKK. The bus network include twenty two lines. Single ticket in advance/by the driver: HUF170 / 270 (2013)

See

Churches

  • 1 Reformed Church (Református templom), Ady Endre utca 19 (Center). 
  • 2 Balassagyarmati Lutheran Church (Balassagyarmati evangélikus templom), Kossuth Lajos út 34-36 (Center). Baroque. Built in 1786. The tower was built in 1794, 
  • 3 St. John Salesian monastery and church (Bosco Szent János szalézi rendház és templom), Kossuth Lajos út 41 (Center), ☏ +36 35 300693. Built in 1935 
  • 4 Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church (Római katolikus Szentháromság-templom), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 20. Baroque, built between 1740-1746 
  • 5 St Mary church (Mária a Szentlélek Mátkája templom), Perczel Mór utca - Honti utca corner (SW 1 km). Built between 1995-1998 

Museums

Civitas Fortissima Exhibition
  • 6 Paloc Museum and Skansen (Palóc Múzeum és skanzen), Palóc liget 1. (Center), ☏ +36 35 300 168, . Tu- Sa 9:00-16:00. ethnography collection - Permanent Exhibitions: #1 From the cradle to the grave – Peasant feasts and weekdays in Nógrád county; #2 Scientist nobiliary library – The mirror of our national history (In remembrance of Iván Nagy) for adults: 800 HUF, for students and pensioners: 400 HUF, Photography: 1200 HUF, Professional guide: 3500 HUF (2014). 
  • 7 Civitas Fortissima Museum (Civitas Fortissima Múzeum), Széchenyi utca 15. (Center). 
  • 8 Pannonia Motorcycle Museum (Pannónia Motorkerékpár Múzeum), Kossuth Lajos utca 1, ☏ +36 30 746 1806 (Mobil). Mar-Oct only Thu 14:00-18:00 and Sa 11:00-17:00 or by appointment. The permanent exhibition: unrestored, original condition motorcycles, brand brochures, operating instructions and motorcycle accessories shown 
  • 9 Jánossy Gallery (Jánossy Képtár), Civitas fortissima tér 5. (Center), ☏ +36 35 300186, . Tu-Sat 9:00-17:00. contemporary art collection for adults: 150 HUF, for students: 100 HUF. 
  • 10 Stars house (Csillagház Helytörténeti Gyűjtemény Balassagyarmat), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 107 (East one km), ☏ +36 35 300663, . M-F 08:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00. Classical buildings, local history collection 
  • 11 Endre Horváth Gallery (Horváth Endre Galéria), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 50. (E 500 m), ☏ +36 35 300622. Daily 8:00-20:00. Inside Mikszáth Cultural Center, - temporary exhibitions Free. 
  • 12 Serbian Church (Szerbtemplom), Szerb utca 5. (Center), ☏ +36 35 300622. Tu-Su 14:00-18:00. built in 1910. Neoclassical building. Temporary exhibitions Free. 
  • 13 Jewish Collection of Along Ipoly river and Jewish Prayer House (Ipoly-menti Zsidó Gyűjtemény és Imaház), Hunyadi utca, 24. (East 0.5 km), ☏ +36 35 505985. by appointment throughout the day, possibly by asking the previous day advance sign-phone. 

Monuments

Civitas Fortissima Sculpture
Former County House
  • 14 Town Hall (Városháza, Polgármesteri Hivatal Balassagyarmat), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 12 (Center), ☏ +36 35 505 900, . 
  • 15 Orthodox Jewish cemetery (műemlék ortodox zsidó temető, Izraelita temető), Temető u. 8, ☏ +36 30 418 1886. by appointment throughout the day, possibly by asking the previous day advance sign-phone. A monument 
  • 16 The former Financial Palace (volt Pénzügyi Palota épülete), Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca 6 (Center). Now Police Station 
  • 17 Nógrád county courthouse (Nógrád Megyei Bíróság épülete), Köztársaság tér 2, ☏ +36 35 501-200, . 
  • 18 Balassagyarmat prison (Balassagyarmati börtön), Madách Imre utca 2 (Behind the County Hall), ☏ +36 35 501170. It was built between 1842 and 1845. Rare architectural solutions - mainly central circular floor plan - make an especially valuable monument. Planned remodeling for luxury prison hotel and museum 
  • 19 Mikszáth residential house (Mikszáth Kálmán lakóháza), Madách utca 8. (Next to the prison). 
  • 20 Lőrinc Szabo residential house (Szabó Lőrinc lakóháza), Szabó Lőrinc utca 10 (NE 500 m). 
  • 21 Baroque storey townhouses (Barokk emeletes polgárházak), Rákóczi fejedelem útja (East). Built around 1780 
  • 22 Art Nouveau villas (Szecessziós villasor), Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út (Center). Built around 1910 
  • 23 Former English Misses convent (Az angolkisasszonyok zárdája), Civitas Fortissima tér 7 (Center). 
  • 24 Former Hotel Balassa (Egykori Balassa Szálloda), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 39. Classicist, Petofi Sandor stayed here twice 

Do

  • 1 Cinema Madách (Madách Filmszínház), Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 8. 
  • 2 City Culture House and Library (Városi művelődési központ és könyvtár). Here is the Endre Horváth Gallery (see above about details) 
  • 3 Paloc park (Palóc liget) (Around Palóc Museum). Botanical rarities. The Gregori park a part of its 
  • 4 Nyírjes ponds (Nyírjesi tavak), Nyírjes (S-SW 2 km). - fishing. Protected forests and sources 
  • 5 Nyírjes Wildlife Park and Botanical Garden (Nyírjesi Füvészkert és Vadaspark), Between Nyírjes and Kincsempuszta (S 2.5 km). Visitor center 
  • 6 Éger (Éger láp természetvédelmi tanösvény) (Between settlements Balassagyarmat and Ipolyszög, between the railway and road #22). Alder wetland conservation nature trail. Here is the county's finest, most diverse wetland wildlife. 106 hectares of protected area. 
  • 7 Ipel river (Ipoly folyó) (State border between Hungary and Slovakia). Fishing paradise. 
  • 8 Sports and leisure center (Ipoly-parti sport- és szabadidőcentrum), Ipoly-part utca (End of Madách street toward state border). Partly finished, partly under construction. Parts of its: Artificial grass football field, City Sports Hall, Skateboard track, Indoor Swimming Pool 

Buy

Eat

Double plane tree lines, a townscape memorial
  • Svejk (Svejk Vendéglő), ☏ +36 35 300-999, +36 30 625-1040, . M-Sa 11:00-22:30, Su 12:00-22:00. Czech and Slovak specialties. Different Ice Creams. Soups / starters HUF500-1000 / 800-1900; fish / veggie dishes HUF1000-2200 / 800-1000; pork/poultry dishes HUF1100-1800 / 1100-2000, beef dishes HUF1600-2300, Foie gras dishes HUF 1500-3000, Garnish HUF 200-500, salads (dozen) / desserts (partly Slovakian) HUF 350-1600 / 500-1400. - DRINKS: Aperitifs 4cl 450-750, mineralwater (0.33 l) HUF300-400, soft drinks (2dl) HUF200-300, juices (2dl) HUF300, bottled wines HUF1500-4500, bottled beers HUF450-500, drafted beers (0.5 l) HUF600. 
  • 1 Excalibur (Excalibur Étterem), Teleki László utca 2, ☏ +36 20 318-6622, . M-F 11-15. Self service. Home delivery. (HUF) Soups 250, Sousage 550-700, Mains 700-900, Dessert 300. 
  • 2 Blues (Blues Panzió), Baltik Frigyes út 3. (Near to Lutheran Church), ☏ +36 20 545-6776, +36 20 510-8727, +36 35 950-000, fax: +36 35-300-189, . Daily 13:00-22:00. also email agroholps@t-online.hu 
  • 3 Orchidea Confectory (Orchidea Cukrászda), Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca 12, ☏ +36 35 311450, fax: +36 35 500035. 

Drink

  • Pince Pizza Bar and Pub (Pince Pizza, Pinze Borozó, Makk-Ász Söröző és Pizzéria), Kossuth Lajos út 18., ☏ +36 35 302848. Drafted and bottled beers and wines 
  • Kapsreitter Pub (Kapsreitter Söröző), Rákóczi út 83, ☏ +36 35 310006. Drafted and bottled beers. 

Sleep

  • 1 Star Motel and Restaurant (Sztár Motel), Kóvári út 12. (West one km), ☏ +36 35 301-152, fax: +36 35 301-152, . Check-in: 10:00, check-out: 09:00. Open all year round, 0-24. Rating: * Capacity: 8 rooms, 16 beds. Wi-Fi. Non stop catering facilities (130 persons receive appropriate) Parking, conference room, 24 hour reception, Pets Allowed, Satellite / Cable TV, Sauna, Dbl HUF6500. 
  • 2 Pension Club (Club Panzió), Teleki László utca 14 (Center), ☏ +36 35 301824, +36 20 9157502, fax: +36 35 301-824, . 
  • 3 Pension Blues, Pub, Restaurant (Blues Panzió, Söröző, Étterem), Baltik Frigyes út 3. (E 0.5 km), ☏ +36 35 950000, +36 20 5456776, +36 20 5108727, fax: +36 35 300-189, . Capacity: 10 rooms, 24 people. Opening time: Restaurant, Bar: 13:00-22:00, Pension: 24/7 +email agroholps@t-online.hu Room HUF11.800-21.240 (2014). 

Connect

  • Telephone numbers to Balassagyarmat from abroad +36 35 XXXXXX, from Hungary 06 35 XXXXXX
  • 5 Post Office #1 (Magyar Posta Városi Fiók 2660 B.gyarmat 1), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 24 (Center), ☏ +36 35 301-240, fax: +36 35 301-629. 
  • 6 Post Office #2 (Magyar Posta, B.gyarmat 2), Leiningen Károly utca 29. (Center), ☏ +36 35 300-348. 

Go next

  • Budapest, toward SW take a bus or a train
  • Salgótarján, toward East a bus (hourly or so)
  • Vác, toward West take a bus or a train
  • Slovakia, toward North walk across over Ipel
This city travel guide to Balassagyarmat is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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