Kecskemét Town Hall

(Local Name: Városháza) The imposing Town Hall (Városháza), was built in 1893-96 to plans by Ödön Lechner (1845-1914) and Gyula Pártos (1845-1916), and is an important example of the Hungarian art nouveau style. Varying architectural features, especially the Gothic ogival arches, round columns and artificial pillars on the walls, mingle with traditional majolica ornamentation and contemporary extensions to form a unique and unconventional whole. The entrance hall decoration reflects the way the town saw itself during its halcyon days in the 19th C. The stairwell with its wide almost Baroque-like staircase obtains its special effect as a result of the light shining through the brightly-colored stained-glass windows. Visitors are also allowed into the magnificent, wood-paneled council chamber on the first floor. The frescos by Bertelan Székely (1835-1910) depict famous scenes from Hungarian history, ranging from the treaty with the tribal princes being signed in blood to the coronation of the Emperor Franz Joseph.

Every hour the carillon above the main door plays a melody from the "Háry János" Suite, written by the composer Zoltán Kodály, a native of Kecskemét, and at 12.05pm, 6.05pm and 8.05pm other popular tunes are played.

In front of the Town Hall stands a memorial marking the spot where the dramatist József Katona (1791-1830) died of a heart attack. Born in Kecskemét, he spent the last ten years of his life working in his native town. His play "Bánk ban", which takes as its theme the murder of the wife of King Andreas II of Hungary, has assured him a place in Hungarian literary history.