Jászszentlászló: Bell History and Wetlands

Jászszentlászló combines local history with wetlands and a salt lake. This gives you a destination with a range of things to explore: a bell tells the story of the settlement’s founders, while the Móricgáti Marsh, Kerektó and a protected plant species reveal different sides of nature. A day at the lakes managed by the association is another option nearby. This lets you explore Jászszentlászló according to your interests, with cultural history, biodiversity and nature experiences as distinct themes.

A Bell as a Trace of Local History

The bell of the settlement’s founders is the only historical memento from the settlement of Szentlászlópuszta that can still be found in the municipality today. Its story spans several locations: it first stood in the courtyard of an inn built in 1806, later in the courtyard of a school built in 1904, and then in the cemetery. On February 27, 1927, Pastor Ferenc Szaniszló had it hung in the church tower. The inn, school, cemetery and church tower give the account a concrete sequence. If you are interested in local history, the bell offers a tangible connection to the settlement of Szentlászlópuszta.

Wetlands, Salt Lake and Protected Species

The Móricgáti Marsh covers a total of 766.97 hectares, two thirds of which lie within the territory of Jászszentlászló. Its flora and fauna are exceptionally diverse. The area figure refers to the entire marsh, while the proportion indicates its connection to the municipality. The strictly protected Bugac marsh orchid also occurs in Jászszentlászló and in the Móricgáti Marsh. The marsh therefore represents both a biodiverse landscape and a habitat for this plant.

Kerektó is a salt lake that holds water only at certain times. Its shallow water is a popular habitat for waterbirds. Before it naturally filled in during the 1920s and 1930s, Kerektó served as the municipality’s beach. The lake is still protected today. This makes it possible to distinguish its former use as a beach from its present natural features: its local history includes its use as a beach, while its protected status and waterbird habitat characterize it as a natural area.

A Day at the Association’s Lakes

The lakes managed by the association are about 5 km from Jászszentlászló. Visitors—including anglers, tourists and other guests—are welcome to spend a day in nature there. Visiting anglers can buy day permits at several outlets in Jászszentlászló, including shops, a gas station and a beer bar. As outlets may change, we recommend checking current day-permit sales information before your visit. Two details are useful for planning: the lakes are about 5 km from the town, and the day-permit outlets mentioned are in Jászszentlászló.

More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Bács-Kiskun

The wider destination of Bács-Kiskun offers other distinct themes. The Tiszaalpár, Földvár nature trail presents the history of the Bronze Age fortified settlement of Tiszaalpári Földvár and the way of life of people in the Bronze Age. Tiszaalpári Földvár is a specially protected archaeological site; its classification was made under Regulation 3/2003. (I. 25.) NKÖM. Here, the focus is on archaeology, while the bell in Jászszentlászló connects with the history of local settlement.

Nature interpretation is another regional theme: the Boróka nature trail in Bugac is 1,100 meters long and has information boards and interactive features, including a forest xylophone and a play telescope. At Lake Szelidi, the blue-green algae nature trail is accessible year-round on foot and by bicycle. Its 12 information stations cover the lake’s development, the properties of its water, the organisms living there and the wildlife in the surrounding area. These examples broaden the range of themes in Bács-Kiskun to include Bronze Age history and different forms of nature interpretation.

Discover more destinations: Kiskunmajsa, Móricgát, Csólyospálos

View the wider travel overview: Kiskunmajsai.