Hajdúsámson: Nature and Local History

Nature and Local History in Hajdúsámson

When planning a trip to Hajdúsámson, you can explore a range of interests: protected nature, the history of a religious building, and local memorials and collections. Martinkai-legelő lies within the administrative area of Hajdúsámson, east of the settlement of Martinka. It is part of the Hajdúsági Tájvédelmi Körzet. Strictly protected plants and insects are found there, though individual occurrences may vary. This makes the pasture a specific point of interest for anyone interested in landscapes and nature conservation.

Church, Memorial and Collection

The Reformed Church stands on Rákóczi utca in the center of the town. It was built in the late 19th century on foundations that are several centuries old. The former church on this site also had Orthodox features. During construction of the present church, the foundations of a wall surrounding the altar of the original building were discovered; they point to Orthodox church architecture. At the church, it is therefore possible to distinguish the construction period of the present building from evidence of the former religious building.

The Hajdúsámson World War Memorial is located on Szabadság Square. It was originally dedicated to 273 victims of the First World War from Hajdúsámson. In 1998, a marble plaque bearing the names of Second World War victims was added. These include 122 fallen soldiers from Hajdúsámson and 188 Jewish residents who were deported. The sculptural group was created by sculptor Némethy László and master stonemason Harró Károly. The memorial therefore includes both its original dedication and a later addition honoring victims of another war.

Another way to explore local history is through the collection of cast-iron stoves. It comprises about 180 stoves, 150 coal irons and 80 iron mortars; it also includes small sculptures and hanging lamps. The collection is on display in the exhibition space of the Petőfi Sándor Town Library, which also serves as a cultural center and exhibition venue. The item counts may change as the collection grows. Stoves, irons and mortars make up distinct groups within the collection, which thus includes historical objects beyond those suggested by its name.

The Wider Hajdú-Bihar Region

Within the wider travel destination of Hajdú-Bihar, the Hortobágyi Nemzeti Park – the Puszta World Heritage site offers a different perspective on the landscape. It covers nearly 75,000 hectares in the Great Hungarian Plain in eastern Hungary. As a cultural landscape, it preserves visible evidence of more than 2,000 years of traditional pastoralism. This regional context complements Hajdúsámson’s local themes with the history of a vast landscape and its pastoral traditions.

Also within the wider travel destination of Hajdú-Bihar, the Hortobágyi-halastó nature trail offers walks of 3.6, 5.4 or 10 kilometers, with no difficult sections. The Hortobágyi-halastó pond system is a Ramsar site, an Important Bird Area, part of the World Heritage site and a Natura 2000 site. The three distances offer a specific choice of route length, while the protected-area designations provide context for the pond system’s landscape.

Discover more destinations: Nyíracsád, Nyíradony, Téglás

Back to the regional travel overview: Hajdúhadházi.