Debrecen, the second most populated Hungarian town, was twice capital of Hungary in history. First in 1849 during the revolution and war of independence, secondly during the Second World War. Debrecen also called "The Calvinist Rome", because the inhabitants converted to the new faith in the 16th century, and the town became the centre of Calvinism.
The symbolic pride of Debrecen, the Reformed Great Church, is not only a religious monument, but also a reminder of several important events of Hungarian history. The dethronement of the Habsburg dynasty was declared within its walls in 1849. Recently, John Paul II visited the Big Church as if to make amends to the Reformed church preachers condemned to the galleys.

The renovated Fo Square is the place for cultural programmes. The Calvinist College (Kalvin Square, 16) has an illustrious history; its fame is due to its famous students. Owing to its wide network of schools, it became the "school of the nation". We can see educational and ecclesiological exhibitions in the 180-year-old building, which features the furnishings of an original Calvinist school, antique goldsmith's works, covers with wonderful embroidery, painted pieces of furniture and the curios of the Great Library. This library, with its 500,000 volumes, is the biggest ecclesiastical collection in the country.
The patinated Aranybika Hotel (Piac Street, 11-15) is the oldest functioning hotel in the country. The classicist Town Hall (Piac Street 20) is one of the city's nicest buildings, and all of the following are noteworthy: the Calvinist Church with incomplete steeple, (Revesz Square), "Veres Church" (Kossuth Street), the Synagogue (Pasti Street), the Greek Orthodox Church (Attila Square), Kossuth Lajos University (Egyetem Square 1) and Saint Ann Cathedral (Szent Anna Street 15.). The mill (Boszormenyi Street) is the biggest windmill in Central Europe and a monument of industrial history.
The Nagyerdo (Great Forest) is a popular green area in the town, with a zoo, the Fun Park and an arboretum. It has been a nature reserve since 1939. The thermal water of the Thermal Bath in Nagyerdo (Nagyerdei Park 1.) is recommended for arthritis, rheumatic diseases, gynaecological diseases, diseases of the vertebral disks, orthopaedic deformations and neuralgia.
The colourful Flower Carnival on the 20th of August, the Jazz Days and the Summer University for people learning Hungarian are prominent among the rich cultural programs.

Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://www.cometohungary.com/html/varos.php?varos_id=85