Szecseny, A Leaning Tower Town
Attractions of a Francisian Monastery Leaning Fire Tower and Mansion
This town in the north of Hungary lists the historic Fogach Mansion,16 century Bastion, leaning fire tower and functioning Francisian Monastery amongst its attractions.
Szécsény, a town in the north of Hungary on the Slovakian border, looks like the type of town that you would normally drive through on the way to somewhere more interesting. But behind the rather nondescript facade is a town rich in history. There's a castle museum, a functioning monastery, old city walls, ruins of a 14th century old church and a leaning fire tower to arouse your attention in this 650-year-old centre.
Fogach Mansion
The main building of the town is the impressive yellow painted Forgách Mansion, which was built in the 1760s on the ruins of a medieval fortress. Today the palace houses the Ferenc Kubinyi Museum, The main castle building has an interesting local history collection, ranging from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age, and includes a reconstruction of a Neolithic house, showing the building techniques of that age. Other rooms are devoted to natural history. An English language resume of the museum's collection is available.
Outside, in the castle grounds, is an agricultural machinery display.
Ferenc Rakoczi
Walk beside the castle walls, gazing at the castle grounds below, and imagine the area filled with the tents and fluttering banners of the Hungarian nobility, gathered there in 1705 to proclaim Ferenc Rákóczi the ruling prince of Hungary.
16 Century Bastion
The solid 16th century bastion at the corner once housed a museum dungeon, but is now closed. Turn right, and follow the old town walls, trying to ignore the depressing rows of Communist style flats, until you reach the site of the 14th century church, which is worth a quick look.
Leaning Fire Tower
Back on the main street, have a look at the curious three storeyed fire tower, built as a memorial to commemorate the end of the plague in 1718. The original tower was built of wood, and this stone one is Hungary's own "leaning tower", with the lean being officially cited as 3 degrees.
Other architecturally interesting buildings include the 18th century pharmacy on Rákóczi ut and the Franciscan monastery.
Francisian Monastery
The still functioning monastery stands brooding in its grounds at Haynald Lajos utca. Although it's open to the public, the gate is usually locked, so you'll have to ring the bell and wait for one of the novice monks to admit you. Very little English is spoken, so don't expect too much in the way of a guided tour. There is, however, an English language booklet about the town and the monastery available from the Szecsney Tourinform office.
Hungary's Most Beautiful Gothic Room
Inside the beautiful monastery, you will be shown the sacristy, which is said to be one of Hungary's most beautiful Gothic rooms. You can wander around the baroque style church, admiring the cloisters, and the refectory, and those with sharp eyes will see signs of the Turkish occupation of the church in 1552. If you are lucky in the timing of your visit, you can listen to the choir, whose voices echo through the building.
Small Donation
Parts of the complex date from the 14th century, while other sections were built in the various styles of the 17th and 19th centuries. The monks will not ask you for an entrance fee, but there is a box into which you are expected to put a small donation at the start or end of your visit.
