Baja, Hungary
Encyclopedia : B : BA : BAJ : Baja, Hungary
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| Country: | Hungary |
| Counties of Hungary>County: | Bács-Kiskun |
| Area: | 177.61 km² |
| Population (2005): - Population density>Density: | 37,690 212.2/km² |
| Postal code: | 6500 |
| Telephone numbering plan>Area code: | 79 |
| Geographic coordinate system>Coordinates: | |
Baja (pronounced in Hung. as ['bɑjɑ]) is a city in southern Hungary. It is the second largest city in Bács-Kiskun county after the county seat Kecskemét. The mayor is Péter Széll (from MSZP), while the parliamentary delegate is Róbert Zsigó (from Fidesz).Baja is the capital of the Bajai district.
Origin of name
The city's name comes from an old noble family name; the Baja family was the first proprietor of this area. The name means "bull".Geography
Location
Baja is at the meeting point of two large regions: the Great Hungarian Plain (Alföld) and the Transdanubia (Dunántúl). The river Danube separates the two regions. West of the city, the Gemencforest spreads. Gemenc is a national park. It can be discovered by the narrow-gauge (760 mm) railway.
Baja is located on the left bank of the river; on the Great Hungarian Plain. However, Baja is more similar to the cities of Transdanubia. We can find the large maize, wheat and barley fields of the Great Hungarian Plain east from the city.
Climate
Baja is at the meeting of the continental and mediterrenean region of Hungary. The summers are hot (the temperature sometimes goes up to 35-36 °C) and dry, while the winters are cold and snowy. It often rains in the spring.Demographics
The city has 37,690 residents: There are 15,613 houses.History
The city is first mentioned in 1308. During the Turkish Conquest in the 16th and 17th centuries it was the official center for the region (nahije) and it possessed a fortification. This era saw the immigration of Bunjevci and Serbs into the town. There was also an active Fransiscan mission with monks from Bosnia.
When Hungary was a part of the Habsburg Empire, the city was also settled by Germans and Hungarians alongside some Jews. Due to its location on the Danube, it became a transportation and commercial hub for the region. This was where grain and wine was loaded onto boats to be transported upriver to Austria and Germany. Until 1765, the inhabitants belonged to three nations; the Dalmatians (Bunjevci), the Germans and the Serbs. The Magyars - who escaped from the Ottoman Empire to the reduced Kingdom of Hungary - returned to the Great Plain after Hungary regained her lost territories. Following this, according to a government decree the Natio Dalmatica was changed into the Natio Hungarica, but even in 1768, the elected mayor swore the oath in the Croatian language in the Franciscan Church.
In 1699, Baja was Bács county's most 'industrialised' city.
In the 19th century Baja it became a minor railway hub, but its importance declined as the railway to Fiume (today: Rijeka) was built in order to get Hungarian grain seaborne. The city was still a commercial and service center for the region.
After World War I, Serbs occupied the city. After they left, the city became the capital of the reduced county of Bács-Bodrog. (See Treaty of Trianon.) Following World War II, the city became known for its textile mill and the bridge over the Danube. Its importance is still evident as people from the Bácska (Bačka) region of Hungary come for higher education, government and business services.
Historical population
Population between 1870-2001:
| Year | 1870 | 1900 | 1920 | 1941 | 1970 | 2005 |
| Population | 21 248 | 23 681 | 22 522 | 32 084 | 34 689 | 37 690 |
| Density | 212,2/km2 |
Economy
Baja gives home to two extensive corporations: to AXIÁL Co. and DÉLHÚS Co. Axiál sells agricultural machines all over Hungary, while Délhús produces meet products. Gemenc Forest and Game Co. Ltd. is managing the nearby nature reserve, Gemenc.There are numerous commercial structures in the city. This is important for people living in and around Baja. A few years ago, a hypermarket opened.
Tourism
Tourists should visit one of the museums and art galleries in the city, taste the finest fish soup in a restaurant, or have a rest at the beach (Sugovica Beach, free).Baja is an ideal place to start discovering southern Hungary; for example, it's close to the Gemenc forest (see [Gemenc Forest and Game Co.] or [News and events in Gemenc]). Baja is the best place for fishing of course. Discover the universe from the Observatory.(http://www.bajaobs.hu/)
The Bunjevci House
The Bunjevci House tries to show the former life and the traditions of the Bunjevci nation in Southern Hungary.
István Nagy Art Gallery
A nice collection of István Nagy's paintings; the artist lived in Baja.
István Türr Museum
This museum demonstrates the traditions of the nations living there, the life of former fishermen, and narrates the city's history.
Baja's Margaret Island (Margitsziget) is Petőfi Island. There can be found a lot of sport and leisure object, even the swimming pool. One of Baja's hotels is there (named Hotel Sugovica***).
Culture and education
There are 15 churches in the city. Baja's library (Ady Endre Városi Könyvtár) has a very large collection of books made before the 18th century.
Baja has a railway station, a small airport, and a bridge across the Danube. Baja's 220 years old hospital serves about 100,000 people.
The city's education is very good; one of Hungary's best high schools is there (Béla III High School; [link]). There's a college (József Eötvös College; [link]), too.
German center
The MNÁMK (Magyarországi Németek Általános Művelődési Központja; English: General Cultivation Center of Germans Living in Hungary) is internationally respected for providing German education for the German minority living in Bácska, and in Hungary. Students get up-to-date education with modern tools using their mother tongue.
The Endre Ady Library
Baja's library got its name from the famous Hungarian poet, Endre Ady. The library's building used to be Baja's synagogue. The building was offered by the city's Jewish community. The Holocaust memorial stands in the synagogue's garden.
The library's "Ancient book" collection includes 4,352 volumes, and a lot more writings, because many of the volumes are collectives (for example, one of them contains 17 writings). The library has three incunabulums.
Famous people from Baja
- Lázár Mészáros, Hungary's first Minister of War
- Kálmán Tóth, famous 19th century poet
- István Türr, Garibaldi's general
- József Bayer, member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
- Jenő Ernst, doctor, biologist, member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
- Dénes Jánossy, corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
- András Jelky, a man who travelled around the world in a strange way (1730-1783)
- Dezső Miskolczy, respected explorer of the mental disease, member of Hungarian Academy of Sciences
- Emma Sándor, composer, wife of Zoltán Kodály
- Ede Telcs, sculptor
- Ibolya Dávid, present-day democrat politician of the Hungarian Democratic Forum
Sister cities
Nearby villages
Web cameras
- Baja, river of Sugovica (username: sugo ; password: baja) - http://80.95.82.103:82/view/view.shtml
- Baja, Holy Trinity Square (currently under reconstruction) (username: beke ; password: baja) - http://84.236.64.17:15628/view/view.shtml
- Baja, Danube bridge (username: duna ; password: baja) - http://mail.adukovizig.hu:15628/view/view.shtml
References
- Nemzeti és etnikai kisebségek Magyarországon, Budapest 1998
- [Központi Statisztikai Hivatal]
External links
- [Baja's public homepage]
- [Ady Endre Library's home page (English; German available)]
- [Home page of the best hotel, Hotel Duna*** (English; German available)]
- [City map] - (Magnifiable; grey zones are urban/industrial/commercial zones; dark green zones: forests; light-green zones: new urban and farm-styled zones; yellow zones: agricultural zones)
| County of Bács-Kiskun Bács-Kiskun Topics | History | Geography | Government | Politics | Economy | People from Bács-Kiskun | |
|---|---|
| County seat | Kecskemét |
Cities and towns | Baja | Kunszentmiklós | Kiskunfélegyháza | Soltvadkert | Kiskunhalas | Bácsalmás | Kalocsa | Solt | Kiskőrös | Szabadszállás | Kiskunmajsa | Izsák | Tiszakécske | Kerekegyháza | Lajosmizse | Tompa | Jánoshalma | Dunavecse | Kecel |
Villages | Ágasegyháza | Csólyospálos | Géderlak | Kunpeszér | Soltszentimre | Akasztó | Dávod | Hajós | Kunszállás | Sükösd | Apostag | Drágszél | Harkakötöny | Ladánybene | Szakmár | Bácsbokod | Dunaegyháza | Harta | Lakitelek | Szalkszentmárton | Bácsborsód | Dunafalva | Helvécia | Madaras | Szank | Bácsszentgyörgy | Dunapataj | Hercegszántó | Mátételke | Szentkirály | Bácsszőlős | Dunaszentbenedek | Homokmégy | Mélykút | Szeremle | Ballószög | Dunatetétlen | Imrehegy | Miske | Tabdi | Balotaszállás | Dusnok | Jakabszállás | Móricgát | Tass | Bátmonostor | Érsekcsanád | Jászszentlászló | Nagybaracska | Tataháza | Bátya | Érsekhalma | Kaskantyú | Nemesnádudvar | Tázlár | Bócsa | Fajsz | Katymár | Nyárlőrinc | Tiszaalpár | Borota | Felsőlajos | Kelebia | Ordas | Tiszaug | Bugac | Felsőszentiván | Kéleshalom | Orgovány | Uszód | Bugaspusztaháza | Foktő | Kisszállás | Öregcsertő | Újsolt | Császártöltés | Fülöpháza | Kömpöc | Páhi | Újtelek | Csátalja | Fülöpjakab | Kunadacs | Pálmonostora | Városföld | Csávoly | Fülöpszállás | Kunbaja | Petőfiszállás | Vaskút | Csengőd | Gara | Kunbaracs | Pirtó | Zsana | Csikéria | Gátér | Kunfehértó | Rém |
Countries: Germany · Austria · Slovakia · Hungary · Croatia · Serbia · Romania · Bulgaria · Ukraine · Moldova
Cities: Ulm · Ingolstadt · Regensburg · Passau · Linz · Vienna · Bratislava · Budapest · Győr · Baja · Vukovar · Ilok · Novi Sad · Belgrade · Drobeta-Turnu Severin · Vidin · Ruse · Brăila · Galaţi · Tulcea
Tributaries (list): Iller · Lech · Regen · Isar · Inn · Morava · Drava · Tisza · Sava · Timiş · Velika Morava · Jiu · Iskar · Olt · Osam · Yantra · Vedea · Argeş · Ialomiţa · Siret · Prut
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