Százhalombatta
Encyclopedia
Százhalombatta (ˈsaːzhɒlombɒtːɒ; ) is a town in Pest county, Hungary
. The name of this town in Hungarian literally means "One hundred tumuli" referring to the tumulus
field at the edge of the town.
On the plateau stretching over the River Danube
in the Old Town, the Bronze Age
population built an earthwork, the defence of which was ensured by the river in the northeast, the deep valley in the south and by a rampart in the west. The earthwork was inhabited for almost six hundred years. The layers of the settlements deposited on one another now amount to a depth of up to six meters. This is now called tell
settlement.
In the 7th-6th centuries BC it was the eastern branch of the Hallstatt culture
that appeared in the region. The burial place of significant people from the culture's population are buried in the tumulus graveyard. The six-hectare territory presently functions as an archeological park. It is in this prehistoric open-air museum, unique to the whole of Europe, that the 2,700-year-old tumulus was excavated, reconstructed and inaugurated in April 1998 by the President of Hungary, Árpád Göncz
. In the tumulus, the remains of a crypt can be viewed accompanied by a spectacular multimedia presentation. With the help of sound and light effects, visitors can get acquainted with the funeral rite and beliefs of the era.
and the East of Hungary
. There are also regular bus services to and from the capital taking approximately 45 minutes to reach the centre. Given the town's location on the danube
, boat services also link the town to the capital.
Szazhalombatta has a bustling social life, with an array of shops, supermarkets, bars and clubs spread throughout the town. The centrepiece of the city is large church designed by promminent architect Imre Makovecz
.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. The name of this town in Hungarian literally means "One hundred tumuli" referring to the tumulus
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
field at the edge of the town.
History
Recognizing the geographical situation and the fascinating beauty of the region, groups of people had already settled in this area four thousand years ago in the Neolithic Age.On the plateau stretching over the River Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
in the Old Town, the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
population built an earthwork, the defence of which was ensured by the river in the northeast, the deep valley in the south and by a rampart in the west. The earthwork was inhabited for almost six hundred years. The layers of the settlements deposited on one another now amount to a depth of up to six meters. This is now called tell
Tell
A tell or tel, is a type of archaeological mound created by human occupation and abandonment of a geographical site over many centuries. A classic tell looks like a low, truncated cone with a flat top and sloping sides.-Archaeology:A tell is a hill created by different civilizations living and...
settlement.
In the 7th-6th centuries BC it was the eastern branch of the Hallstatt culture
Hallstatt culture
The Hallstatt culture was the predominant Central European culture from the 8th to 6th centuries BC , developing out of the Urnfield culture of the 12th century BC and followed in much of Central Europe by the La Tène culture.By the 6th century BC, the Hallstatt culture extended for some...
that appeared in the region. The burial place of significant people from the culture's population are buried in the tumulus graveyard. The six-hectare territory presently functions as an archeological park. It is in this prehistoric open-air museum, unique to the whole of Europe, that the 2,700-year-old tumulus was excavated, reconstructed and inaugurated in April 1998 by the President of Hungary, Árpád Göncz
Árpád Göncz
Árpád Göncz is a Hungarian liberal politician and former President of Hungary . Göncz played a role in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956...
. In the tumulus, the remains of a crypt can be viewed accompanied by a spectacular multimedia presentation. With the help of sound and light effects, visitors can get acquainted with the funeral rite and beliefs of the era.
Transport
Szazhalombatta is served by one main railway station. Regular services run to and from the station into the centre of BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
and the East of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. There are also regular bus services to and from the capital taking approximately 45 minutes to reach the centre. Given the town's location on the danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
, boat services also link the town to the capital.
Local facilities
The town has its own sports centre boasting 6 outdoor clay tennis courts, 4 hardcourts, a full 400 metre track and field facility, indoor basketball/handball court, gym and football pitch. Located next to the sports centre is the "Szazhalombatta Strand" which is popular attraction to both locals and visitors in the summer months. The Strand hosts one olympic sized swimming pool, two children's pool, one large leisure pool with water fountains and slides and a warm heated jacuzzi therapeutic pool.Szazhalombatta has a bustling social life, with an array of shops, supermarkets, bars and clubs spread throughout the town. The centrepiece of the city is large church designed by promminent architect Imre Makovecz
Imre Makovecz
Imre Makovecz , was a Hungarian architect active in Europe from the late 1950s onward.Makovecz was born and died in Budapest. He attended the Technical University of Budapest. He was founder and "eternal and executive president" of the Hungarian Academy of Arts.Makovecz was one of the most...
.