Gerendás combines a distinctive tree-lined avenue with memorial sites, churches and a local art history. The Hársfasor runs along the town’s main street and is classified as a natural asset. The linden avenue was planted by the beekeepers’ association in the late 1920s. It offers a tangible starting point for exploring the area’s natural and local history: in Gerendás, established landscape features stand alongside monuments that recall the development of the community and transport.
Tree History and Walks
The Topolyafa stood in the Gerendás area for 250 years and was marked as a landmark on historical maps. A sapling grown from a shoot of this tree was planted in 1994. The municipality placed a bench beside it and installed a carved plaque commemorating the tree’s history. The site is freely accessible. The plaque and sapling make the story of the former tree tangible on site.
The park-like surroundings of Csicsely-tó are also a good place for a walk. Gerendás thus offers two different ways to connect with nature: the Hársfasor runs along the main street, while the walkable surroundings of Csicsely-tó are the main attraction.
Monuments and Local History
The war memorial in Gerendás was erected during the First World War, completed in 1929 and topped with a bronze Turul figure. Another, pyramid-shaped monument commemorates Hungary’s first concrete road. It refers to the road completed between Gerendás and Csorvás in 1931. The monuments thus highlight different themes: one is dedicated to remembrance of the war, while the other recalls the history of a transport route.
Churches and Art History
The Catholic Church of Szent István király was built in 1862 by Count György Apponyi. It was granted parish status in 1927 and renovated inside and out in 1962. These details trace several milestones in its construction and parish history.
The Lutheran church of the Gerendás-Csorvás Lutheran Filial Congregation was built in the 1930s and consecrated in 1937 by Bishop Dr. Sándor Raffay. Together with the Catholic church, it offers a historical perspective on the town’s different religious traditions; its history can be placed in context through its construction period and consecration date.
The painter Mihály Munkácsy is also connected with Gerendás: in his youth, he spent a great deal of time at the estate of his uncle István Reök, where he drew and painted. This local art history complements the architectural and transport-related memorials with a personal connection to art.
More to Explore in the Wider Békés Destination
Visitors who look beyond Gerendás to the wider Békés destination will find other distinctive nature and culture experiences. Körösvölgyi Animal Park is set in a 26-hectare grove. A walking trail about two kilometres long passes bird aviaries, animal houses, wetlands and spacious enclosures. The route offers a range of glimpses into the park’s wildlife and landscapes.
At the Sterbetz István Bustard Conservation Visitor Centre, visitors can see great bustards up close—the only place in Hungary where this is possible. Guided tours, birdwatching, nature photography, themed programmes and astronomy presentations can be requested. The offering differs from a walk in the animal park: birdwatching and programmes arranged on request take centre stage here.
For a cultural visit, the Mihály Munkácsy Museum in Békéscsaba offers a collection of natural history, archaeological, ethnographic, historical and art-historical objects. Compared with Munkácsy’s personal connection to Gerendás, the museum offers a broader perspective on art and history in Békés.
Discover more destinations: Nagyszénás, Orosháza, Gádoros, Tótkomlós
Go to the overview of the wider destination: Orosházai.
