Szarvas combines wildlife and historic sites with museums, a summer stage on the Holt-Körös and a thermal bath. The options range from a 1.1-kilometre memorial route to a 2,100-metre circular trail at the zoo. Which experiences you include in your stay therefore depends above all on whether you want to explore outdoors, visit collections, or combine culture with time at the baths.
Wildlife and walking routes
At Szarvas Zoo, visitors can learn about the past and present wildlife of the Carpathian Basin. A 2,100-metre-long trail around Anna Gardens winds past aviaries and enclosures. The Körösvölgyi Állatpark in Szarvas offers another perspective on wildlife: it focuses on animal species that were once or are now native to the Carpathian Basin, as well as species that are currently spreading.
The route lengths can also be compared: at 1.1 kilometres, the Történelmi Emlékút is shorter than the loop at the zoo and focuses on historic sites. It starts near Szent István Park, behind the Ótemplom, follows the dyke along the Holt-Körös and ends at a windmill described as the centre of historic Hungary. At the zoo, aviaries and enclosures line the trail. Bicycle and canoe rental offer a way to explore Szarvas’s natural and historical heritage and the Körös floodplain; check availability in advance.
Museums and traces of the city’s history
At the Tessedik Sámuel Museum, city history and archaeology come together. Visitors learn about the era and work of Sámuel Tessedik; the museum also displays Neolithic fertility figurines that are 7,000 to 8,000 years old. Its programme includes temporary exhibitions, concerts, family afternoons and book presentations. The specific events on offer may change.
The Ruzicskay Alkotóház’s permanent art and folk-art collection is associated with György Ruzicskay and can be visited in Erzsébet-liget. As visiting hours may change, check them before your visit. The Szarvasi Szlovák Tájház offers a different picture of home and everyday life: built in the 19th century, the house depicts the daily life of a prosperous Slovak farming family through its characteristic layout and period furnishings.
The Szarvasi Szárazmalom tells the story of local industry. In 1836, the Bolza family had the dry mill built according to the Indian system by carpenters from Slavonia. It has been preserved at its original site and remains operational. The Bolza-kastély is also part of the Bolza family’s heritage in Szarvas; the castle can be viewed from the outside.
Summer theatre and thermal baths
On the banks of the Holt-Körös, the Szarvasi Vízi Színház is a summer venue offering cultural programmes every evening. At weekends, visitors can see musical and dance productions by Cervinus Teátrum, Jókai Színház and Magyar Teátrumi Társaság. Individual performances vary, so check the schedule if you want to plan your visit around one.
Szarvasi Gyógyfürdő has indoor sports, teaching and bubble pools, thermal-water pools, saunas and a solarium. The pool facilities include two thermal-water therapy pools with a Turkish feel, a 25-metre swimming pool and bathing pools 90 centimetres deep. Alongside its wildlife and cultural attractions, Szarvas therefore also offers a dedicated option for spending time in the water.
A trip to the outskirts
Sárarany Szalmaporta is located just outside Szarvas. At the craft house, you can see straw-weaving work. Oven-baked dough dishes are also offered to taste as part of a rural guest-table experience. Advance booking is required. The visit thus combines handicrafts with a regional food tradition, but requires planning ahead.
Whether you prefer the shorter historic trail, the longer loop past the enclosures, or the museums and bathing facilities, Szarvas offers a variety of themes for your stay. The theatre’s summer programme adds an evening by the water; if you plan a visit to Sárarany Szalmaporta, remember to book in advance.
Discover more destinations: Gyomaendrőd, Kondoros, Békésszentandrás.
Go to the main travel overview: Szarvasi.
