Mezőtúr

Mezőtúr
Town hall
Coat of arms of Mezőtúr Coat of arms
Mezőtúr
Coordinates:
Country	Hungary
County	Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok
Area
• Total	289.72 km2 (111.86 sq mi)
Population (2001)
• Total	19,483
• Density	67/km2 (170/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	5400
Area code(s)	56

Mezőtúr is a town of Hungary, in the county of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, 88 m. southeast of Budapest by rail. It possesses important potteries. Large herds of cattle are reared on the communal lands, which are productive also of wheat, rapeseed and maize. Several well-attended fairs are held here annually.

Location

Mezőtúr lies in the centre of the Great Hungarian Plain, on the banks of the Hortobágy-Berettyó, near the Budapest–Szolnok–Békéscsaba railway line.

History

File:1900 Mezö-Tur 4filler Yv40.jpg

In the Kingdom of Hungary in 1900

The town was founded in the Middle Ages and it was called Túr after the river Berettyó, which was formerly named Túr. Later it was named Mezőtúr (mező means field, referring to the good soil of the Great Plain.) The town was first mentioned under King Andrew II (1205–1235) as villa Tur. The shortest road between Buda and Transylvania led through Mezőtúr, which was the only town in the area having a ferry. Because of this advantage the town prospered and King Louis the Great made it a market town. In the 15th century it held famous markets, and its importance grew. Mezőtúr was royal estate until 1378, later it had various owners, and under King Matthias the town was divided into two parts because it was donated to two different persons.

During the Ottoman occupation of Hungary Mezőtúr fell under Ottoman rule in 1562 and was freed in 1692. After the expelling of the Ottomans and during the revolution led by Prince Rákóczi the citizens had to leave the town twice (1692–1699 and 1705–1710.)

In the 18th century the town began to prosper again, mainly as an agricultural town.

After the Ottoman occupation until 1918, Mezőtúr was part of the Austrian monarchy, province of Hungary; (in Transleithania after the compromise of 1867) in the Kingdom of Hungary.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, Mezőtúr was a major pottery producer. This business died down in the 1940s and 1950s.

The post-office was opened in 1853.

Sister cities

Mezőtúr is twinned with:

• Valea Crișului, Romania
• Novi Bečej, Serbia
• Weida, Germany
• Canelli, Italy
• Nancy, France
• Arcuș, Romania

External links

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