# Balassagyarmat

Balassagyarmat (formerly Balassa-Gyarmath, German: Jahrmarkt) is a town in Nógrád county, in Northern Hungary. It was the seat of the Nógrád comitatus (county). It is the centre of Balassagyarmat district, which is covered in a separate article. The town lies on the left bank of the Ipoly river, which marks the state border with Slovakia.

## Understand

The population is homogeneous, with a Hungarian majority (Magyars 98%, Romani 2%). At the western entrance of the town is the Égerláp (Alder-marshes) conservation area.

### Orientation

* 48.0769319.290321 Former County Hall (Vármegyeháza), Civitas Fortissima tér 2. (Center), ☏ +36 35 500 640. Tourist information service. Free maps, brochures, accommodation service, tour organization. Buying souvenirs. - About the building: based on Francis Kasselik plans, was built between 1832-1835, neo-classical style
* 48.0774519.291272 Tourist Information Point (Idegenforgalmi Információs Pont), Rákóczi fejedelem u. 12 (Center), ☏ +36 35 505-973. Inside the Town Hall.

## Get in
### By bus

* 48.08352819.2966673 Bus Station (Autóbusz-állomás Balassagyarmat), Ipolypart utca 42 (NW 800 m), ☏ +36 35 301-400. Direct bus leaves from Budapest (Újpest-Városkapu Station, hourly) and Salgótarján via Szécsény (hourly) and Vác (every two hours). Also there is direct bus to Gyöngyös, Hatvan and all parts of Nógrád County except Bátonyterenye.

### By train

* 48.07138919.2936114 Train Station (Vasútállomás), Benczúr Gyula utca 1/a, ☏ +36 35-301-803. The city is accessible by train from Aszód (its hourly connected to Budapest) , from Vác.

### By car

From Budapest take the route #2 after Rétság Turning to route #22 towards Salgótarján one and a half hour can be reached the town. Budapest 80 km, Salgótarján and Vác both 45 km away.

## Get around

The local public transport is done with bus by KMKK$^{[deadlink]}$. The bus network include 22 lines. Single ticket in advance/from the driver: Ft 170/270 (2013)

## See
### Churches

* 48.07419.2911 Reformed Church (Református templom), Ady Endre utca 19 (Center).
* 48.07666719.2963892 Balassagyarmati Lutheran Church (Balassagyarmati evangélikus templom), Kossuth Lajos út 34-36 (Center). Baroque. Built in 1786. The tower was built in 1794,
* 48.0740219.296023 St. John Salesian monastery and church (Bosco Szent János szalézi rendház és templom), Kossuth Lajos út 41 (Center), ☏ +36 35 300693. Built in 1935
* 48.0780819.292184 Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church (Római katolikus Szentháromság-templom), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 20. Baroque, built between 1740-1746
* 48.06706819.280995 St Mary church (Mária a Szentlélek Mátkája templom), Perczel Mór utca - Honti utca corner (SW 1 km). Built between 1995-1998

### Museums

* 48.074919.28996 Paloc Museum and Skansen (Palóc Múzeum és skanzen), Palóc liget 1. (Center), ☏ +36 35 300 168, palocmuzeum@t-online.hu. Tu- Sa 9:00-16:00. Ethnography collection permanent Exhibitions: #1 From the cradle to the grave – Peasant feasts and weekdays in Nógrád county; #2 Scientist nobiliary library – The mirror of our national history (in remembrance of Iván Nagy). Adults: Ft 800, students and pensioners Ft 400, photo permit Ft 1200, professional guide: Ft 3500 (2014).
* 48.07344419.2871677 Civitas Fortissima Museum (Civitas Fortissima Múzeum), Széchenyi utca 13. (Center), info@mkmk.hu.
* 48.07168619.2866418 Pannonia Motorcycle Museum (Pannónia Motorkerékpár Múzeum), Kossuth Lajos utca 1, ☏ +36 30 746 1806 (Mobil). Mar-Oct: Th 14:00-18:00 and Sa 11:00-17:00, or by appointment. The permanent exhibition: unrestored, original condition motorcycles, brand brochures, operating instructions and motorcycle accessories shown.
* 48.07638919.2902789 Jánossy Gallery (Jánossy Képtár), Civitas fortissima tér 5. (Center), ☏ +36 35 300186, janossykeptar@gmail.com. Tu-Sat 9:00-17:00. Contemporary art collection. Adults: Ft 150, students Ft 100.
* 48.080119.304110 Stars house (Csillagház Helytörténeti Gyűjtemény Balassagyarmat), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 107 (East one km), ☏ +36 35 300663, mivkbgy@gmail.com. M-F 08:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00. Classical buildings, local history collection.
* 48.080519.297911 Endre Horváth Gallery (Horváth Endre Galéria), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 50. (E 500 m), ☏ +36 35 300622. Daily 8:00-20:00. Inside Mikszáth Cultural Center: temporary exhibitions. Free.
* 48.0795719.294312 Serbian Church (Szerbtemplom), Szerb utca 5. (Center), ☏ +36 35 300622. Tu-Su 14:00-18:00. Built in 1910. Neoclassical building. Temporary exhibitions Free.
* 48.078119.298813 Jewish Collection of Along Ipoly river and Jewish Prayer House (Ipoly-menti Zsidó Gyűjtemény és Imaház), Hunyadi utca, 24. (East 0.5 km), ☏ +36 35 505985. By appointment throughout the day, possibly by asking the previous day advance sign-phone.

### Monuments

* 48.07745619.29122714 Town Hall (Városháza, Polgármesteri Hivatal Balassagyarmat), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 12 (Center), ☏ +36 35 505 900, bgyarmat@profinter.hu.
* 48.0745319.3014315 Orthodox Jewish cemetery (műemlék ortodox zsidó temető, Izraelita temető), Temető u. 8, ☏ +36 30 418 1886. By appointment throughout the day, possibly by asking the previous day advance sign-phone. A monument
* 48.07608319.29141716 The former Financial Palace (volt Pénzügyi Palota épülete), Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca 6 (Center). Now a police station.
* 48.0763919.2890317 Nógrád county courthouse (Nógrád Megyei Bíróság épülete), Köztársaság tér 2, ☏ +36 35 501-200, birosag@balassagyarmatit.birosag.hu.
* 48.07772219.28961118 Balassagyarmat prison (Balassagyarmati börtön), Madách Imre utca 2 (Behind the County Hall), ☏ +36 35 501170. It was built between 1842 and 1845. Rare architectural solutions - mainly central circular floor plan - make an especially valuable monument. Planned remodeling for luxury prison hotel and museum.
* 48.078519.289819 Mikszáth residential house (Mikszáth Kálmán lakóháza), Madách utca 8. (Next to the prison).
* 48.0787919.2909620 Lőrinc Szabo residential house (Szabó Lőrinc lakóháza), Szabó Lőrinc utca 10 (NE 500 m).
* 48.0797719.2961321 Baroque storey townhouses (Barokk emeletes polgárházak), Rákóczi fejedelem útja (East). Built around 1780.
* 48.074719.29222 Art Nouveau villas (Szecessziós villasor), Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út (Center). Built around 1910.
* 48.0770519.2913823 Former English Misses convent (Az angolkisasszonyok zárdája), Civitas Fortissima tér 7 (Center).
* 48.07851619.29374124 Former Hotel Balassa (Egykori Balassa Szálloda), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 39. Classicist Petofi Sandor stayed here twice.

## Do

* 48.0754919.291631 Cinema Madách (Madách Filmszínház), Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 8.
* 48.08033119.2981282 City Culture House and Library (Városi művelődési központ és könyvtár). Here is the Endre Horváth Gallery (see above about details).
* 48.07488919.2892783 Paloc Park (Palóc liget) (Around Palóc Museum). Botanical rarities.
* 48.05119.2754 Nyírjes ponds (Nyírjesi tavak), Nyírjes (S-SW 2 km). Fishing. Protected forests and srings.
* 48.0429719.273755 Nyírjes Wildlife Park and Botanical Garden (Nyírjesi Füvészkert és Vadaspark), Between Nyírjes and Kincsempuszta (S 2.5 km). Visitor center.
* 48.05619.2516 Éger (Éger láp természetvédelmi tanösvény) (between settlements Balassagyarmat and Ipolyszög, between the railway and road #22). Alder wetland conservation nature trail. Here is the county's finest, most diverse wetland wildlife. 106 hectares of protected area.
* 48.07421319.2774767 Ipoly river (Ipoly folyó) (State border between Hungary and Slovakia). Fishing paradise.
* 48.08116719.2884728 Sports and leisure center (Ipoly-parti sport- és szabadidőcentrum), Ipoly-part utca (End of Madách street toward state border). Artificial grass football field, City Sports Hall, skateboard track, indoor swimming pool.

## Buy

* 48.084719.29811 TESCO Balassagyarmat hypermarket (TESCO Balassagyarmat hipermarket), Mikszáth Kálmán utca 56 (next to Bus Station), ☏ +36 20 827 0000.

## Eat

* 48.07898619.2909051 Svejk (Svejk Vendéglő), Szabó Lőrinc Street 16, ☏ +36 35 300-999, +36 30 625-1040, svejk@svejkvendeglo.hu. M-Sa 11:00-22:30, Su 12:00-22:00. Czech and Slovak specialties. Different ice creams. Soups/starters Ft 500-1000/800-1900; fish/veggie dishes Ft 1000-2200/800-1000; pork/poultry dishes Ft 1100-1800/1100-2000, beef dishes Ft 1600-2300, foie gras dishes Ft 1500-3000, garnish Ft 200-500, salads/desserts (partly Slovakian) Ft 350-1600/500-1400. Drinks: Aperitifs 4 cl Ft 450-750, mineralwater (0.33 L) Ft 300-400, soft drinks (2 dl) Ft 200-300, juices (2dl) Ft 300, bottled wines Ft 1500-4500, bottled beers Ft 450-500, drafted beers (0.5 L) Ft 600.
* 48.0780419.292962 Excalibur (Excalibur Étterem), Teleki László utca 2, ☏ +36 20 318-6622, ponyi6@freemail.hu. M-F 11:00-15:00. Self service. Home delivery. Soups Ft 250, Sousage Ft 550-700, Mains Ft 700-900, Dessert Ft 300.
* 48.0746119.291983 Orchidea Confectory (Orchidea Cukrászda), Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca 12 (S 200 m), ☏ +36 35 311450, fax: +36 35 500035, info@jagyutt.hu. M-F 09:00-19:00, Sa Su 08:00-19:00. (updated May 2016)
* 48.08021619.2971524 Orchidea Café (Caffé Orchidea), Rákóczi fejedelem Road, ☏ +36 35 311450, info@jagyutt.hu. (updated May 2016)
* 48.07780719.2973875 Trattoria Dolce Vita, Thököly Street 20., ☏ +36 20 231 1920. M-Th 11:00-22:00, F Sa 11:00-24:00, Su 11:00-22:00. Italian cuisine. (updated May 2016)
* 48.07788219.2924666 AztaPasta, Rákóczi fejedelem Road 29. (Center), ☏ +36 30 712 44 34, aztapastabar@gmail.com. M-Th 10:00-20:00, F Sa 10:00-21:00. Pasta bar and pizzeria in the city centre. (updated Jun 2016)
* 48.07751119.2932097 Cake Point (Torta Pont), Telei László Street 5 (Center), ☏ +36 20 237 8801, desszertmuhely@gmail.com. Tu-Sa 10:00-18:00. (updated Jun 2016)
* Opi Menü (Opi Menu), Balassagyarmat, Bargár Ödön u. 24, 2660, ☏ +36 30 627 8206, rendeles@opimenu.hu. M-F 09:00-14:00. 2 types of daily menu is available to order, takeaway or at the place. (updated Mar 2025)

## Drink

* Pince Pizza Bar and Pub (Pince Pizza, Pinze Borozó, Makk-Ász Söröző és Pizzéria), Kossuth Lajos út 18., ☏ +36 35 302848. Draft and bottled beers and wines
* Kapsreitter Pub (Kapsreitter Söröző), Rákóczi út 83, ☏ +36 35 310006. Draft and bottled beers.

## Sleep

* 48.071519.27891 Star Motel and Restaurant (Sztár Motel), Kóvári út 12. (West one km), ☏ +36 35 301-152, fax: +36 35 301-152, sztarmotel@is.hu. Check-in: 10:00, check-out: 09:00. Open year round, 0-24. Capacity: 8 rooms, 16 beds. Wi-Fi. Non-stop catering facilities (130 persons), parking, conference room, 24-hour reception, Pets Allowed, satellite/cable TV, sauna. Dbl HUF6500.
* 48.07719.29412 Pension Club (Club Panzió), Teleki László utca 14 (Center), ☏ +36 35 301824, +36 20 9157502, fax: +36 35 301-824, nyirjes@axelero.hu.
* 48.07678619.2946053 Cédrus Club Hotel, Luther utca 2, ☏ +36 35 887 130. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 10:00. (updated Feb 2023)

## Connect

* Telephone numbers to Balassagyarmat from abroad +36 35 XXXXXX, from Hungary 06 35 XXXXXX
* 48.078419.29275 Post Office #1 (Magyar Posta Városi Fiók 2660 B.gyarmat 1), Rákóczi fejedelem útja 24 (Center), ☏ +36 35 301-240, fax: +36 35 301-629.
* 48.0680119.297326 Post Office #2 (Magyar Posta, B.gyarmat 2), Leiningen Károly utca 29. (Center), ☏ +36 35 300-348.

## Go next

* Budapest, toward SW take a bus or a train
* Salgótarján, toward east a bus (hourly or so)
* Vác, toward west take a bus or a train
* Slovakia, toward north walk across over Ipoly