Everybody loves a wedding

Franciscan Church and Monastery

photo source : Péter Szórád

End of tunnel ...

Franciscan Church and monastery

photo source : Péter Szórád

The underground passage of the monastery.

The Evangelic Church built at Arany János Street.

#330/365 Cross

I lost count on how many crosses we have just around the town centre. What attracted me to this particular cross is that it is humble and not gilded like many others.

#250/365 Postcard

I am like any tourists that buy postcards whenever I visit a new place for keep sakes and as mementos. As a photographer (amateur!), I'll admit that taking postcard shots is not favourite way of conveying my subjects. However, for this blog, I do realise it is important to show you a bigger picture.

In picture, the Great Roman Catholic church, which is situated on the main square. In summer, you see water fountain and people just relaxing around it.

#227/365 Put your hands together

Next to the plaques of gratitude (yesterday's post) is this statue of Madonna.

#218/365 Backlight

One very HOT evening, Chapel of Virgin Mary in the distance.

#156/365 Corpus Christi, there're more

We walk around to check out the rest of the intricate flower decorations (see yesterday), and then I saw something which only happen on special occasions, the Great Roman Catholic Church's doors were "wide open" literally. I use quotation on "wide open" because obviously they are open to public always, but the doors are normally closed to insulate from outside temperature. And so, when the doors are shut, I never have the guts to walk in. But but now..woohoo..I'm going in!

#151/365 Arch and Tower

 

Me taking shelter at the town hall.

#58/365 Impressions

If you haven't noticed by now, Kecskemét town centre is surrounded by religious buildings. In this blog, we have shown you The Great Roman Catholic Church , Synagogue ,  The First Piarist Friars , and there are many more that we have yet to share. As we enjoy "studying" architecture, it is really a treat being so near these many beautiful buildings.

What you see in the photo is the right side of the roof of a secondary grammar school by The First Piarist Friars built next to the convent.

#13/365 Church goers

Do you go to church on Sundays? 

The main entrance of the Great Roman Catholic church is busiest on Sundays. At 10 am, you will normally see a crowd at the front of the church

According to this survey , Hungary is no. 27 in church attendance.

#4/365 All that's remained

Ever since we moved here, I have been curious about this "ruin".. Unfortunately, the history of this site still remains a mystery to me. However, I am sure I will be able to share the story with you one day.

----Updated Jan 07,2013----

Wow! That "one day" came earlier than I thought! Turns out the info. is already available in the town's coffee table book. I'll just extract the text from the book itself :-

"The park with ancient ruins at the northern side of the church has been "exhibited" since 1974. During the excavations of 1973-74, the stone fence of the one-time cemetery and the foundations of the cemetery chapel of Saint Michael became visible."

source : ISBN 978-615-5064-02-9

Ready to be useful again?

Some old tiles found nicely stacked behind the Calvinist Church.
Is it a sign that the tiles will be reuse again? Am not sure,
but every time I passed this way, the colours always catch my attention.

Santa Claus came to town

clock stuck 4 o'clock

Time to meet the fans!

Nearly there...

phew..made it!

Celebration of St. Michael's day

 Yesterday I saw these two float-like decoration at the main square, in celebration of St. Michaels' day.

I really like the Holly Crown of Hungary from this angle :) 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Crown_of_Hungary

 Next to the Holy Crown is this fun work of art, made of straws (?)

 Lots of goats** of course!

While the human figures are well made, you see those red patterns at the bottom. Those are traditional Hungarian motifs - I love it!

 

This man is showing a demo. with whips.When he flicks the whip, a sound came off.

 

Quite impressive!  

** read the description of this blog.

Múzeumok Éjszakája 2012 ( Night of the Museums )

This year's first stop for us was The neolog Synagogue (1871) but currently functions as House of science and technology. You can also find copies of Michelangelo's fifteen statues here On our way to the next destination, we heard the choir from The Evangelic Church, so we paused a bit to listen to the beautiful concert. Next destination was The Greek Orthodox church (1824 & 1829). Kecskemét used to be the Greek metropolis of the Danube-Tisza region. At the end of the 17th century Greek merchants settled in the town and they built this church between 1824 and 1829. Look at those wood carvings! Q&A at the Greek Orthodox Church. The atmosphere was very informal :) Seating in the Greek Orthodox church is different from most churches that it is not set in rows but instead around the walls of the church. Visitors listening to the guardian of church. Last stop, and also my favourites of all, The Museum of Hungarian Naive Artists (1976). This place housed the largest collection of naive fine arts in Hungary. Mainly parents like to bring their children here.

Aside from the usual artifacts, Artist www.guido-vedovato.it is exhibiting his work in one of the galleries until August 2012. His work is just fascinatingly vibrant!

Obviously, there are many more museums in Kecskemét but we chose only 3 this time. We figured that this is an annual event that we'll visit others in the coming years. So, stay tune :)

Unexpected

Thanks to May / June wedding season, we chanced upon this Roman Catholic church (located at town square) was wide open before a wedding ceremony. I think there are certain hours that allow tourists into this church. Since we haven't had the opportunity to do so yet, it was really a lovely surprise!

Background
The painitng seen in the church span several centuries. The painitng of the high altar was painted by Ferenc József Falkoner in 1793. The frescos of the arches were made my Ignác Roskovics between 1900 and 1903.
source : ISBN : 963 7813 75 6

The first Piarist friars

The first Piarist friars arrived at the town in 1714....

Reading the town's guide, I learnt that this secondary grammar school has been operating for almost 3 centuries! The school was built next to the monastery between the two world wars following the plans of the professor of the Technical university, Dezso Hüthl. It is of Baroque style from outside. I have to find a chance to go inside to see how it is on the inside!

source : book ISBN 963 7813 75 6