Some words in English

Dévaványa is a town with a character of its own on the Great Plain. It lies in the area bordered by the Rivers Körös and Berettyó. Arheological finds, which were found on the outer border of the town, prove that it has been inhabited for thousand years. The first written records date back to the 1330$. Before the deys of the control of the Tisza and Körös the highest region of the village was surrounded by reeds and marsh and it was a place of difficult to access and provided a well-protected area for the people living there. The town has been called Dévaványa since the days of Turkish rute, Earlier, there were four villages at its present territory: Wanya, Ecseg, Kérsziget and Varsányegyház.

Dévaványa has a population of 8546. Agriculture especially arable land cultivation of plants, provides secure jobs for the people. Pig-, cattle-, sheep- and poultry-farming have significance in livestock-raising.

Dévaványa's most considerable value is its natural environment; 'the second Hortobágy', as it is called, is the region of the Körös-Maros National Park. It is a vast land covered with herbs and a particular area with a number of protected flora land faunal elements. The Bustard Reserve, which is known all over Europe, was founded for the protectíon of the birds in 1975. Central Europe's most considerable bustard stock live in this region, therefore the birds' life and protection can be observed in their natural surroundings and through an exhibition as well. Huntig is another significant segment of thurism. A respectable quantity of small game lives in the region and shooters arrive to hunt it since 1960. The opportunity of recreational tourism is provided by the open- air swimming bath, where a thermal pool, two swimming- pools with stretched water surface and a swimming-pool for children are available for the people interested.

The buildings that shape the view of the town are the Calvinist and the Catholic church; both of which stand on the main square. The latter one was built in a late Baroque style in 1908. The reconstruction of the predominantly neoclassical Calvinist church dates back to 1887. The building's bell tower is 63 meteres-high and it is noted as the highest church last of River the Tisza. It is worth mentioning its outstanding acoustics, which make it possible to organise wonderful concerts in the building. Bereczki Imre's Local Historical Collection was opened to the public in 2000 and the exhibition displays the town's abundant historical and ethnograpical values, as well as written and material objects.

Accommodation for the visitors can be provided in the guest house of the hunter s club, at the Bustard Reserve and by the local authority as well. There is an apportunity to accommodate visitor, who arrive with caravans or tents, on the area of swimming baths. There are adequate numbers of catering establishments in the town and many of them provide cooked meal to the customers.

Dévaványa, the new town of the Sárrét, is proud of its past, appreciates its present and trust in its future. Dévaványa is a characteristic town of the Great Plain and an ideal place for those who want to get to know the intact nature and would like to relax. Also welcomes those who are interested in the tradition of this region. Besides the places of interest, every visitor can also expect the residents' hospitality.

The new cultural spot and tourist sight of Dévaványa's, is Bereczki Imre Local Historical Collection. The collection of data, archive and ethnographical material were collected by Dr Bereczki Imre's, an etnographer and archeologist, over 65 years. The material became the property of the museum on the 14 th of April 2000 and the exhibition was taken to a spendid building, wich was opened to the public on the 17th of August 2000. The founder was born in Dévaványa and he lived, worked and collected the articles of the community and surroundings practically throughout his life.

The museum possesses significant amount of archeaological material. Just to name a few, the Körös cultural, the Great Plain line ornamental and the Tisza cultural relics, with special regard to a pedestalled vessel, wich dates back to the copper Age and it is preserved relatively intact despite of its age. This object is a rarity in the county. Many valuable and interesting finds are on show from the time after the Hungarian conquest.

The ethnographical exhibition represents the life of people lived in Ványa. You can view the objects used by the shepherds, fishermen, , apiarists and farmers of the Sárrét and the tools that show people's everyday life in the past, the knowledge of which is rather relevant for ' us living today. Besides visitors, the institution welcomes the people , who would like to be engaged in research with a huge collection of data and archives.

By all means, you must visit the region's new cultural institution ; when you explore the Sárrét.

The thermal water contains sodium- hydrocarbon and iodide ion. It is , slightly brown in colour, and has a temperature of 53 °C.

The swimming bath, wich is open throughout the whole year, is situated in the western part of the town on nearly 2000 square metres; three quarters of its land is green area, park, playgrund and sports field. The visitors can play volleyball, badminton and football on the fields. The soul of the building complex is the 25- metere-long swimming-pool with its scretched water surface and the connected swimming-pool for learners. Those who desire to recover gladly rest in the 1-meter deep thermal pool, and recreacion is provided for the children in the roundshaped swimming-pool, where they can splash and play.

The thermal pool and bath are in use from the beginning of the 1960s. The local population enjoyed the beneficial effects of the water throughout many decades and it is proved to be good above all for reumatic diseases. The recognition and appioval of the mineral water as medical water is under way.

The swimming bath has developped started to progress spectacularly from the 90's due to the large number of peoale interested. Electrical-, hydro- and balneotherapy, mechanotherapy and physiotherapy treatments are offered both individually and in~groups.