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Losonc, the first town of Nógrád County with a well-or-

                                                              ganized council, also functioned as a county seat in those

                                                              days. The town is extremely rich in monuments and fa-
                                                              mous people; the town centre streets and squares all tell
                                                              the story of the Hungarian past.
                                                              Fülek (Fiľakovo), located in Slovakia today, is another im-
                                                              portant town of Nógrád. With its huge fortress, fortress
                                                              museum, Hungarian secondary grammar school, its own
                                                              theatre company, many famous people connected to the
                                                              town, and its vibrant cultural life, it is one of the centres of
                                                              the Hungarians of the Central Upper Hungary.
                                                              15 km south of Fülek, we arrive at Salgótarján, the current
                                                              seat of the county. A visit to its famous underground min-
                                                              ing museum is highly recommended.
                                                              From Salgótarján, on main road no. 22, we arrive at one
                                                              of the historical small towns of the county, the beautiful
                                                              Szécsény. It was the culmination of its rich history when
                                                              the Controlling Prince, Francis II Rákóczi held the parlia-

                                 Our                          ment here in Borjúpást in 1705. The beautifully restored
                                                              core of the town, with the Kubinyi Castle serving as a mu-
                                                              seum, the Franciscan Monastery, the Baroque church and


                              towns                           the famous fire tower are definitely places worth visiting.
                                                              Continuing our journey, we arrive at Balassagyarmat, the
                                                              historical county seat. With its artistic buildings, orderli-
                                                              ness, strong civic atmosphere and rich history, it catches
                                                              our attention. Imre Madách and Kálmán Mikszáth were

                             Built values,                    received in the elegant building of the county hall. And the
                            rich histories                    proudly worn rank of Civitas Fortissima is the result of the
                                                              heroic behaviour exhibited when the locals defeated the
                                                              occupying Czech troops in 1919.
                                                              The town of Pásztó, rich in historical monuments and the

                                                              western gate of the Mátra Mountains, is a good starting
                                                              point for our “conquests”.

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