Page 11 - Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg megye 2019

Nagykároly

(Carei) - the former

estate centre of the
Partium

From Nyírbátor, we can go in two directions. With just
over half an hour’s drive, the tourist destination Nagykároly
(Carei) in Romania is closely linked to the county. One
of the ancient Hungarian noble families, the Károlyi fam-
ily gained their estates, including Nagykároly, during the
Hungarian conquest. Located in the centre of the cosy and
hospitable town, the Károlyi Castle was built in 1482 and
rebuilt several times according to the customs of the era.
Finally, according to the plans of Miklós Ybl, the castle be-
came a neo-Gothic and neo-Baroque-style knight’s castle
with seven towers; its architecture reminds us of the Renais-
sance castles of the Loire Valley. Today, the castle houses a
museum which exhibits collections of the local history, as
well as historical room interiors.
htt p://e-castellum.eu/url/KA ROLYI-KA STELY

This ancient noble family is a descendant of the Kaplony

clan. The rebuilt ancient monastery of the Károlyi family,
which is, at the same time, its burial site and crypt that can
be visited, are located in Kaplony, near the estate’s centre.
The Reformed Church of Csomaköz (Ciumesti), located

13 km from Nagykároly, in the southern part of Nyírség,
was built completely in the early Anjou age, which makes
it particularly interesting and valuable. Csomaköz is a good
example of the widespread phenomenon from the end of
the Árpád era to the mid 14th century in Szatmár County
that late Romanesque and early Gothic elements were used
in the same church at the same time. During its restoration
between 2013 and 2014, the church regained its medieval
features and can be seen and visited in its original beauty. Its
bell tower was moved a little farther from the monumental

western gate. The non-denominational church houses a lo-
cal history exhibition, and the two modern crypts under the
church nave were restored and can now be visited.
Bere, a village built closely to Csomaköz, has the most in-
teresting medieval Reformed church in Szatmár County,
which houses the county’s only mural.

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