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City born from water

The history and development of Szeged, a city located in city today. Based on the plans of Lajos Lechner, a modern
the heart of the Southern Great Plain, is closely connected European city emerged, replacing the once waterlogged
with the river Tisza, which is one of the most important and muddy streets.

symbols of the city. The expression “City born from wa- By the 20th century, Szeged had become an industrial and
ter” does not only refer to its geographical features or the cultural centre, and the river Tisza continued to play a key
“water heritage”, which forms a fundamental part of the role in its daily life: it did not only serve economy and
city’s culture, economy, and everyday life, but also to the transportation but also became a central part of the city’s

reconstruction after the tragic flood in 1879. tourism and leisure activities.
The river, which had nourished agriculture, trade, and Szeged is, therefore, not merely a geographical location,

urban life for centuries, also caused enormous destruc- but a living story having been and being shaped by water.

tion. The flood in 1879, which completely destroyed Th e development and reconstruction of the city proves

Szeged’s city centre overnight, heralded a new era in the that facing the forces of nature does not simply present us

life of the city. The modernization and the reconstruction with a challenge, but also provides an opportunity for the
of the town did not only focus on the protection of the city to continuously renew itself and adapt to the environ-
river Tisza, but also on the harmonious coexistence with ment defined by the presence of water and the river. Th e

the river. The reconstruction after the flood became one water, which once brought destruction, is now the “high

of the most important factors in the urban planning of street” of Szeged, an integral part of its identity and future.
Szeged, and it still shapes the architectural character of the
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