Debrecen, host town of the conference

The name of the town Debrecen was first mentioned in 1235 and in 1361 the settlement became a privileged market town. Due to its geographical location, it served as a bridge between Transylvania and the Uplands. Its merchants and craftsmen maintained extensive relationships with Western and Northern European towns from as early as the Middle Ages. Cattle trade, animal husbandry, craft industry and the town’s role as a trading centre generated a blooming economy. Debrecen had never been surrounded by town walls and the protection of the city and its citizens had not been assured by soldiers, strong towers and walls. Instead one always trusted in the diplomatic connections and good relations to important people that were strengthened by generous donations to the right places. The success of this strategy was alternating.

For several times Debrecen played an important role in the history of Hungary, the most outstanding event of which was becoming the capital during the revolution and war of independence in 1848/49. The dethronement of the Habsburg dynasty took place among the walls of the Protestant Great Church. With its population exceeding 200 000, Debrecen is the second most populous town of the country and is considered as the economical, educational, scientific and cultural centre of Eastern Hungary. The close relationship between Debrecen and Hortobágy was based on animal husbandry for centuries.
Hortobágy traditionally has been a location for pastoral animal farming. Until the middle of the 20th century, livestock keepers from Debrecen rented vast expanses of the endless pastures for extensive grazing of their cattle, horses and sheep. These pastures had never been divided, but had been used by the community together. This is one of the reasons why they were preserved in a state close to the original even in the 20th century. The land owned by the city of Debrecen exceeded 70 kilometres of width in the 19th century, which was remarkable on a European level as well.
Debrecen and Hortobágy are the most frequented tourist destinations in the region. Besides being a university town, Debrecen also offers extremely advantageous conditions for wellness and health tourism. The most famous annual events are the Debrecen Flower Carnival, the International Festival of Military Bands and the Béla Bartók International Choir Competition.Notable sights to see include the Déri Museum, MODEM Centre for Modern and Contemporary Arts, the building of the Reformed College, the Reformed Small Church that lacks a tower, the main building of the University of Debrecen and the Great Forest Park.

The leisure and recreation centre of the Great Forest also functions as the town’s lung and provides sports facilities, hotels, the zoo and amusement park, promenades, baths, restaurants and clubs.The natural values, living pastoral traditions and herdsmen’s arts of Hortobágy are unique in Europe. The species-rich avifauna attracts numerous birdwatchers from spring to autumn. Especially the autumn migration of several hundred thousands of cranes is an enthralling experience. The most famous annual events in Hortobágy are the Bridge Fair, the National Herdsmen’s Competition and Meeting, the National Shepherd’s Dance Competition and the Herdsmen’s Festival together with the Hortobágy Equestrian Days that attract each year scores of tourists. 

Hortobágy National Park – the host

The experience of an unbroken horizon, the still occurring mirages, the grazing herds of cattle and horses, the sight of sweep wells, the bustling multitude of birds on wetlands and the undisrupted enjoyment of the starry sky at night, as well as the waving fragrant sea of chamomile, mint and mugwort are still part of Hortobágy today. Set yourself free on the largest grassland puszta of Central Europe!
Hortobágy has been a location for pastoral animal farming for centuries. As a unique example of harmonious interaction between people and nature, it became the first and largest national park in Hungary in 1973 and was announced a World Heritage site in 1999. Its complete expanse covers more than 82 thousand hectares. Hortobágy belongs to the most significant touristic destinations of Hungary and forms an important part of the image of the country with its unique flora and fauna, increasing livestock, strengthening herdsmen community and rich cultural traditions.The significance of Hortobágy as a protected area is proven by the fact that it has been announced a Ramsar site (27.000 hectares, 1979) and a Man and Biosphere reserve (52.000 hectares, 1979). As the most sparsely inhabited area of Hungary, its light pollution is minimal, wherefore Hortobágy became the second dark sky park of the country and the third one in Europe (International Dark Sky Park, 2011).
Hortobágy, sometimes called the land of herdsmen, is also well known to tourists. It was awarded the titles of “EDEN - European Destination of Excellence” and „Best destination of Hungary preserving living traditions” in 2008. During the last 15 years a touristic infrastructure had been developed in the demonstration areas of the National Park that include the visitor centre, exhibitions demonstrating values and relics of pastoral and csárda inn life, the Puszta Rare Breeds Park displaying traditional Hungarian domestic breeds, and the Wild Animal Park where Przewalski’s horses, aurochs, wolves, vultures and pelicans provide the main attractions. The main aim of the Wild Animal Park is to present the former wildlife of the Puszta, the rare and protected animal species that have already disappeared from the Puszta or can still be found today, and the importance of nature and species conservation. The only narrow-gauge railway in Central Europe that runs among fishponds is located in Hortobágy-Halastó. Characteristic habitats of the Puszta can be viewed along its educational trail with its several bird observation towers. On the stud Máta guests can join a carriage drive and enjoy the presentations of the horsemen that are representing the classical “Puszta Romantic”. The largest waterfowl reserve of the country is situated in the protected areas of Lake Tisza, which is also part of the national park.

The nature trails through the wetlands that were built in the last few years and the eco-centre designed to present the flora and fauna of the Lake attract hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. Further infrastructural developments planned for 2013-14 serve to provide more friendly conditions for visitors, improvement of facilities for equine and pedestrian tourism along with bird watching and bicycle tourism, so that the innumerable miracles of this corner of unspoiled nature will be available to be discovered for everyone.

Getting there...

By Car

From the direction of Budapest:

Follow the M3, later the M35 motorway towards Debrecen in the direction of Debrecen North, take the exit Debrecen, drive along the M35 until the first major intersection, turn left to Doberdó Street towards the University of Debrecen (Egyetem)

Approaching Debrecen from Budapest

Travel time: 2 hours, 215 km on the motorway

From Miskolc (from the direction of Poland, Slovakia):

Follow the M30, later the M3 and M35 motorways towards Debrecen in the direction of Debrecen North, take the exit Debrecen, drive along M35 until the first major intersection, turn left to Doberdó Street towards the University of Debrecen (Egyetem)

From the direction of Oradea (Romania):

Take the main road 42 (E47/E60) until Berettyóújfalu, then main road 47 (E79) into Debrecen, then main road 4 in the direction of Nyíregyháza-Záhony (E573) straight to the University Campus (Laktanya Street), turn left at the traffic lights, after about 50 meters, turn right and enter the Campus area through the gates

From Záhony (direction of Ukraine, Russia):

Main road 4 into Debrecen (E573), turn right at the first opportunity after the Phoenix Hall (3. traffic light), after about 50 meters, turn right and enter the Campus area through the gates

From the direction of Szolnok, Hajdúszoboszló:

Main road 4 into Debrecen (not recommended because of heavy truck traffic)

From the direction of Hortobágy, Tiszafüred:

Main road 33 into Debrecen

Those who use navigation should look for the University Campus (Lovarda) at Kassai Street 26, where the conference will take place (in the Great Forest park area of Debrecen), or their respective hotels.

The location of the conference is accessible through the gates from the direction of Laktanya street:

Main car entrance of the Kassai Street Campus, University of Debrecen (GPS: N 47° 32.485', E 21° 38.306')

By Plane

To Budapest:

Arrival at Liszt Ferenc International Airport, Ferihegy train station, about 2,5 hour long train ride to Debrecen on the hourly InterCity (supplementary ticket for seat reservation compulsory), the use of airport taxis to Debrecen is recommended (one way: 10 000 Ft, return: 16 000 Ft)

-    Elszallit.hu
-    Civistranszfer

To Debrecen:

To the hotel:
-    City airport taxis - City Taxi - with fixed prices to the hotel (zone 3, 2500 Ft)
-    Bus (one way: 500 Ft)

By Train

From Budapest:

Debrecen is accessible from Budapest by direct trains, the journey takes about 3 hours. For railway travel, we only recommend the InterCity trains that depart to Debrecen hourly.

Timetable information in foreign languages:english,german

Train stations:
- Budapest-Nyugati railway terminal
- Ferihegy (Budapest Ferihegy/ Liszt Ferenc International Airport)

Ticket purchase:
- Online ticket purchase - in order to avoid misunderstandings and long queues, we recommend home printed tickets, please read the guide for further information

- Ticket purchase at the ticket windows

Travel time: approximately 3 hours. Trains depart at least once every hour between 03:00 am and 10:00 pm, 1 InterCity train in every hour between 06:00 am and 7:00 pm (supplementary ticket for seat reservation compulsory.

Ferihegy station is accessible from Terminal 2 by bus 200E.

From the direction of Oradea:

Transfer necessary. We recommend the Oradea-Budapest international express IC to Püspökladány, then the hourly InterCity to Debrecen (supplementary ticket necessary)

MÁV timetable information in english/german

From Miskolc and Záhony:

InterCity (supplementary ticket necessary) direct trains almost every hour. Travel time approximately 3 hours.
Those who arrive by train can take tram No.1 from the station to their hotels, and the No.2 / No.2A  trolley buses to Kassai Street, the location of the conference (Laktanya Street stop).

From the main train station, trolley bus No.2 (its stop is near Petőfi Square, after the tram stop), get off at the Laktanya Street stop, then take the pedestrian crossing across the road and walk approximately 50 meters to reach the entrance.