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Harkány, the city of spas

Harkány, the fashionable place of spa of South-Transdanubia, lies 25 km from Pécs. Archeological excavations carried out in the environs have revealed finds from the Hunnish, Avar and Roman ages. Written sources first mention it in 1323 with the name "Harkan". The origin of the name can be traced back to the Hungarian bird name "harkály" (woodpecker) on the one hand, and to the old Hungarian dignitary name "horka" on the other. Its owners were, among others, Pál fia György (George, the son of Paul), the lieutenant general of Temesvár, the Gara-family, then the current proprietors of the castle of Siklós: the Batthányi-family and the Benyovszki-family. It was an inhabited area under the Turkish occupation of Hungary. Beside the Hungarian population German, Croatian, Serbian and Slovakian families have been settled here since the middle of the previous century.

Terehegy, which had the allonyms Botteremhelye and Teremhegy, joined to the settlement in 1977. The frame of the settlement has already reached beyond the borders of our country, so it is considered as a well-known resort and spa place in Central Europe. The Roman Catholic chapel (1906) and the Roman Catholic temple of the settlement are remarkable. One of the two reformed churches was built in 1802 in "copf" style with pyramidal tower. The international fame of Harkány attracts more than one million visitors to the southern part of Baranya every year. According to the popular etimology the settlement preserves the name of Harka, because of whom the devil embarked on ploughing up the Nagyharsányi hill.

The curative effect of the water of Harkany was discovered in 1823 completely accidentally, by a day-labourer: he experienced during ditching that the water rushing up from the ground had a salutary effect on his joint diseases. The first two wells were bored by Vilmos Zsigmond in 1866 and in 1887. These gave 62-70 degrees warm water. The first pool was opened in 1925. It is medically proven that the water (and mud) lends itself particularly well to the medication of rheumatic illnesses. Drinking cure is a potent remedy of catarrhal ailments. Harkány not only waits for patients, though, but all those wishing to spend their holidays near a lido. The spa receives its guests in its landscaped area of 13 hectares. It waits those wishing to rest and relax with two spa pools, a sport pool, 3 outdoor swimming pool with 30-35 degrees warm water, children s pool.

It provides comfortable recreation and pleasant relaxation all year for all ages. Further programs are accessible in the spa: sauna, solarium, medicinal and sole massage, modern beauty parlour, etc. Harkány lives on tourism. It has 3400 residents, but it has far more inhabitants in the summer season. Hotels, guest-houses, private summer cottages and a big camping are at the tourists’ disposal. Several families of the residents has transformed rooms in their own houses in order to receive guests. In case of a longer vacation it is advisable for health reasons to interrupt bathing at the spa for some days of rest, during which you can travel around the environs, and you can get acquainted with their interesting and valuable scenic spots. You can reach Pécs in half an hour from Harkány by car.