Csokonai Közösségi Ház
Culture Center in Csurgo, Hungary
The Culture Center in a thousand years old small city in Hungary invites international artists to visit this amazing place and explore all its beautiful sites.
ABOUT VENUE
Csurgó is a small town of 5,300 enthusiasts in the south-western part of Somogy county, at the confluence of three regions - Inner Somogy, Zala Hills and the Drava region. The settlement can be reached by road from Nagykanizsa, Nagyatád and Barcs, its railway station is located along the Budapest-Gyékényes line.
The history of the settlement on the southern slopes of the Inner Somogy hills dates back to the founding of the state. According to tradition, its first documented mention is made in the founding charter of the abbey of Zalavár in 1019, in which it was included among the settlements endowed with the right to hold fairs. Knowing this privilege, Csurgó already played a central role in the area at that time.
The beautiful buildings of this friendly, intimate city, the historical library of the Reformed Grammar School and its untouched natural environment - the nearby Danube-Drava National Park - offer lasting experiences to visitors.
The baroque main axis of the culture centre expands into a rectangular, beautifully landscaped urban space. Its atmosphere reflects the long-standing prestige of one of the country’s most traditional schools. This image is not spotless, but the town hall, the turn-of-the-century buildings of the hotel, and some imagination help the passer-by to imagine what it could have been like and what space will be like if his wounds heal. Here is the café, theatre, the concert hall, the city festivities are held here. In the attic there is a music school, clubs, smaller lecture halls. The location of each unit came naturally: the café into the corner house, and the great hall, which required silence, wanted an interior further away from the traffic.
As it is in the city centre, it is easy to find everything that is needed: cafes, shops, parks, museums, accommodation, fitness clubs and swimming pool.
The training room is spacious, light, well heated and ventilated.
ABOUT ACCOMMODATION
The accommodation for guests can be organized in a unique venue: Csurgo Historical Park. It is located in 1,5 km from the training studio, and it takes around 10 minutes of slow-speed walk from the studio.
On the western border of Somogy county, in the old town of Csurgó, in the recently opened Historical Park, everything the traveller may need is together: interesting sights on a historical educational trail, comfortable accommodation at a low price, rooms suitable for organizing events. In the spacious yard, there is a spice and herb garden, an oven, a fireplace to help you relax.
This place, where the Historical Park was built, preserves the oldest memories of the city. Here stood the monastery of the Templars and Johannites in the 1200s, here was the castle, where the Turks fought with the soldiers of Miklós Zrínyi and Bálint Török. Béla also rested, and the church of the monks still stands here, its bell inviting the pilgrims of Mary's Way today. Their accommodation is housed in the building of the 18th-century owner, the Majesty of George Festetics.
The 10 stations of the Historical Park bring to life the nodes of the history of our country and our city with various means. The most popular is the Palán Castle, with its spectacular bastions inviting children and adults alike. Walking through the herb garden, we can also recall the hard-working and hard-working life of the old Hungarian grandmothers, remembering Bálintné Török Pemflinger Katalin. At the end of the walk, there is a rest and a fireplace, an oven.
The accommodation can invite 23 people at a time. In addition to the kitchenette, dining room, laundry and drying room, there is a community space for spiritual recharging and cleansing.
The pilgrimage accommodation has an 8 + 8 bed, two double and one triple room with a separate bathroom for each room. There is an unparalleled spacious, cosy lounge, dining room, kitchenette, laundry and drying room. There are a shop and a restaurant next door. Hosts provide lockable storage space for bicycles. There is free wifi on the territory of the park and free parking.
GETTING HERE
BY TRAIN:
Of course, the routes depend on the time when you arrived or landed at Budapest City. It is pretty easy to get to Csurgo if you plan your route beforehand and have the Hungarian language downloaded to your Google Translate to be able to use it offline ;)
Firstly, depending on your arrival time check the fitting trains at the official website of the Hungarian railway company: https://www.mavcsoport.hu/
It is also available in English.
As Budapest is the capital city, it has several railway stations in it: Budapest: Eastern (Keleti), Western (Nyugati) and Southern (Déli).
The Budapest Keleti is the main, and another one you have to keep in mind is Budapest Déli. From these two stations, the trains can bring you to Csurgo.
Usually, there have to be a direct train (IC 826 SOMOGY) to Csurgo from Train station Budapest-Keleti pu (railway station), which will take you 3,5 hours of the route. It departs from Budapest-Keleti at 16:45. You can purchase tickets at the official website
However, in case you could not find tickets for this train, there are other options too!
The second easiest way to get to Csurgo is with one change in the city called Nagykanizsa. The trains usually depart from the Budapest Deli and it is scheduled regularly in the day. For example, train to Nagykanizsa can be 844, 854, 856 and others. In Nagykanizsa, you shall make a change to the train which goes in direction of Dombovar and disembark in Csurgo. The train to Csurgo can be 8253, 8263, 8251.
The third option is to take the train 204 from Budapest Deli to Gyékényes (pronounced Diekeniesh). You have to disembark in Gyekenyes, otherwise, you will visit Croatia ;) You can politely ask the train conductor to inform you when it will be Gyekenyes. Almost every train from Gyekenyes goes through Csurgo. It takes around 10 minutes.
In case you plan your arrival late at night, you have to inform the event organizers.
If you need assistance in planning your routes, let us know at info@nipai.org Our team will be glad to help.
In case you had difficulties during your travel, feel free to contact us on WhatsApp: +4917658174843
BY CAR:
By car, it will take you around 2,5 hours to get to Csurgo via the M7 toll motorway. The vignette can be purchased online or at any gas station in Hungary. The minimum vignette is valid for 10 days, and costs from around 10 EUR.
There is free parking at the venue available.
The address of the venue with accommodation: 8840 Csurgó, Táncsics tér 1.
The address of the training studio: Csokonai Közösségi Ház, Csurgó, Széchenyi tér 1, 8840
GETTING HERE FROM BUDAPEST
Budapest, Hungary’s capital, is bisected by the River Danube. Its 19th-century Chain Bridge connects the hilly Buda district with flat Pest. A funicular runs up Castle Hill to Buda’s Old Town, where the Budapest History Museum traces city life from Roman times onward. Trinity Square is home to 13th-century Matthias Church and the turrets of the Fishermen’s Bastion, which offer sweeping views.
The central area of Budapest along the Danube River is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has several notable monuments, including the Hungarian Parliament and the Buda Castle. The city also has around 80 geothermal springs, the largest thermal water cave system, second largest synagogue, and third largest Parliament building in the world.
PRICES FOR ACCOMMODATION
Prices for accommodation at the Historic Park can be found on the Official Website of this venue.
Prices of accommodation:
In a double and triple room 4000, - HUF / person / night
In the 8-bed pilgrim room (from a minimum of 4 people):
4-7 people: 3,500 HUF / person / night
8-16 people: 2,800 HUF / person / night
Over 16 people: 2,500 HUF / person / night
The prices are stated in Hungarian currency - forint. Please, check the actual exchange rates.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner participants can prepare by themselves at the mini-kitchen at the venue or have it at the local restaurants and cafes.
Please note that all prices are regulated by the hotel's administration. The organizers will notify participants in case of any changes.
