Mezőtúr 5.66

Mezőtúr is a town of Hungary, in the county of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, 88 m. southeast of Budapest by rail. It possesses important potteries. Large herds of cattle are reared on the communal lands, which are productive also of wheat, rapeseed and maize. Several well-attended fairs are held here annually.LocationMezőtúr lies in the centre of the Great Hungarian Plain, on the banks of the Hortobágy-Berettyó, near the Budapest–Szolnok–Békéscsaba railway line.HistoryThe town was founded in the Middle Ages and it was called Túr after the river Berettyó, which was formerly named Túr. Later it was named Mezőtúr (mező means field, referring to the good soil of the Great Plain.) The town was first mentioned under King Andrew II (1205–1235) as villa Tur. The shortest road between Buda and Transylvania led through Mezőtúr, which was the only town in the area having a ferry. Because of this advantage the town prospered and King Louis the Great made it a market town. In the 15th century it held famous markets, and its importance grew. Mezőtúr was royal estate until 1378, later it had various owners, and under King Matthias the town was divided into two parts because it was donated to two different persons.