Town Hall

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When discussing the town hall, it is worth mentioning a few words about the history of Bodrogkeresztúr. There are several theories about the origin of the settlement's name. Some suggest that the name refers to the Knights Hospitaller, who were called 'kereszturak' (lords of the cross). According to other ideas, the settlement was once an abbey estate, and its church was consecrated in honour of the Holy Cross. Some believe that in the mid-14th century, the village was owned by the descendants of the Aba clan, the Keresztúri family. The simplest explanation is that the original name of the settlement was 'Bodrogkeresztút.' The first written mention of Bodrogkeresztúr can be found in a charter from 1239. From 1411, the settlement became part of the Tokaj castle estate, and its lords included significant historical figures such as János Garai, György Brankovics, János Hunyadi and his wife, as well as Matthias Hunyadi, who later pledged the estate to Imre Szapolyai. The 1517 and 1520 urbariums already referred to Bodrogkeresztúr as a market town, whose population at the time even surpassed that of Tokaj. Although the settlement was destroyed by the Turks before 1567, it was quickly rebuilt, and its economic and social life began to flourish. The cultural vibrancy of the town is evidenced by the fact that between 1595 and 1617, Bodrogkeresztúr had its own printing press. By the 17th century, the settlement hosted four national fairs annually, had a daily market, a butcher's shop, the right to sell wine, the ability to elect its own judges, and even held the right of the sword. Among its owners were István Bocskai, Gábor Báthory, and the Rákóczi family. Following the fall of the War of Independence led by Ferenc II Rákóczi, Bodrogkeresztúr suffered significant damage, and its economic situation weakened. However, through viticulture, winemaking, and the persistent efforts of its residents, the settlement managed to recover. In the 19th century, with the loss of its market town status, Bodrogkeresztúr became a village.