Nagybörzsöny
The village lies in the valley of the Börzsöny spring on the northern edge of the Börzsöny. It can be accessed on the road running along the River Ipoly, from Szob on the south and from Bernecebaráti on the north.
Nagybörzsöny is a beautiful hub to start a hike with the 715 m high Várbérc (on its top is the ruin of Castle Salgó), and the hills of Nagy-Pogány, Nagy-Inóc, the 864 m high Nagy-Hideg and highest of all: Csóványos, being 939 m high.
The first mention of the village is in deeds from the 13th century, being referred to as the archiepiscopal land of Bersen or Wersen. In 1417, King Zsigmond gave the village a mining licence and settled 100 villagers to service the mines.
In 1439, the village was already referred to as a mining village, with feaudal tenants living in it.
After the Turkish wars, around 1700, Börzsöny became a market town with duty labour free priviliges.
Its mines became drained by the second half of the 18th century thus making the village agricultural.
The local wine was relatively well-known until the philloxera destroyed the vine-stock.
The sights of the village
Its oldest and most significant historic building is the church bearing King Saint Stephen's name, which was the parish church of Nagybörzsöny from the 13th century until the early 15th century. The church is protected by a wall and is one of most remarkable Arpadian churches built in Roman style. The church was meticulously restored in the 1960s.
Entering the village, one can see many examples of the combination of a wine-press house and wine cellar.
The present church is named after Saint Nicholas and was built by József Batthyányi, Cardinal of Esztergom in 1782-1788 in Neoclassical style.
The local museum can be found at the corner of József Attila Street. It was probably the dwelling of a mining officer in the 17th century.
Opposite the local museum is the Miner's Church, on top of a small hill, which is a historic building. Above its main entrance is the miners' coat of arms. Its building was constructed around the middle of the 13th century and was later enlarged and modified in the 15th and 17th centuries. In the 17th century it was used by the Lutherans for some time.
The classicist Lutheran church (built 1847-1852) is on the main square of the village, replacing a much smaller church from 1780.
The watermill from the 19th century uses the water of the Börzsöny spring. It can be found in the north western part of the village and is a museum today.
