Kalocsa
©
Kalocsa

Kalocsa

Hungarian paprika town on the Danube plain, equally known for bright floral folk embroidery.

Kalocsa is one of Hungary's paprika capitals — the spice that colours and flavours so much of Hungarian cooking is grown in the fields around town and ground in local mills. The Paprika Museum on Szent István király út tells the whole story, from the Ottoman-era introduction of the plant to the modern harvest.

The town is equally known for its folk embroidery: bright floral patterns on white linen, traditionally painted on house walls too. The Kalocsa Folk Art House has workshops where you can see the painting done by hand. The Archbishop's Palace and its library, with over 100,000 volumes, are worth a look as well — Kalocsa has been a bishopric since the eleventh century.

Guide

Things to Do

Kalocsa is a compact town and most of its attractions are within easy walking distance of each other around Szentháromság tér. The cathedral and Archbishop's Palace dominate the square; the Paprika Museum on Szt. István király út and the Folk Art House are a short walk away. You can cover the highlights comfortably in a day trip from Budapest or Kecskemét, though the town rewards a slower pace.

The paprika harvest in September brings the streets alive — strings of drying red peppers hang from every available surface, and the smell of the mills carries across the whole town.