Town Hall

Kecskemét is famous for its majestic Art Nouveau buildings and probably the most impressive is the Town Hall built between 1893-1897 based on the designs of the master architect Ödön Lechner and Gyula Pártos. In its complex style the elements of the French and Hungarian Renaissance architecture as well as contemporary English architecture are united and the decoration is based on the motifs of Hungarian folk art. The ceramic inlays and the roof tiles are produced by Zsolnay factory in Pécs. The Ceremonial Hall is the venue of the General Assembly meetings of the city, national and international conferences, wedding ceremonies and ceremonial receptions. The period furniture of the Ceremonial Hall is handicraft work. The colourful glass windows were made in the famous workshop of Ede Kratzmann. The decorative wall-painting was made by Adolf Götz, the wall-candlesticks and the chandelier were made by Sándor Árkay, Imperial and Royal locksmith. . The seccos were the creations of the famous Hungarian painter Bertalan Székely. The scenes of “The Blood Treaty” of the seven Hungarian tribes, and “The coronation of Franz Joseph” to King of Hungary can be seen on the sidewalls. In the front and back walls great Hungarian kings and politicians demonstrate one thousand years of history. The name of the city originates from the word ‘kecske’ (meaning ‘goat’), and ‘mét’ (meaning ‘district’). The goat can be seen in our coat of arms as well above the stand with the motto of our city beneath it: ‘Neither height, nor depth deters us.’ The flag of the city with the goat can be seen in the corner, just like the flags of a few twin cities of Kecskemét.
The „Modern and Hungarian” architectural style of Lechner is internationally appreciated. Kecskemét Town Hall together with his further masterpieces is on the Unesco World Heritage Tentative List.
Commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the world-famous composer and music pedagogue Zoltán Kodály’s birth in 1983 a carillon was placed on the balcony of the building operating 37 bells in a volume of 3 octaves. The signal can be heard in every daytime hour.
Songs and schedule of the carillon:
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00     Signal: “Kecskemét is kiállítja”
12:05     Kodály: Viennese Musical Clock, Kodály: Recruiting song, Erkel: Palotás
13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00              Signal: “Kecskemét is kiállítja”
18:05     Händel: Water Music, Beethoven: Ode to Joy, Mozart: Magic Flute
19:00     Signal: “Kecskemét is kiállítja”
20:00     Lement a nap... Csillagok, csillagok... Erdő mellett... (Hungarian folk songs)
Unfortunately during the restoration the Town Hall cannot be visited and the carillon is out of service.