Attractions

The Statues of Hortobágy

Water Carriers Statue
In the center of Hortobágy, numerous public sculptures can be found, many of which are creations by Munkácsy Award-winning sculptor Árpád Somogyi. One of these realist works, capturing the everyday life and people connected to the Hortobágy plains, is the Water Carriers Statue located next to the Nine-Arch Bridge. Created in 1983, this group sculpture depicts local peasant women transporting life-giving water. Although popular among visitors as a photo spot, the artwork is a symbol of the hopelessness of peasant life, reflecting a pessimistic perspective.

Three Shepherds Statue
Another iconic work by Árpád Somogyi, this sculpture depicts three shepherds sitting opposite each other. Placed near the Shepherd Museum in 1983, the statue evokes the ancient shepherding traditions. Multiple versions of the sculpture exist: one in Kecskemét, one in Dallas, one in Los Angeles, and a 40 cm mini version displayed at the Imre Égerházi Gallery.

Shepherd Boy Statue
In front of the Shepherd Museum stands the bronze statue of a shepherd boy in a wide-brimmed hat and loose trousers. This sculpture, created in 1968, portrays the hardy men of the plains accustomed to harsh conditions and is also the work of Árpád Somogyi.

Playing Foals
The Playing Foals sculpture by Lajos Győrfi, created in 1990, has been relocated to the roundabout in the center of Hortobágy.

Mihály Kolodko’s Miniature Csontváry Statue
On July 5, 2023, to mark the 170th birth anniversary of painter Tivadar Kosztka Csontváry, sculptor Mihály Kolodko unveiled a miniature statue at the Nine-Arch Bridge. It depicts Csontváry as a graffiti artist. Similar miniatures by Kolodko can also be found in Munich and Mostar, other significant locations connected to the painter's art.

Memorials to Victims of Forced Relocation
The 1950s were a tragic period in Hortobágy’s history when thousands of people were deported and forced into labor camps in the area. Their memory is preserved by several public artworks in the village.

One of these memorials is the Memorial Cross on Route 33, created by architect Sándor Haranghy using railway tracks. Erected in 1990, it is dedicated to the "Memory of Those Deported to Forced Labor Camps in Hortobágy."

Another memorial, carved from wood, stands in the Borsós Major area of Hortobágy. Erected in 2003 on the 50th anniversary of the deportations, it was created by Transylvanian woodcarver Sándor Sófalvi on the site of the former forced labor camp.

The main building of the Hortobágy Bird Park was one of the forced labor camp buildings in the 1950s. An In Memoriam Wall, bearing the names of hundreds of victims, now preserves their memory on the unchanged foundation of the structure.

T-34 Tank
A T-34 tank was erected on the outskirts of the village along Route 33 in 1978. It serves as a memorial to the tank battle of Hortobágy that took place in October 1944 during World War II.