Széchenyi Street

Széchenyi Street leads off from Piac Street starting at the Small Church. The street formed in the 15th century was originally called Német (German) Street because the German traders coming to the markets lived here. It was named after the ‘Greatest Hungarian’, Ferenc Széchenyi at the end of the 19th century. Széchenyi, the most significant reformist politician of the 19th century, visited the town several times. As a young hussar officer he served in the regiment of colonel Simonyi. In 1840 he was in Debrecen because of the project to regulate the River Tisza.

The house at No. 4, which is a true example of folk architecture, was once a parsonage. Many great priests lived here: among them Mihály Könyves Tóth, who came from a well-established burgess family and was strongly devoted to Kossuth, and Mihály Szabolcska the priest-poet. Next to this building stands the oldest house in Debrecen, a patrician house built in the 1690s. Presently a restaurant operates in the building. By the end of the 17th century it belonged to the chief justice and first mayor of Debrecen, Sámuel Diószegi. The house was also used as an inn and its most prestigious guest was the Swedish king, Charles XII.
On the wall of the Podmaniczky house, which stands opposite the Small Church, a relief commemorates Széchenyi. The house was built around 1820 in classicist style and was named after Anna Podmaniczky, the wife of József Dégenfeld who was the Lord Lieutenant of Hajdú County and Debrecen. On the corner stands the historic pharmacy, formerly known as the Mihalovics pharmacy.

Forrás: www.debrecen.hu