Traversed by the Zagyva River, Jaszbereny is a historic market city in central Hungary. It was settled by the Celts and Eurasian Avars prior to the 13th century when a group of Jasz people moved to the area. Since the mid-20th century, Jaszbereny has been an industrial hub that specialises in refrigeration.
Things to do in Jászberény
You can delve into the local history at the Jasz Museum, which occupies a courtyard building of the Town Hall. It showcases archaeological findings and the cultural traditions of the region, with a highlight being the Horn of Lehel. Believed to have been made around the 10th century, it was once used during Byzantine circuses.
On the western outskirts of Jaszbereny is the Jaszbereny Zoo and Botanical Garden, which originally opened to the public in 1979. It’s home to around 140 different animal species from across the globe and is an important conservation centre. You can get up close to spotted hyenas, ring-tailed lemurs and little pandas, as well as emperor mustache tamarins and woolly-headed tamarins. Don’t miss the daily penguin walk.
Jaszbereny makes an excellent base for visiting the Hevesi Füves Puszták Landscape Protection Area, a spectacular tract of steppes and floodplains that provide important habitat for birdlife. You can explore along one of the hiking or cycling trails while keeping your eyes peeled for eagles and falcons soaring above. Also nearby is Hortobagyi National Park, which is famed for its migratory cranes.
Getting around Jászberény
Jaszbereny is around an hour’s drive from the centre of Budapest and Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Jaszbereny railway station, which is a five-minute drive from the city centre. Buses travel around Jaszbereny and connect most of its attractions.