The Past and Development of Szolnok

The history of Szolnok stretches back more than nine centuries, always closely tied to its strategic location at the confluence of the Tisza and Zagyva rivers. The city is named after ispán (comes) Zounok, who served at the earthwork fortress in the early 11th century. His name first appeared in written form in 1018, in the founding charter of the Benedictine abbey of Garamszentbenedek, recorded as “Zounuk.” According to tradition, he was the one who baptized Saint Gerard (Gellért) and his companions before the bishop met martyrdom on the hill that later bore his name.

By the 14th–15th centuries, Szolnok had gradually become an industrial and commercial hub, with markets that attracted traders from afar. The city suffered heavy losses during the Ottoman occupation, yet each time the community rebuilt itself. In the 18th–19th centuries, Szolnok grew into an important military and later railway center, sparking rapid industrialization and economic growth. By the mid-20th century, thanks to the Tisza Chemical Works and other factories, it had developed into a leading industrial center of the region.

The Book Week and Nationwide Events in Szolnok

The most prominent event of the anniversary was the opening of the 30th Hungarian National Book Week in the provinces, held in Szolnok on May 31, 1975. The jubilee created an opportunity to link the city’s name with literature and book culture on a national level. The opening ceremony took place in the Szigligeti Theatre, gathering distinguished guests—cultural leaders, writers, and artists. The keynote address was delivered by author Endre Illés, director of the Szépirodalmi Publishing House, who spoke of the rebirth of Hungarian literary culture after the Second World War and emphasized the role of Book Week as a decades-long bridge between readers and writers.

Alongside the gala ceremony, the city center hosted a lively book courtyard with book stalls, signings, and literary evenings. The events drew not only locals but nationwide attention, as the Hungarian Radio broadcast its literary quiz show From Book to Book live from Szolnok. Throughout the week, author-reader meetings, readings, book launches, and theatrical performances followed one another, highlighting not just books but the vibrant cultural life of the city itself.

The closing day was marked by a special theme, “Women’s Day.” In the morning, the editorial team of Nők Lapja (Women’s Magazine) held a readers’ forum at the Verseghy Ferenc Library, with writers Judit Fenákel and Piroska Szemes in dialogue with their audience. In the afternoon, Budapest artists appeared at the Ságvári Endre Cultural Center, presenting new works, followed by the evening’s Greetings to the Reader, a live literary puzzle show broadcast by Kossuth Radio and hosted by László Rapcsányi. This multifaceted program fittingly closed one of the city’s most memorable jubilee events, leaving audiences with lasting impressions.

Exhibition of the Photo Club of the Tiszamenti Chemical Works

One of the special accompanying programs of the 1975 jubilee year was the exhibition of the Photo Club of the Tiszamenti Chemical Works, organized in honor of Szolnok’s 900th anniversary. The members of the club were not professional photographers but workers of the factory, who captured everyday life and festive moments with a sensitive eye and artistic sense.

Their images depict not only official ceremonies and festive occasions but also the small details of daily life: people returning home from work, the streets of the city center, the newly built housing estates, the Tisza riverside promenade, and the atmosphere of community spaces. Today, these photographs are of particular value, as they simultaneously reveal the face of Szolnok in the 1970s and the spirit of communal togetherness that defined the anniversary celebrations.

The Jubilee Monument: The “Witness Hill”

One of the most enduring legacies of the 900th anniversary is the “Witness Hill” (Tanúhegy) monument, inaugurated in Jubilee Square. Designed by sculptor Ferenc Gyurcsek and architect Miklós Kampis, the monument was conceived as a symbolic imprint of the city’s history and growth. Its terraced forms of stone and metal evoke both the creative power of nature and humanity. The composition alludes to the beginnings of the Hungarian Conquest, the medieval castle, the devastations of the Ottoman period, and the rebirth of the modern age.

Its name is equally significant: as a “witness,” it preserves and proclaims the thousand-year perseverance of the city. Its ascending, tiered forms symbolize epochs built upon one another, while the upward-reaching lines express faith in the future. Witness Hill quickly became one of Szolnok’s most important communal landmarks. Since its inauguration, it has remained not only a symbol of the jubilee but also a lasting part of the cityscape—a place for residents and visitors to pause, reflect, and honor the past during festivals, civic events, or even casual walks.

Heritage and the Present

The events and memories of the 900th anniversary remain a living part of Szolnok’s cultural heritage. The nationally significant Book Week, the vibrant book courtyard, the commemorative publications, and the Witness Hill monument all embody the message that the community did not merely want to remember the past but to lay new foundations for the future.

Now, in 2025, as Szolnok celebrates its 950th anniversary, we once again recall the spirit of the jubilee half a century ago. Today’s celebrations are built on the lessons of the past: that the city has always been able to rise again and shape its future together. The memories of 1975 continue to inspire us to preserve and enrich Szolnok’s heritage—for the city’s story is not a closed chapter, but a living chronicle in which we all play a part.

L G

Sources:

Szolnok Megyei Néplap, 1975. május–június lapszámok

Szolnok várostörténeti oldal (1975 jubileumi események)

Köztérkép – Jubileumi emlékmű (Tanúhegy)

Szolnok950 – Tanúhegy háttértörténet