Erzsébet Square

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Erzsébet Square is Miskolc's smallest, yet one of its most beautiful squares, where every building was constructed in the eclectic style during the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, a time when the city, along with Diósgyőr, experienced economic prosperity. The development of the square began after the great flood of 1878, when the city council ordered the demolition of the mills along the Szinva stream. The last mill, Papmalom, was torn down in 1891, marking the start of the construction of a new public bath, which signified the birth of the square. In the following years, the square was enriched with additional buildings, such as the Diószeghy House, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry building, the Pataky-Argay House, and the Steinfeld House, all of which contribute to the square's historic atmosphere. Initially, the area behind the bathhouse was planned to be a park and later a market hall, but the land was eventually sold, and Mayor Kálmán Soltész Nagy commissioned the construction of the square's last building in 1897. After the unveiling of the Kossuth Lajos statue in 1898, the square was named after Queen Elisabeth, commemorating the city's loyalty to the monarchy and its patriotism. The statue was József Róna's first full-figure depiction of Kossuth in the historic territory of Hungary. Over the decades, the square underwent several transformations: the old Erzsébet Bridge disappeared with the covering of the Szinva stream, and later, Japanese cherry trees were planted to replace the old trees, creating a spectacular bloom in spring. The city's tourism plans once included building a funicular to Avas Hill, but this was never realised, leaving the hillside with its medieval charm intact. Due to the traffic on Kálvin Street, the square needed to be redefined, which was achieved in 2010 by restoring the stream's bed and constructing a new Erzsébet Bridge. Today, Erzsébet Square remains an important part of the city's historical and cultural heritage.