Erzsébet Square

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Erzsébet Square, though the smallest square in Miskolc, is one of its most beautiful, with all its buildings constructed in an eclectic style during the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, a period of economic prosperity for the city and neighboring Diósgyőr. The square’s development began after the great flood of 1878 when the city ordered the removal of the mills along the Szinva stream. The last to be dismantled was the Pap Mill in 1891, marking the start of the new public bath’s construction and the birth of the square. In the following years, the square saw the addition of more buildings, including the Diószeghy House, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry building, the Pataky-Argay House, and the Steinfeld House, which contribute to its historical charm. Originally, a park and then a market hall were planned behind the bath building, but the plot was eventually sold, and in 1897, Mayor Kálmán Soltész built the last house on the square. After the unveiling of the Kossuth statue in 1898, the square was named in honor of Queen Elisabeth, commemorating the city’s loyalty and patriotism. The statue, created by József Róna, was the first full-figure depiction of Kossuth in historic Hungary. Over the decades, the square has undergone several transformations: the old Erzsébet Bridge disappeared when the Szinva was covered, and Japanese cherry trees were later planted, providing a spectacular spring bloom. Plans once included a funicular to Avas Hill, which was never realized, preserving the medieval atmosphere of the hillside. Due to traffic along Kálvin Street, the square needed clearer boundaries, which were established in 2010 by reopening the stream bed and building a new Erzsébet Bridge. Today, Erzsébet Square remains an essential part of Miskolc’s historical and cultural heritage.