Happy TravellerWelcome to Makó, a charming town located in southeastern Hungary, just 10 km from the Romanian border. With a population of 23,272 people and an area of 229.23 square kilometres, Makó is the fourth-largest town in Csongrád County after Szeged, Hódmezővásárhely and Szentes. The town is noted for its onion which is a hungarikum, the spa and the thermal bath. Makó is a popular tourist destination in Hungary.
Makó is home to the largest natural gas field in Central Europe, the Makó gas field, located near the town. The gas volume is more than 600 billion cubic metres, according to a report by the Scotia Group. The towns floodplain forests are protected as part of Körös-Maros National Park.
The economy of Makó is based on agriculture. The town is noted for its production of onions and garlic. Both the climate and the soil structure make the town and its surroundings an ideal place for onion farming. Onions have been cultivated in the region since the 16th century. The first records of significant garlic production date to the late 18th century. International recognition of the garlic grown in Makó has been widespread since the Vienna Expo in 1873 and the Brussels Expo in 1888.
The mud of the Maros River has similar properties to some of the best in Hungary and the world; at times it is likened to that of the Dead Sea. The local spa has been one of the main tourist attractions since 1961. With the political changes in 1989, after the break-up of the Soviet Union, Makó lost jobs in industry. Unemployment has risen in the area, to an estimated 8% in the early 21st century, and is considered a serious issue. Farmers have also suffered more economic difficulties. The town has established an industrial park to encourage that development, and the town hopes to build on its site as The South-Eastern Gate of the European Union.
Makó is also known for its Makó International Onion Festival, the largest of its kind, held annually. The festival celebrates the town’s famous hungarikum, the onion, with various events, including cooking competitions, concerts, and a parade.
Makó has a rich history and was once the capital of Csanád, a historic administrative county (comitatus) of the Kingdom of Hungary. Noted Hungarian people were born or have lived in Makó. Perhaps the most prominent is the American publisher and journalist, Joseph Pulitzer, who was born to a Jewish family here on April 18, 1847. Emigrating to the United States when young, he developed as a publisher, owning and operating two newspapers in the United States: in Saint Louis, Missouri and New York City; bequeathed funds to Columbia University to establish its school of journalism, and endowed the Pulitzer Prizes in journalism and photography, as well as literature, art and music.
Makó and the surrounding region get the most sunshine in Hungary, about 85-90 sunny days a year. The sun shines more than 2,100 hours a year in Makó. The climate is relatively dry, especially in the summer, with the 100-year average of precipitation recorded at 585 millimetres per year. The average medium temperature is 10.9 °C.
Come and visit Makó, Hungary, and experience the town’s rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and mouthwatering local cuisine. You won’t be disappointed!
