Bánffyhunyad

Embroidered
pillow of
Kalotaszeg

BÁNFFYHUNNYAD is the capital of Kalotaszeg, a region beyond the Kings' pass (Hung. Királyhágó), which is very rich in Hungarian cultural heritage (i.e, national costumes, embroidery, etc). The village belonged to the Hungarian Bánffy dynasty, from 1330 till 1848. The original church of Bánffyhunyad (Huedin, Rumania today) was built by the Hungarian kings of the House of Árpád. It was consecrated in honour of the canonized Hungarian queen Elisabeth, daughter of king András II (1205-1235), in 1307. The nave of the church is in romanesque style and the apse is gothic. After the starting Ottoman (Turkish) attacks, the Bánffy family built a fortified tower to the church during the 15-16th centuries. The main pinnacle tower symbolizes Jesus Christ, and the four smaller by-pinnacles the four Evangelist disciples, Mark, Matthew, Luke and John.
The church was destroyed many times due to Tartar and Turkish raids. The arcade type ceiling collapsed, and, after it became a Reformed (i.e., Presbyterian) church after the Protestant movement, the building received a painted panel-type wooden ceiling, in 1705.

Hungarian Images and Historical Background
Š 1994 András Szeitz
Reproduction for free distribution and non-commercial purposes,
with the indication of the source, are welcome without permission.