Tura
Tura is located on the eastern side of Pest County, where the Great Plain and the southern slopes of the Northern Mountain range meet, approximately 50 kilometers from Budapest. The former market town became a town in 2001, which is the biggest township of the Lower-Galga region with an area of 5591 hectares.
The stream Galga - which often appears in the folk songs of the region - coming from the Cserehát, is the most significant flowing water of the township.
The first time one could encounter the name "Tura" could be in a document from 1220, where it appeared in the form "Thwra" Several theories were worked out in connection to its origin. One of them brings it into relation with the stream Galga, deriving from the Hungarian word combination of "folyón túlra" (meaning across the river or stream), while another theory states the word to be of Turkish origin, meaning "permanent place" or "stone house". Some etymological researches explain that it originates from the Slavic word "turc" (meaning the extinct animal 'auroch' or 'urus'). Whatever the origin might be in fact, human presence appeared quite early, estimated to some 4000 years ago. The earliest finding comes from 800 B.C. from the Ice Age.
The name form TVRA appears on a stamp for the first time in the 1500s. Proven by several records it is known that Tura was a market town with toll and the right of course to host markets, back in the time of King Matthias. Owing to such strong agricultural activity trade flourished in the town. After the fall of Buda Tura also fell into Turkish hands, but never got fully depopulated. The actual population of the town started in the 18th century. There were 1937 people living in Tura according to the first census of 1777, which number emerged to 8030 until present days.
The population of Tura took a major part in the Rákóczi and the 1848-49 Freedom fights as well. The Hungarian army - lead by Mór Perczel - faced the Russian troops just outside of town on the 20th of July 1849, where they were defeated with severe losses. The tomb of Andor Szele cavalry sergeant and 17 of his fellow brave men sets a historical memento in the Honvéd forest, while the 8-meter high obelisk reminiscent of their struggles can be seen on the main square of town.
Following the Hungarian Settlement several noble families found their home in the region. At the outset the area belonged to the Ákos clan, after which king Sigmund, the Rozgonyis, and the Báthorys ruled the region. From the 1600s on it was the Eszterházy family whom Tura belonged to for more than two centuries.
By the year 1873 duke Miklós Eszterházy sold one-third of the countryside to the wealthy Zsigmond Schossberger and his family, who gained his considerable assets by trade and banking businesses. They had a summer-time hunting palace, a riding hall and a French garden built in the area, however, they lived further apart from the rest of the townspeople. Despite of the typical rollicking mood of the era the lords' palace was rather moderate in its style. Not only did the Schossbergers gain their position within the highest class of society due to their wealth and ranks, but by their interest in industrial and agricultural managements and directorates as well.
Until the middle of the past century it was them and their descendants who governed Tura.