Nádudvar – located for just 20 minutes from Hajdúszoboszló – is the home of pottery. Practically, pottery was formed hundreds of years ago simultaneously with the formation of the city.
Several potter families lived there, but the oldest one, the Fazekas (meaning: Potter) Dynasty is linked to the village for 300 years. At the beginning of the 1950’s, the ancient tradition of black ceramics was revived, for which visitors come to the city even from abroad.
OUR TIP: It is definitely worth to take some home, either for ourselves or as a souvenir. The black pottery of Nádudvar can be purchased in the Tourinform office of Hajdúszoboszló.
Potter masters of Nádudvar
On the main street of Nádudvar, we can visit the workshop gallery of Lajos Fazekas – the winner of a number of prestigious awards – from 1992, where in addition to the old ceramics from the bequest, he exhibited also his own works continuously juried by the Folk Industrial Arts Council. The artist himself leads us through the workshop and the yard, and brings us behind the scenes of the art of pottery: we can see the real potter’s wheel and the art of scrubbing and burning. He shows us the masterstrokes which can be tried out even by ourselves (the kids loved to form the clay). Due to the high level of interest and the master’s work, the workshop can be visited only by fixing an appointment in advance, but it cannot be missed (Preliminary consultation is possible on the following phone number: +36 30/968-0940).
The house of pottery in Hajdúszoboszló
The workshops of Nádudvar are very popular; however, fewer people know that the home of István Fazekas – also a member of the dynasty – is a traditional thatched house in Hajdúszoboszló. After this year’s renovation, the house opened its gates to the public again. Starting from this year, it is a museal institution, as well. The Fazekas House of Hajdúszoboszló currently awaits its visitors with the permanent exhibition titled “Handy tradition”, presenting the pieces of material culture of peasants who lived in the Plains and the temporary exhibition titled “Birdie, birdie”. The first part of the latter one presents the workshop of the potter master, and in the smaller, interior space, objects with bird motifs were placed.
This charming museum – that provides a real peace of mind after the bustle of the spa town – can be visited every day between 10:00 and 18:00.