Ráckeve

Ráckeve is a town on Csepel Island in Pest County, Hungary. Most people there are Magyars, but there are also some Serbs.

One important place in Ráckeve is the Serbian Kovin Monastery. This monastery is the oldest in Hungary and was built in 1487. It is one of two monasteries in the Diocese of Buda that belong to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

In the middle of the town is the beautiful Savoy Castle. This castle was built for Prince Eugene of Savoy in a fancy baroque style. It was built between 1701 and 1702 by the architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt.

History

After the Árpád dynasty began, the area that is now Ráckeve belonged to the Hungarian king.

In the Middle Ages, there was a place called Ábrahámtelke here, and a monastery was built in the 12th century.

In the 1400s, many Serb people came to the area, escaping attacks by the Ottoman Turks. At that time, the town was known as Kiskeue, meaning "Little Keve" in English. The Serbs called it Mali Kovin or "Lesser Kovin".

In the 1500s, Ráckeve became a place for trading. In 1541, the town was taken over by the Ottoman rulers, and many people moved away. Some Serbs moved to Győr and Komárom.

After the Ottoman rule ended, new leaders came to the area. In the 1700s, German families also moved to Ráckeve, making it a place where Hungarians, Serbs, and Germans lived together.

By the late 1800s, the town grew and improved with new bridges and buildings. Today, Ráckeve is known for its fishing and spas, and it became an official town again in 1984.

Name

The name of Ráckeve comes from old Hungarian words. "Rác" meant Serbs, and "keve" meant a cemetery or a small stone on tombs.

Serbs have their own names for the town, linking it to a place called Kovin in Serbia. The word "Kov" relates to working with metal.

Sights

Ráckeve is famous for its Gothic style Serb Orthodox Church, which is the only one in Hungary. The church is from the 15th century. The town also has a Catholic church designed by Patay László, with a lovely Fresco-secco.

Another important church is the Calvinist church, built in 1913.

There is an Árpád Museum to visit. One of the town's most popular spots is Hungary's only real old Ship mill. This mill was built with donations and run by the Ráckeve Miller Guild.

Visitors can also see the Savoy Castle of Prince Eugene of Savoy. The castle is in the middle of Ráckeve and was built in the baroque style long ago.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Hungary

Ráckeve has friends in many other countries. It is connected with towns like:

• Baktalórántháza in Hungary
• Calden in Germany
• Ciumani in Romania
• Dány in Hungary
• Kovin in Serbia
• Nenince in Slovakia
• Shom in Ukraine
• Amiens in France
• Konya in Turkey
• Borbona in Italy
• Kalvarija in Lithuania
• Nylars in Denmark

Notable people

Ráckeve is the hometown of Jovan Monasterlija, a commander for the Habsburg army, and Klári Katona, a singer.