Ráckeve

Ráckeve is a town located on Csepel Island in Pest County, Hungary. Most of the people living there are Magyars, but there is also a smaller group of Serbs.

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

In the middle of the town stands the beautiful Savoy Castle. This castle was built for Prince Eugene of Savoy in a fancy baroque style. It was constructed 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 a official town again in 1984.

Name

The name of Ráckeve comes from old Hungarian words. "Rác" was a word used to describe Serbs, and "keve" meant cemetery or little stone placed on tombs.

Serbs also have their own names for the town, linking it to a place called Kovin in Serbia where many of their ancestors came from. The word "Kov" relates to smithing or working with metal.

Sights

Ráckeve is well-known for having the only Gothic style Serb Orthodox Church in Hungary, which dates back to the 15th century. The town also has a Catholic church designed by Patay László, with a beautiful Fresco-secco that is worth seeing. Another notable church is the Calvinist church, built in a neo-gothic style in 1913.

There is also an Árpád Museum to explore. One of the most popular attractions in the city is Hungary's only authentic old Ship mill. This special mill was built thanks to donations and was run by the Ráckeve Miller Guild. Additionally, visitors can see the Savoy Castle of Prince Eugene of Savoy, located in the center of Ráckeve. This castle was built in the baroque style between 1702 and 1750.

Twin towns – sister cities

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

Ráckeve has many friends in 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, who was a commander for the Habsburg army, and Klári Katona, who is known as a singer.