TOWN MUSEUM

( Hamvay mansion )

The Town Museum is found in the oldest house of Gödöllő, in the Hamvay mansion. The mansion was built by the then landlord, Ferenc Hamvay. He was the first owner of Gödöllő who kept a country house here and who also permanently lived in it. Also the next owner, Krisztina Bossányi, lived in the originally single-storied building. The building obtained its present form in the middle of the l8th century at the time of Antal Grassalkovich I. He considered the country house to be unworthy of his rank, so he had a court built for himself, added a storey to the country house and changed it into a retreat. His grenadier attendants also resided here. The building remained a retreat in the times of his son and grandson, too, though it also housed the first pharmacy, which was moved here in 1814 by Antal Grassalkovich III, from the Capuchin monks in Besnyő.

In the royal period, it was given the name of hotel by Queen Elisabeth and became the main scene of social life. The Casino operated here and a banqueting hall on the first floor was developed, where dancing parties and theatrical performances were held.

In 1916 the hotel ceased to exist, and from this time on the Hamvay mansion served the purposes of public culture. From 1916 to 1930 the building was home to the grammar school of the Minorite order. (This was the period when, between 1929 and 1931, the cinema was developed on the ground floor, and, on the first floor, the projectionist gained a flat). After the grammar school, between 1933-1944, the higher elementary school for girls and from 1944 to 1947 one for boys were here, and from 1948 on it became a general elementary school.

Within this framework, Miklós Heltai, a teacher of history, opened the Room of Local History, following two decades of collecting activity. The collection consisting mainly of finds from excavations, household utensils, old written documents and maps, continuously expanded with the help of the students, and, after six years, was ready to become institutionalized. Hence, in 1978, the Collection of Local History was established, which took upon itself to present, in addition to local history, the art of the one-time Gödöllő Colony of Artists (1901-1920) and the natural endowments of the town. This institution gradually took possession of the building of the Hamvay mansion, pushing out the rest of the functions - except the cinema. In addition to several temporary exhibitions, the permanent exhibition entitled the Gödöllő Colony of Artists opened in 1981, and, later in 1984, one entitled Our Natural Endowments.

In December 1988 the institution obtained the status of a museum. In its professional activities a position is reserved for the traditions and legacies of the Gödöllő colony of artists which is a collection of international interest. In one of the present permanent exhibitions the works of art and applied art of this group of artists organized in the spirit of the secession can be seen. The permanent exhibition of Our Natural Endowments, renewed in 1995, presents the fauna and flora of the hills surrounding Gödöllő. In theRoom of Queen Elisabeth the furniture of the queen, her personal belongings and articles of personal use can be seen. In another room, temporary exhibitions, changing every six months, await interested visitors.