Travel Guide Kalocsa

Nicknamed the paprika city, Kalocsa, a small town of 16,000 inhabitants in the middle of Puszta, is the main centre for the preparation and trade of paprika. As these large peppers mature, the women of the region pick them to make long red rosaries that they hang on the facades of the houses. Once dried, they are reduced to powder. Paprika, a symbol of Hungarian cuisine, has only been known in Hungary since the 16th century, the time of Turkish domination. It was also cultivated in secret for a long time, as paprika production was strictly forbidden outside the borders of the Ottoman Empire. Paprika was also used as a medicine, particularly against malaria and cholera. Kalocsa is also famous for its embroidery, which local women have elevated to the rank of an art form. These embroideries take the form of magnificent bouquets of multicoloured flowers on the bodices and aprons of women and girls, which can be found on fine lace placemats. These same floral motifs are also used as decoration on the facades of houses. Kalocsa presents the face of a slightly asleep city. Its magnificent embroideries, relegated to the rank of tourist and museum objects, no longer interest the current generation.