Zalaba

Zalaba is a small village of just 180 inhabitants on both sides of the Szikince stream, near Párkány. The banks of the stream are charming, with a not too strong but still progressive current and a narrow, winding bed, testing the skills of water tourists. Thanks to its proximity to the water, there were several water mills in and around the village: on the banks of the Szikince you can still find the former water mill, built in 1791 and partially restored in recent years. Zalaba’s inhabitants have always been attracted by culture: a reading club was established at the end of the 19th century and the House of Culture was built in 1898. One of the most prominent figures of Hungarian literature in the Highlands lived here, and the Vilmos Csontos memorial house in his honour is located here. Interestingly, the poet was so taken by the atmosphere of the village that he immortalised the memory of the flowing brook in one of his poems (Jajj, Szikince…). The Reformed church, which is over a hundred years old, is an outstanding religious monument and the jewel of the village. Several major events are organised in the village every year, such as the Szikince Festival and the Ipolyfest, as well as a number of smaller traditional events. The people of Zalaba, while preserving the values of the past, are also looking to the future and have many plans for the development of the village.