Mátészalka, the city of light

Mátészalka is a small but fascinating town in eastern Hungary. It is located in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County, close to the borders of Ukraine and Romania. The town has around 17,000 inhabitants, and although it is not a large city, it has a rich history and surprising international connections.

Why Is It Called the City of Light?

Mátészalka proudly calls itself the City of Light. This nickname is not just poetic – it has historical meaning.

In 1888, Mátészalka became the first town in what is now Hungary to have public electric lighting, at Kossuth Street 16. Back in 1864, Mór Schwartz and his brother Jakab established a modern agricultural factory complex in the town, which included a steam mill, a distillery, and a liqueur factory. During a visit to the Paris World Expo, they saw a direct current dynamo, which they purchased to modernize their business.

From their factory, they extended electricity through the streets of Mátészalka to their own home. In doing so, they created the first public lighting system in Hungary in 1888 – at the same time as New York, two years after Paris, and five years before Budapest. Today, the house at Kossuth Street 16 still stands as a memorial to the first electrified residential building in Hungary.

Interestingly, the last village in Hungary to receive electricity was Bátorliget, located just 20 kilometers from Mátészalka, where electric lighting was introduced on August 20, 1963.

Today, the town celebrates this legacy with modern lighting installations and cultural events.

The cradle of Hollywood

There is another Schwartz, who made Matészalka proud. Did you know that the famous Hollywood actor, Tony Curtis was born as Bernard Schwartz on 3 June, 2025? His parents were Jewish immigrants from Hungary: his father was born in Ópályi, near Mátészalka, and his mother was a native of Michalovce, now in Slovakia. He spoke only Hungarian until the age of six, delaying his schooling. His father was a tailor and the family lived in the back of the shop. His mother was later diagnosed with schizophrenia. His youngest brother Robert was institutionalized with the same mental illness.

When Curtis was eight, he and his other brother, Julius, were placed in an orphanage for a month because their parents could not afford to feed them. Four years later, Julius was struck and killed by a truck. Curtis joined a neighborhood gang whose main crimes were truancy and minor pilfering. When Curtis was 11, a friendly neighbor sent him to a Boy Scout camp, where he was able to work off his energy and settle down. At 16, he had his first small acting part in a school stage play … and the rest is history.

Tony Curtis starred in many classic films, including Some Like It Hot and Spartacus. He often spoke proudly of his Hungarian roots.

In the Tony Curtis Memorial Room of the Szalkai-Schwartz House, original relics of the actor and a fine exhibition recall his life. The memorabilia came directly from Tony Curtis’ widow, but the family is also connected to Matészalka in other ways. In the summer of 2021, Jamie Lee Curtis was one of the first to see his father’s memorial exhibition and was also curious about the synagogue next door.

Another Hollywood star from Mátészalka is Adolf Zukor who left Mátészalka with USD 25 sewn into the lining of his coat to try his luck overseas. He became the founder not only of Paramount Pictures, which is still functioning today but of the entire cinema of the United States and studio culture.

Mátészalka is not a typical tourist destination, but that’s part of its charm. It offers a mix of history, culture, and personal stories. Whether you are interested in film legends, Jewish heritage, or simply want to explore a quiet Hungarian town, Mátészalka is worth a visit.