Did You Know

Interesting Facts about Hungary

Trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits about Hungary.

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Did You Know?

12 curious facts about Hungary.

Hungary had the world's worst inflation rate set in June 1946.
Almost 5 million Hungarians live outside Hungary. Over 160,000 Hungarians have made Canada their home. Well-known Hungarian-Canadians include John Polanyi, winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize in chemistry; Peter Munk, head of the construction and development firm Trizec; and Dora Pedery-Hunt, sculptor and member of the Order of Canada.
During the 15th century reign of Matthias Corvinus, Buda became a great centre for learning. The splendour of the Hungarian court was renowned throughout Europe.
Hot springs in Hungary are used for central heating in homes and for agriculture and industry.

In 1992, a canal was built that connects the Danube River to the Main River in Germany. This allows goods to be shipped from the North Sea to the Black Sea.
Famous Hungarian scientists include Leó Szilárd, chief physicist on the Manhattan Project which developed the atomic bomb for the United States; Dennis Gábor, who won the 1971 Nobel Prize for pioneering laser holography; and Edward Teller the physicist known as the “father of the hydrogen bomb.”
Szia and Szervusz are used by friends when meeting or parting. Both can mean either “hello” or “goodbye” This will explain why Hungarians who speak English sometimes say “hello” when they are leaving, instead of “goodbye”
The Benedictine Archabbey of Saint Martin in Pannonhalma was founded in 1002 by King Stephen. It is still in operation today, and includes a boarding school and a home for retired monks.
In 1823 Ferenc Kólcsey wrote a poem that is now Hungary's national anthem. In 1844 Ferenc Erkel composed music for it. Even during the communist regime, the Hungarian national anthem, “O my God, the Magyar bless,” was sung unchanged.
One out of every five people in the world lives in India.