The area beloved today as Vizsla Park was recorded in 1800 as Visla Hidgyai Kaszáló (Visla Meadow). Much later, in 1927, a portion of the land was sectioned off to create Saint Stephen Square. After the Second World War, the land was drained and the Vizsla Stream which once flowed as far as Egerszeg Castle, near today’s Deák Square was covered over. Landscaping of the surrounding area began afterwards.

In 1969 the site was renamed Youth Park: the “youth” were commemorated with both a memorial stone and a statue placed within the large green space. The park later regained its historic name. To mark the 750th anniversary of the first written mention of Zalaegerszeg, the Coat-of-Arms House was built here in 1997, and a statue of King Béla IV was also unveiled.

Today the nearly 6.5-hectare Vizsla Park is the lush urban oasis of Zalaegerszeg, combining nature, culture, sport, and leisure. A renovated ball court, an adult playground, and street-workout equipment welcome fitness enthusiasts; runners can enjoy a 400-metre track. Cyclists will find a rest stop and service point along the cycle path that traverses the park. Families with children can explore the shaded, fully renewed Kisvizsla Playground, while a pavilion with a covered terrace offers refreshments, restrooms, baby nappy changing facilities, and public conveniences. Dog owners can allow their four-legged companions to roam freely in the fenced dog park.

One of the park’s most charming attractions is the sculpture Pajtások (“Pals”) that boasts the work of  Munkácsy Prize-winning sculptor Péter Szabolcs. Depicting children and their small pets, it has become another beloved meeting point in the city centre.

The garden – embellished with tress, benches and passages – is a true jewellery next to the Church; and together they are forming a close unit. The place strengthening its sacral character; with the Mindszenty statue in the garden and with the Way of the Cross for deepening the faith can be a meeting point.

In one corner of the park, erected in 2001, there stands the work of ceramic artist János Németh and architect Károly Szerdahelyi. It is a monument to commemorate the Hungarian fights against the Turks. On the right side of the monument we can find the following inscription:

SÁNCZREGEMENT <Rampart regiment>
SÁNTHA KAPITÁNY <Captain Sántha>
FÉLRE – TÖRÖK <Get out of the way, Turk>
MAGYAR ELÖL <Hungarians in front>
JÖN A VICZISPÁN <Here comes the Deputy Lord-Lieutenant>

The monument refers to the long-standing tradition of Easter perambulation in Zalaegerszeg: At night a group of lads recruited from Zalaegerszeg perambulated the boundaries of the city and its vineyards with pipes and trumpets and other tools to make noise thereby protecting the town.

The passage of time can perhaps best be captured in Zalaegerszeg in Mindszenty tér (Mindszenty Square) where Mary Magdalene Parish Church may be considered as a permanent element (1 Mindszenty tér) while the neighbourhood of the church as a variable. There have been fires, a reconstruction, a new road while the church has endured to the end. On the southern side of the parish church we can see the work of art of Sándor Kiss depicting József Mindszenty (Pehm) (1892–1975) the Archbishop of Esztergom (the last Prince Primate of Hungary and cardinal), placed between the walls of the medieval chapel in 2000.

A téren 2017-től látható a város első írásos említésének 770. évfordulója alkalmából falavatott vármakett, melynek alapjául Johannes Ledentu hadmérnök 1640 körül készített metszete szolgált. Az alkotást Farkas Ferenc szobrászművész készítette.

The name and function of Kazinczy tér (Kazinczy Square) has changed repeatedly in the course of history: in 1826 it was called Piatzi utca (Market Street), then Piactér (Market Square), and Városháztér (Town Hall Square); it has also been referred to as Fő tér (Main Square) also to include the Széchenyi tér. The square was named after Ferenc Kazinczy in 1859. During the socialist era, the name of Karl Marx appeared on the street signs however, since 1991 it has held the name of the famed poet.

The imposing and beautifully styled buildings of Széchenyi Square reverently reveal stories about historic Zalaegerszeg. Walking around the square, we can observe emblematic buildings whose walls have been witness to events over the past century. Today, we can see the Hotel Arany Bárány (Golden Lamb Hotel) that used to be renowned as Hotel to the Golden Lamb; the Roman Catholic Clergy House. Other buildings to note are: the Art Cinema, its façade adorned with symbols of cinematography; the Zala County Archives; the Quarterhouse; the onion-domed Ispita and the Postal Palace. 

The atmospheric downtown square with its miniature garden areas and lush vegetation is a favourite location for relaxation of our residents. Under the shady foliage tucked away is a stylised drinking fountain of sculptor and artist György Fischer.

Opposite the Pontház, we come upon a small, flower-filled square. Formerly known as Centrum Square after the department store once located there, the square was renamed in 2004 to Dezső Keresztury Square, when a bust of the writer—created by Zsigmond Szórádi—was unveiled on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth. At the end of 2025, the public space was incorporated into Széchenyi Square, and its former name was thus discontinued.

Heading west from Csány tér, we arrive at Rózsák tere (The Square of the Roses), where, in the centre of the fountain we can see the statue of Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl titled A kis makrancos (The little disobedient child) that was placed there in 1966. The park is bordered by the Reformed Church and the villa-like parsonage on the east, the evangelical chaplaincy on the south and the Kálvária kápolna (Calvary Chapel) on the west. The splendid evangelical chaplaincy building was built in 1928; its designer was István Lomjánszky. The Square of the Roses received a new name in 2025: Calvary Square.

The intent was that people coming from the direction of the station would be pleasantly impressed before reaching the city centre. Achieving this, the ornamental garden became popular among local people too, so much so, that it was referred to as ‘the promenade of pensioners’ in the 1930s. In time, a restaurant was built among the trees. In the 1920s, various wards of the neighbouring hospital were located in the restaurant however since the 1980s it has been returned to its original purpose. Erected in 2008 in the square, we can find a statue of the writer Albert Wass, the work of sculptor Károly Bálint.

Leaving the County Hall behind we arrive at Béke Liget (Peace Park). When this ornamental park was built, in the 1930s, it was still called Rózsa liget (Rose Park). The name proudly hinted at the status of Zalaegerszeg being a ‘town of flowers’. Flowers have really found a home here similarly to the sculpture titled Tavasz (Spring) by János Pándi Kiss erected in the park in 1966. In old photos we can still see the piece Országzászló (Country Flag) carved from wood to the designs of Dezső Antal, which was, however, removed in the 1940s. Its mock-up is stored in the Göcseji Museum.  The garden, which was called Peace Park for decades, regained its original name in 2025, and is now known as the Rose Park.

When we shall pass by Október 6. tér, we can see, among others, three monuments. One monument with the mythical turul bird was erected to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the 6th Hussar Regiment in World War I. Another, a belfry, was made to honour the memory of the citizens killed in World War II. In 2002, a work of art of Péter Szabolcs sculptor was placed in this square: a stone gate to kind of open the Heroes’ Garden, with Mary the Great Patroness of the Hungarian people at the top, baby Jesus in her lap.

The south-western corner of Dísz Square is home to the statue of Ferenc Farkas, a nobleman of Zala County. In the north-western corner stands Chess Players by sculptor Péter Szabolcs, honouring the city’s successful chess competitors.

Surrounded by cafés, bistros, benches, and a playground, the square also features the large ZALAEGERSZEG letters—an iconic photo spot and a symbol of the vibrant public events that the square regularly hosts.

The statue has two side figures too; one is a charging soldier from 1848 with a fresh recruit parting from his family and the other is a man heaving a rock. A special feature about the latter is that it stood in front of the Parliament building in Budapest on 1 May 1919 as the symbol of work.

Behind the statue there stand the county hospital blocks with the Evangelical Church built in 1906-1907.

Today the baroque building of the Zalaegerszeg Court, which was erected to serve as County hall between 1730 and 1732, can be seen here. It gained a national reputation during the Hungarian Reform Era as a result of the activities of László Csány and Ferenc Deák. The square is graced with the statue of Zala born Ferenc Deák, “the wise man of the country” erected in 1879.