Parliament Square
There was a moment in the Hungarian history when, owing to the springs,
Tata and Tóváros became the centere of the country. "The open area in front
of the Franciscan monastery" was chosen to be the scene of the parliamentary
session that was originally convened at Székesfehérvár by King Wladislas
II. The reason for the move: the epidemic in the coronation town. The waters
of Tata's springs were belived to neutralize its bad effect.
The distinguished guest, among other the German emperor, the French and
Polish kings and the nuncio, were debating the question of joining the
anti-Venetian Cambray-league.
In the middle of the 18th century a Capuchin church and in 1763, a timber
belfry were erected on the square. At present it is only them-often used
as the symbols of the town-which still preserve the enchanting, small town
and the town-hall have disappeared to yield their places to the school
and the office building, the former party-centre.