Sárospatak is the most well known small town in Hungary. Being a college town it came to be known as the "Athens of the Bodrog" and the "Hungarian Cambridge" in the old days. Perhaps Petofi thought of the Rákóczi family when he wrote, "It is a Holy Land. This town is a lion's cave of Hungarian revolutions. That is where all the lions hide out."

The community received its township and privileges in 1201 from King Imre. It received real significance during Perényi Péter's educational and cultural reforms after he became a Protestant. He also assisted in the establishment of the Patak castle. The town was ruled by famous families: The Pálóczis, Perényis and the Dobós.

The town's golden era and that of the fortress and Protestant education was during the government of the Lorántffy and Rákóczi families. The town became the center of a huge estate.

The Lorántffy and Rákóczi families supported the college and hired Comenius the well-respected Czech educator, who established new reforms and methodology in teaching and education. Wineries and vineyards flourished during this century as well, and the role of Sárospatak became outstanding.

Armies marched across the landscape by the end of the 17th century. The contra-reformation, the "Sub-rosa" plot and the uprising of Hegyalja swept through the area. The last Kuruts parliament was held here in the fall of 1708. Following the defeat of the Rákóczi War of Independence the new owners were the Trautshons, the Bretzenheims, and until 1945 the Windischgraetz family.

The town s residents and students played a significant role in the revolution and freedom fights of 1848-49. The red hooded students of Damjanich were the bravest soldiers.

Today Sárospatak is a college town again with thousands of students studying within its walls. Its historical significance and memorials are visited by tens of thousands from the country and all over the world.

Sárospatak has a huge collection of artifacts and sights. The most interesting site is the Rákóczi-fortress. Its construction began in the 1530s and its oldest part is the so-called Red Tower.

Today it houses the collection of the Rákóczi-museum. The permanent exhibits include the history of the fortress and the Rákóczi family, the aristocratic furniture, the tools of grape growing and wine making and the production of Northeastern pottery.

The former castle-church, which - as built in the 14th century - is one of the most significant Gothic style artifacts of Hungary. Today it serves as a parish. Its walls are decorated with the paintings of Maulbertsch, its Baroque organ is quite famous and the church has the largest wooden altar found in Hungary.

The College in Sárospatak is also a popular tourist attraction. Its history dates back to the year 1531. Its oldest building is the Berna-row which is a museum today. The college of Sárospatak educated many famous students: i.e. Bessenyei György, Csokonai Vitéz Mihály, Izsó Miklós, Fáy András, Szemere Miklós, Kossuth Lajos, Kazinczy Gábor, Gárdonyi Géza and Móricz Zsigmond.

The Eastern Tisza Reformist Church's Scientific Collection is displayed in the two-storey front wing which was built in the beginning of the 19th century. Pollach Mihály designed the 30.000 book-library in which there are some invaluable documents.

The College-park provides a nice walk among statues that were erected in memory of the famous personalities associated with Sárospatak.

A pleasant view of the town is possible from the banks of the Bodrog. In the tourist season boats leave the harbour to take visitors to Tokaj and back. In Végardó, a suburb of Sárospatak, hotsprings await those who want to relax.

When exploring the streets of Sárospatak the construction of modern buildings can be seen. The chief architect was Makovecz Imre and his most well-known work is the Culture House which opened its doors in 1984.