The History of Homesteads in Hungary

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This unique settlement structure in Europe is a straight consequence of our history. In the XVI. century the traditional structure of settlements in Hungary changed due to the Turkish invasion. The great plain in the mid-eastern part of the country was particularly hit hard through its geographical situation. Small villages had been burnt down, population became even more sparse, people fled to bigger cities and villages offering more protection from the invadors. The region - almost completly underpopulated - and the great plain of Hungary turned into a prairy and vast grassland. After the liberation of Buda, the Capital of the country in 1686 the territory became to be inhabited and populated again. From the bigger agrar cities people started swarming out to the fields. To be able to cultivate these faraway fields on a regular base, homesteads and ranches were built. In the beginning they were used as temporay lodgement during the harvest in summertime, but later on as people started moving out of the cities due to recent changes in the production process, these domiciles were turned into permanent living places. The building of homesteads became even more important after changing of farmer traditiions, e.g. from animal breeding into earing and outdoor plant production.
The final stroke was given by the deploying of sand-vineyards. By the end of the 18th. century flourishing farms were established all over the the endless great plain. These homesteads gave birth to a brand new and specific world. The first rascals and raiders appeared, inns and rest-houses were built. The greatest centre of homesteads were established in the nearby of Szeged, but major territories were formed in the precincts of Kecskemét, Cegléd, Debrecen,Hódmezôvásárhely and Szabadka.

The Somodi Tanya got its name from the former owner of the homestead.