Why not stop for a moment at the entrance to Óváros Square, on the spot where the space suddenly opens wide before you? Looking westward from this location, you will notice a street leading to a rustic staircase. You have now arrived at the Francsics Steps.
The charm of this little old staircase is derived from its worn, simple nature as well as the story of the humble barber’s apprentice after whom it’s named.
Károly Francsics lived in Veszprém in the 19th century. His name is not associated with any great historical deeds, as he was just a simple barber’s apprentice. What he did have, however, was an exceptional talent as a writer. And he put this talent to good use, by writing a diary. Károly Francsics recorded the events of his ordinary daily life, which invariably encompassed the everyday happenings of Veszprém, over multiple decades. Thanks to him, we have gained a clear understanding of the sorts of people who lived in Veszprém in the 1800s. Thanks to this humble barber’s apprentice, we learned about town gossip and even got some insight into the events of the 1848 Hungarian Revolution in Veszprém.
So what does this battered old staircase have to do with Károly Francsics? The apprentice – who later learned the ins and outs of his trade, becoming a master barber – went to work every day on these steps to his barber shop. And thus Veszprém dedicated an eternal memorial to him, in gratitude for all that he has left to posterity.
