The fortress of the town was destroyed in 1658 at the behest of György Rákóczi II. in order to avoid to be taken over by the Turkish invadors. The only building of the old fortress that is existing still today is the Csonka Tower.
The Csonka Tower gives place nowadays to the Janos Arany Museum. Next to it you can find the Town Library and Art Gallery.
The Lajos Zilahi Community Center and the HUngarian House give place to the different municipial programmes (contests, galas etc.).
During theatre season many guest associations present their plays in ths same building.
There are many sporting possibilities in the town (tennis, fittness, basketball etc.),
furthermore you can enjoy football matches as welll, both local and nationalwide.
The thermal bath of Madaras is open during the whole year and it gives pleasant distractions to every generation.
The thermal-bath basins are with effective help to those who suffer from joint gout.
The fishponds of the surroundings povide great possibility to the fans of fishing.
The forests and river banhes of the surroundings provide excellent field for excursions, trips and picnics as well.
The famous poet, Janos Arany was born on the 2nd of March 1817 in Nagyszalonta. His house burned down during his living, but the house built on the same parcel signals the memory of the old house with a memorial tablet.
The sitting statue of Janos Arany can be found in the ceter of the Statue Park.
The statue of Istvan Bocskai, the transilvanian suzerain who founded the town of Nagyszalonta, can be found in the Laszlo Szekely Park (central park of the town).
In the Laszlo Szekely Park can be found the statue of Lajos Kossuth, which is the only one remained in Transilvania and Partium as well.
