{{Infobox settlement <!--more fields are available for this Infobox--See Template:Infobox Settlement--> | image_skyline = Kecel légifotó.jpg | image_caption = Aerial view of the town and military park | image_shield = Coa_Hungary_Town_Kecel.svg | image_flag = Flag of Kecel.svg | settlement_type = Town | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{HUN}} | pushpin_map = Hungary | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Kecel | coordinates = {{coord|46.533|19.25|region:HU|display=inline}} | timezone = CET | utc_offset = +1 | timezone_DST = CEST | utc_offset_DST = +2 | official_name = Kecel | subdivision_type1 = County | subdivision_name1 = Bács-Kiskun | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Kiskőrös | area_total_km2 = 114.48 | population_as_of = 2008 | population_total = 8892 | population_density_km2 = 78.42 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 6237 | area_code_type = Area code | area_code = (+36) 78 | website = {{URL|http://kecel.hu/}} | name = }}
'''Kecel''' is a town in Bács-Kiskun county, in southern Hungary.
Croats in Hungary call this town ''Kecelj''.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/11541 |title=Folia onomastica croatica 14/2005. |language=hr}} {{small|(462 KB)}} Živko Mandić: Hrvatska imena naseljenih mjesta u Madžarskoj,</ref>
== History == The first documents mentioning Kecel date back to 1198. Like many other Hungarian towns, Kecel has lost its population during the Turkish Conquest. On April 22, 1734 Gábor Patachich, the bishop of Kalocsa issued papers reestablishing the town of Kecel. At the time, most people made their living by herding. However, the rising population made this extremely hard, so people committed themselves to farming which still remains the main industry in Kecel. In 1802 a number of new buildings were built including: the Roman Catholic church, the Town Hall, the first school, post office, and the police and fire stations. The railroad also reached Kecel.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} Kecel received town rights in 1993.
The town was served by the Kiskőrös–Kalocsa railway line, operated by MÁV, until its closure in 2007.
The Pintér Művek Military Museum and Park ({{Langx|hu|Pintér Művek Haditechnikai Park}}), which houses a large collection of military equipment and vehicles, is located on the outskirts of the town in the territory of a metal works factory of the same name.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Solutions|first=AD Design|title=Haditechnikai Park|url=http://pintermuvek.hu/hadtechnikai-park/|access-date=2020-11-30|website=Pintér Művek|language=en|archive-date=2020-10-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029021136/http://pintermuvek.hu/hadtechnikai-park/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Pinter Muvek Military Museum (Kecel) - 2020 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)|url=http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g4505723-d5894191-Reviews-Pinter_Muvek_Military_Museum-Kecel_Bacs_Kiskun_County_Southern_Great_Plain.html|access-date=2020-11-30|website=Tripadvisor|language=en}}</ref>
== Demographics == As of the census of 2001, there were 9,259 people and 3,600 households.
==Twin towns – sister cities== {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Hungary}} Kecel is twinned with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Testvérvárosaink|url=https://www.kecel.hu/index.php/testvervarosaink|website=kecel.hu|publisher=Kecel|language=hu|access-date=2021-04-03}}</ref> *{{flagicon|GER}} Schwarzenbruck, Germany (1991) *{{flagicon|ROU}} Lupeni, Romania (2009)
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Kecel}} * {{Official website|http://kecel.hu/}} in Hungarian
{{Kiskőrös District}} {{Bács-Kiskun}} {{Authority control}}
{{Coord|46|32|N|19|15|E|region:HU_type:city|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kecel}} Category:Populated places in Bács-Kiskun County Category:Towns in Hungary
{{Bacs-geo-stub}}