The settlement got its name from the stream that crosses the town, which may refer to the mistletoe that often occurs on the waterfront, or to the pearly water.

The Franciscans arrived in Gyöngyös in the 14th century, and their church was also built in the Gothic style.

Duke Francis Rákóczi negotiated about peace with Pál Széchényi [hu], Archbishop of Kalocsa in Gyöngyös in 1704, summarizing his demands in 25 points.

At the same time, the phylloxera epidemic dealt a significant blow to grape production.

A new synagogue built up in 1930, but in the summer of 1944, the town's Jewish population of 2,000 was deported and most of them murdered.

After 1945, several housing estates and a 20-story residential tower were built, and the town's population doubled.

The Mátra Museum was opened in the former castle of the Orczy family [fr], with a natural science and hunting exhibition.

An other exhibition was opened in the former house of the Almásy family [fr] from the treasury of the St. Bartholomew church, which also includes 43 pieces of goldsmith's work from the 15th and 16th centuries.

[3] Population by years:[4] Mayors since 1990: Gyöngyös is twinned with:[14] This Heves county location article is a stub.