Escape the rat race: Hungary hosts Europe’s largest ecovillage gathering this summer

More and more people feel that urban life is no longer sustainable for them and that they need something radically different. Some buy a small farm and try to live a self-sufficient, nature-based lifestyle. However, they soon realise that doing this alone is nearly impossible. The real solution lies in community—people coming together to think, work, and build a viable alternative lifestyle collectively. This summer, two unique events in Hungary offer guidance for those who want to make such a change.

For the first time, Europe’s largest ecovillage gathering, organised by the GEN (Global Ecovillage Network), will be held in Hungary. The international network is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

GEN – European Ecovillage Gathering

From 12 to 17 August, Manas Garden in Lengyeltóti will host this international exchange of knowledge and experience. “Hundreds of participants are expected from Western Europe, Asia, the Americas, and South America, representing established ecovillages and bringing with them insights into sustainable community living and decades of practical experience,” said lead organiser Mária Forrai.

The gathering will function as a kind of open university, where attendees can learn how to create and maintain long-term ecovillages.

“The program includes workshops on ecological lifestyle changes, training on how to start and sustain communities, techniques for nature-friendly farming, thematic talks on social, economic, and ecological topics by international experts, and personal encounters with residents of ecovillages that have existed for decades,” Forrai added.

“Many people have the initial enthusiasm and energy to start a community, but maintaining it is far from easy. It requires deep self-awareness and knowledge, which can be acquired at this ecovillage gathering. It’s a great honour that the long-standing organisation chose Hungary as the venue for its 30th-anniversary event,” said Forrai. “In Hungary, there are hardly any real ecovillages—Krisna Valley is a rare exception. What seems more viable is a model in which nearly abandoned villages are given new life by incoming residents,” she added.

Gyüttment Festival

Just three days after the Gathering, from 21 to 24 August, Hungary’s largest lifestyle-change meetup will begin at the same location. Gyüttment is not a festival in the traditional sense but rather a community experience—a place for sharing knowledge, connecting, and finding like-minded people. Dozens of programs will run simultaneously, hosted in themed areas such as the Community Courtyard, Builders’ Area, Farmers’ Area, Healing Space, Inner Paths Zone, Singing Grove, and the International Courtyard.