Memorial of Bulgarian market gardeners unveiled in Budapest

(MTI) – A memorial dedicated to Bulgarian market gardeners was inaugurated in Budapest today.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, tens of thousands of Bulgarian market gardeners appeared in Hungary to introduce new vegetables and revolutionise gardening with the application of new irrigation technologies. They played a key role in Hungarian vegetable growing for over a century.

Initially they commuted between the two countries, but finally purchased land and settled in Hungary. They established schools and churches of their own, and integrated into Hungarian society. Their descendants, however, have preserved their Bulgarian identity.

Addressing the ceremony, Bulgaria’s Vice-President Margarita Popova said that Hungary’s Bulgarian community would only succeed if it cooperated with the mainstream.

The memorial, depicting a Bulgarian family standing beside a drinking fountain, was sculpted by Ognjan Kozsuharov, a Bulgarian sculptor residing in Hungary.

The event was attended by mayors of Bulgarian towns with a sister town in Hungary.

Photo: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters