The mesmerising view from Budapest’s tallest building – PHOTOS
The office tower is quickly coming together, and it already looks over the Hungarian capital.
The tallest office building in the country has the aim to establish a whole new district in Budapest. The project is unique in every aspect, both in the Hungarian construction sector and the international market. It is impossible to find another building similar to the one designed by Foster and Partners on the Danube bank.
It is one of the most important investments of Budapest of the next couple of years, executed by Property Market, an affiliate of Market Zrt.
The office tower, called MOL Campus, will serve as the future headquarters of MOL Group. It is
the tallest building not only in Budapest but in the whole of Hungary,
wrote DNH earlier this year.
The future headquarters of the company has already reached its tallest point.
The topping out was held at 120m into the sky,
together with a press conference. The highest floor of the building is planned to be located at this height.
If everything goes according to plans, MOL Campus will open a little over a year from now, upon completing the construction of the 143 metres tall building.
The last floor at the top will be accessible for the public to admire the breath-taking view of the Hungarian capital from the open panorama balcony.
Helló Magyar writes that the construction works are going well, currently at 62% readiness.
Nine hundred square metres of solar panels will provide the energy supply of the robust building.
The total functional surface of the 28-floor tower will be 86 thousand square metres. The offices will be located on the upper floors, while the lower part of the tower will give place to restaurants, cafés, and further establishments for the employees.
The whole new district will include 13 office buildings and 15 residential buildings with 3000 apartments, a commercial zone of 15 thousand square metres to provide residents with all necessary services and a new business type of hotel to serve the office park.
Though the tower and its rooftop balcony open for anyone will give a wonderful opportunity to see almost the whole of the capital, the Committee of UNESCO has some counterarguments. They believe that it would have a negative impact on the view of Budapest and its world heritage sights.
UNESCO: Budapest’s MOL Tower and Liget Project are distressing
Read alsoBest Budapest Restaurants with a view – PHOTOS
Discover the most beautiful libraries of Hungary – PHOTOS
Not only are they magnificent, but they are also home to a number of fascinating artefacts. Here is a non-exhaustive list of some libraries worth visiting, even if you are not fond of reading.
Ervin Szabó Central Library (Budapest)
One of the hidden gems of the capital, even the building itself is impressive from the outside. If you go in, you might not find it all that spectacular – until you visit the upper floors. The library was originally built as a palace by Frigyes Wenckheim, and some of the rooms on the 4th floor have been conserved in their original, Baroque form. When not rented out for events, they function as ordinary reading rooms accessible to all members of the library or, if you are just passing by, you can also buy a ‘tourist ticket’ and simply marvel at their beauty.
Helikon Library (Keszthely)
Located inside the Festetics Palace of Keszthely, this is the sole intact aristocratic library of Hungary. It houses over 86,000 items, collected over more than 200 years, and is still used by researchers. The Festetics Codex of 1494, the most beautifully decorated Hungarian-language codex from the Middle Ages, was kept here for almost 150 years before being transferred to the National Széchényi Library in fear that it would become damaged during the Second World War. The oldest manuscript in the collection, a chronicle titled Chronica Hungarorum, dates from 1488.
Library of the Pannonhalma Archabbey
While the current building is relatively new, built in the 19th century, the library of the Benedictine monks of Pannonhalma has existed for much longer: the first mention of the collection dates from 1090, making it the oldest library in Hungary. As part of the Archabbey, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. If you can tear your eyes away from the gallery with gorgeous Greek-style columns, on the ceiling, you can see a painting of the goddess Minerva and the portraits of the greatest figures of Hungarian history.
Library of the Cistercian Abbey of Zirc
Some of the books in this library were not as lucky as the Festetics Codex to be saved from the turmoils of war.
During the Second World War, a fighter jet crashed into the library’s roof, severely damaging both the furniture and many items in the collection.
When religious orders were banned in Hungary in 1950, many must have feared the fate of the library, but in the end, everything turned out well: the leaders of the era recognised the historical-cultural value of the library; therefore, it was restored to its old glory and conserved in that state.
ELTE University Library (Budapest)
The oldest university library of Hungary predates the foundation of the university it is attached to: while the predecessor in title of ELTE was founded in 1635 by Jesuits, the monks had begun gathering books over half a century earlier. The collection was moved to its current location, an awe-inspiring neo-renaissance edifice on Ferenciek tere, which was built for this purpose in 1876. It is still an active library, used primarily by students of philosophy, theology, history, and psychology.
Archdiocesan Library of Eger
This library, founded in 1793 as a public institution (which was uncommon at the time), boasts some truly unique documents: for instance,
here you can find a fully handwritten letter by Mozart, the only one in Hungary,
or the Dante Codex, of which three copies exist in the entire world. Some other notable items are the writings of Sacrobosco, the astronomer of King Mathias, or the codex of Pope Leo IX, from 1048, the oldest item in the collection.
Library of the Calvinistic School and Residence Hall of Sárospatak
Another building that was saved by restoration procedures: the impressive main room of the library was completed in 1834 and remained untouched until the early 2000s when a number of problems arose: for example, the building was not ventilated properly, reaching temperatures of 30 °C in summer instead of the ideal 18 °C needed to keep antique books in the best possible condition. At one point, even the ceiling secco (painting done when the wall is already dry) came down, but you would not be able to tell: from the star-patterned parquette to the murals, shelves, and columns, everything looks every bit as beautiful as it did in the 19th century.
Sources: fszek.hu, helikonkastely.hu, konyvtar.osb.hu, oszk.hu, konyvtar.elte.hu, visiteger.com, archiv.magyarmuzeumok.hu
Read alsoThis Budapest cinema is ranked among the TOP 10 most beautiful cinemas in the world – PHOTOS
Get to know the impressive story of Hungary’s World Heritage Site, the Andrássy Avenue – PHOTOS
Andrássy Avenue is undoubtedly among the most beautiful roads in Budapest; as a result of which, it has deservedly become one of the most important World Heritage Sites in Hungary. But how much does today’s road resemble the original avenue and why we cannot find any church nearby? Let us shed light on the impressive story of Andrássy Avenue.
It all started in 1870, when – after long political and economic battles – the House of Representatives approved the plan of Count Gyula Andrássy, the Prime Minister at that time. The idea was neither new nor unprecedented, as the City Park and the outer areas were connected to the city centre by Király Street during this period. However, the narrow street was not able to cope with the increased traffic; furthermore, due to its design, it could not provide appropriate ventilation to the 6th district of Budapest. Thanks to its excellent orientation, the new road provided solutions for both problems at the same time, and its design strengthened Budapest’s position as a world city.
Eventually, the construction lasted five years, and the avenue was handed over on 20th August 1896, the year of the Millennium Celebrations.
The road was designed by dividing its length of more than 2 kilometres into three well-separable sections.
- From Bajcsy-Zsilinszky road to Oktogon with 3-4 storey apartment buildings;
- From Oktogon to Kodály Körönd with 1-2 storey apartment buildings;
- From Kodály Körönd to Heroes’ square – single-storey villas and palaces.
The former avenue led from the crowded city centre towards the relaxing atmosphere of Budapest’s City Park. The construction took longer than had been expected; the last part was built only in 1885. That was the time when the avenue was renamed Andrássy Avenue.
As Budapest romantikája reports, despite its denomination, there was a baron who dedicated even more to Budapest’s beautiful avenue: he was Baron Podmaniczky. He was responsible for the supervision of the construction. According to the legend, when the project was suspended due to the Red-Eye Tavern, he took control to expel the Pest outlaws who obstructed him in the construction of the State Opera House.
Podmaniczky has always considered it his sacred mission to develop Pest into a cosmopolitan metropolis, and the Avenue was the jewel of this endeavour.
Rumour has it that the Baron did not plan churches next to the new road because it would have disturbed the nobles in a calm ride with their horses and carriages. However, Podmaniczky put a lot of work into convincing the top ten thousand of the benefits of the Avenue and the construction next to it.
The appearance of the top ten thousand also attracted the more impoverished strata, so the road was soon filled with life. The Baron even tried to make artists move here as well, as he offered a plot of land at a discounted price for a painter’s and a sculptor’s art colony. Since then, most of the buildings have been reconstructed; however, Budapest’s Andrássy Avenue still retains its former charm today.
Read alsoLet’s explore Budapest’s Andrássy Avenue virtually – PHOTOS
Discover the amazing Kékfestő Museum in Pápa! – PHOTOS
The Kékfestő Museum in Pápa (the second largest town in Veszprém County) was opened for the public in August 1962 and exhibits the workshop and equipment of the former Kluge company, thus giving insight into the world of the craft of ‘kékfestés’, a UNESCO World Heritage Hungarian tradition. The Museum guides back into the past, revealing the beauties and difficulties of this wonderful and old craft. All the steps of the work processes and the still operating equipment of ‘kékfestés’ are exhibited in the old manufacturing building, which is more than 200 years old.
The Kékfestő Museum and the former centre of kékfestés was – and still is – the largest manufacturing building in Europe and the only place that commemorates this amazing old folk tradition to such level of detail. During the first part of the exhibition, visitors enter the old building thus finding themselves stepping back in time and seeing old pieces of items of clothing, little figures, wrapping materials, all of them in the shades of blue. The predecessor of ‘kékfestés’ was textile dyeing and textile printing in the 16th century. The so-called festőcsüllenger (Isatis tinctoria), the indigenous dyeing plants being grown in vast areas of Thuringia and France, were used to get the colour of blue.
While getting deeper inside the building, visitors can observe a special chamber where all the materials are dyed in blue, all of the equipment remained in excellent condition after many years of dreadful history.
Besides this special chamber, all the huge and smaller equipment once used in the building are exhibited and can be observed up close. The museum established two escape rooms for both adults and children. Visitors are also offered the opportunity to dress up in traditional, of course, blue coloured Hungarian dresses and to try out kékfestés on a white sheet with different kinds of motives and even to take their masterpieces home.
The place is an excellent one-trip-location for both Hungarians and foreign people wishing to explore Hungarian culture and learn about kékfestés, and to travel back in time into the period when mankind created incredible things with their own hands.
Featured image: Daily News Hungary / Gergely Kolba
Read alsoEverything you should know about the UNESCO World Heritage Hungarian blueprint technique “kékfestés”
Discover the fabulous Hungarian wine region, Tokaj – VIDEO
Tokaj Wine Region is one of the most beautiful places in Northeast Hungary, with a population of 5,000 inhabitants. The settlement is located at the confluence of the rivers Tisza and Bodrog, at the foot of Tokaj Mountains. Thanks to the rivers and smaller mountains, the area has a very diverse landscape, providing breathtaking panorama. Even though the city has become world-famous for its wine region, this part of the country is not crowded at all. Fortunately, this is why natural values have been successfully preserved.
Tokaj Wine Region – World Heritage Site
Tokaj Wine Region was labelled as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002 due to the distinctive character of the wine region. The Historic-Cultural Landscape consists of 28 villages and 7000 classified vineyards.
The peculiar micro-climate of the north-eastern mountains of Hungary makes it possible to produce aszú wines, which is provided exclusively in this part of the world.
This sweet golden wine is a special dessert, also called as the “Wine of Kings, King of Wines” by the famous emperor King Louis XIV of France. The original Latin text – “vinum regum, rex vinorum” – is still written on Aszú bottles. There are several types of aszú, which are also indicated on the glasses with 5 to 6 “puttonys”.
Programme Guide in Tokaj
Thanks to its diverse landscapes, several walking tours and hiking programmes are provided in the region. Furthermore, the nearby rivers of Tokaj – River Bodrog and Tisza – offer numerous sport and entertainment opportunities. One of the most popular is the canoe trip from Tokaj to Sárospatak. Those who would like to relax can visit a newly designed spa on the opposite bank of the Tisza, which attracts people especially on hot summer days.
Of course, we cannot miss wine lovers either who can get an insight into the process of winemaking, visit some spectacular vineyards, or taste the irresistible wines of Tokaj.
Read also: You must try the special royal Hungaricum: Tokaj!
As magyarorszagom.hu reports, there are several programme opportunities in the vicinity as well:
- The city of Nyíregyháza and Sóstógyógyfürdő;
- Nyíregyháza Zoo;
- The old wine cellars;
- Fishing lakes;
- Hiking in Zemplén, Monok, Sátoraljaújhely, Zemplén etc.
Read alsoThis is how the Tokaj wine region will be renewed
How well do you know World Heritage Sites in Hungary? – QUIZ
Apart from breathtaking tourist attractions, Hungary has several prestigious historic places, as well as cultural and natural treasures that are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Join us for the next quiz, and let us see how well you know World Heritage Sites in Hungary 😉
Featured image: facebook.com/spiceofeurope
Lipizzan horse-breeding to become part of World Heritage?
Together, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania requested Lipizzan horse-breeding to be added to UNESCO’S Intangible Cultural Heritage list at the end of 2017.
UNESCO is to decide about adding it to the list at their World Heritage Committee’s annual congress, in December of 2020, reported Sokszínű Vidék. The Slovenian government handed in the official application to UNESCO’s Parisian office.
The traditional breeding of Lipizzan horses is part of the Croatian cultural heritage in Baranya (Hungary), Slavonia and Syrmia (Croatia). Lipica horses are still bred in all the countries taking part in the joint application for World Heritage status.
Archduke Charles II created the breeding ground in 1580, in Lipike – Lipica today –, a part of the then-Habsburg Empire. The noble horses became famous in the Habsburg Imperial courtyard.
Read alsoThe most famous Hungarian animals to be proud of – PHOTOS
Read alsoLipizzan horse-breeding to become part of World Heritage?
Pannonhalma Archabbey – The most remarkable historical place in Hungary
The Benedictine Pannonhalma Archabbey or Territorial Abbey of Pannonhalma has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sights since 1996. It is one of the most monumental buildings in Hungary, which is worth visiting at least once.
The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict, first arrived in Hungary in 996 for the calling of Géza Grand Prince of the Hungarians the father of the first Hungarian king St. Stephen. In Pannonhalma, they first built small, simple sacred places out of wood, sand and clay.
By the time their first church was built in the country Géza had died and his son St. Stephen inaugurated the Benedicts first religious building in the country.
Their monastery burned down at the beginning of the 12th century and was rebuilt in 1137. The building of the new monastery in the centre of the building complex was born in the 13th century and was designed to protect the people against the Mongols who started their invasion in 1241. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the monastery began to grow with additional settlements and adding abandoned villages and fields to its area.
The monastery became an archabbey in 1541, and as a result of Ottoman incursions into Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, it was fortified.
During the one and a half centuries-long Turkish Occupation, the monks, however, had to abandon the abbey for shorter or longer periods. Only later were they able to start the reconstruction of the damaged buildings. During the 17th and 18th centuries, precious Baroque adornments and extensions were added to the building.
Read alsoThe most beautiful film about Pannonhalma so far – VIDEO
The archabbey received its present form in 1832, with the library and the tower, which was built in Classicist style.
By the 19th century, the library of Pannonhalma had approximately 400,000 books which made it the most influential and important cultural centre in Hungary. Its oldest document comes from 1001 which is the state letter of founding the first monastery in Hungary.
The archabbey is still the home to some monks who besides teaching and practising the Christian religion also make excellent wine. Another interesting fact is that its garden gives place to rare herbs and unique bird species.
The building still serves as an important cultural place offering exciting historical programs and other events for visitors.
Read alsoVisitor Centre Opens At Pannonhalma Archabbey
Featured image: www.facebook.com/csodasmagyarorszag
UNESCO: 300 million students worldwide out of school due to coronavirus
The spread of the novel coronavirus over the globe forced almost 300 million students to stay at home, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said on Thursday while recommending the use of distance learning programs to limit the disruption of education.
It’s “a figure without precedent,” said the Paris-based UN agency, noting that 13 countries have shut schools nationwide, impacting almost 300 million children and youth who would normally attend pre-primary to upper-secondary classes.
Read alsoCoronavirus – Useful guide for protecting yourself
A further nine countries have implemented localized school closures to prevent or contain the spread of COVID-19. Should these countries also order nationwide school closures, it would prevent an additional 180 million children and youth from attending school, it added.
“While temporary school closures as a result of health and other crises are not new unfortunately, the global scale and speed of the current educational disruption is unparalleled and, if prolonged, could threaten the right to education,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
Read alsoOrbán: Coronavirus response focusing on individual cases
“We are working with countries to assure the continuity of learning for all, especially disadvantaged children and youth who tend to be the hardest hit by school closures,” she added.
Warning about the impact of school closures on learning achievement and educational performance, UNESCO pledged to provide immediate support to countries, including solutions for inclusive distance learning.
The UN organization will convene an emergency meeting of education ministers on March 10 to share responses and strategies to maintain the continuity of learning and assure inclusion and equity.
The five best and most famous Hungarian wine regions – PHOTOS
One can read about the wine region on every Hungarian wine bottle, which also informs customers about the quality, uniqueness and the characteristics of the taste of the wine. The wine regions of Hungary have 22 different kinds of climate and environmental features to provide the best wines you have ever tasted.
Tokaj wine region
The world’s first officially registered wine region is Hungarian and located in the region of Tokaj (Borsod-Abaúj Zemplén County). In 2002, the 5,700-hectare area became part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The wine region of Tokaj means the 26 towns and villages around the town of Tokaj and its natural borders like River Tisza. The wine region produces excellent wines since the 16th, including the world-famous aszú wines.
Pannon wine region
The natural borders of this region are the River Danube and Dráva and Lake Balaton. In the southern part of Hungary, the area of this region is approximately 7,800 hectares, and its most famous parts are Pécs, Szekszárd, Tolna, and Villány. The climate of the area is Mediterranean with the most hours of sunshine in the country. This is why the best cabernet sauvignon wines are made in this region.
Felső-Pannon wine region
The area of North-Dunántúl in Hungary (western region of the country) is also among the best wine regions. The most well-known areas of it are the town of Sopron (Győr-Moson-Sopron County) and Pannonhalma where the Archabbey is located. From Budapest until the western border the area covers up approximately 5,500 hectares. The country’s best Chardonnay wines come from this region made out of many types of excellent and rare grapes.
Balaton wine region
Around Lake Balaton, six major wine-producing areas are located on 9,000 hectares: Badacsony, Balatonboglár, Balaton-felvidék, Balatonfüred-Csopak, Nagy-Somló, and Zala. Its unique grape types are cabernet sauvignon, franc, merlot, cirfandli and kadarka. With its excellent climate and natural features, this region provides wines with excellent quality and value.
Danube wine region
The biggest wine-producing area of Hungary lies on 24,000 and covers up only three major areas: Csongrád, Hajós-Baja and the part of Kunság. The area produces the best red, white and muskotály wines out of delicious and fresh grapes.
The 2020 Busójárás of Mohács is coming up!
Every year, thousands of people gather together to watch the spectacular and world-famous Busós marching on the streets of Mohács, Hungary. The preparations for this year’s event have already started.
According to Hungarian traditions, the carnival season has always been the time to drive away winter with noisy razzle-dazzle. It was believed that in the last days of winter, the Sun weakened and bad ghosts came to life. People tried to chase them away with noise and marry-making, or by burning a witch figure. It is believed that the tradition of the sokác people of Mohács (busós) was first mentioned in 1783.
Read alsoJoin the traditional Hungarian Busó festival in Mohács
The story recalls how their witty ancestors escaped to the Island of Mohács from the Turkish occupation. They put on costumes and returned on the river to surprise the superstitious Turks, who were appalled at the sight of the scary masquerade and fled from the city.
Sokszínű Vidék reported that this year, the streets of Mohács will not escape from Busós who dress up in traditional costumes wearing frightening, coloured masks to scare away winter and to have fun with the visitors. The Busójárás has been a part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2009 and became an official Hungarikum in 2012.
Although the actual event starts in a month, organisers already began to make the necessary preparations for the six-day-long event. In 30 locations, visitors can choose from almost 80 different programs and activities while watching approximately 1,400 Busós marching on the streets.
These programs include dance houses, meeting with Busós and their special pieces of equipment, concerts of folk music bands, a commemoration of the battle of Mohács, folk art markets, workshops for children and adults, and several other activities at the churches and museums of Mohács.
The event starts on February 20, at 3 pm, and finishes on February 25.
Read alsoHungary – Historians discovering never known facts about the heroes of Mohács
Featured image: Daily News Hungary
UNESCO’s Eötvös 100 Project ends with success
Baron Roland Eötvös (1848-1919; in Hungarian: báró Eötvös Loránd), an outstanding Hungarian scientist (three times nominated for the Nobel Prize), a public figure and a sportsman, “a prince of physics”, “the father of geophysical prospecting” was recognized by UNESCO, proclaiming the centenary year of his death to be commemorated in association with UNESCO. The centennial project carried out by the Library and Information Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA KIK) represented the core of the whole Eötvös 100 Commemorative Year.
Project no. ED_18-1-2018-0011 has been implemented with support from the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund of Hungary, financed under the ED_18 funding scheme. Each of the planned twenty-five tasks has been completed. The direct partners of MTA KIK in the project were: BEAC, Eötvös Loránd University, Eötvös Loránd Physical Society, Eötvös Loránd Geophysical Foundation, Hungarian Mining and Geological Survey (MBFSZ), Association of Hungarian Geophysicists, Hungarian Geological Society, Hungarian Academy of Sciences / CSFK, SZTAKI, Wigner FK, Hungarian Tourist Association, MOM Memorial Foundation, and the Hungarian National Commission for UNESCO (UNESCO MNB).
Eötvös 100
The site www.eotvos100.hu, created specifically for the Commemorative Year, provides information about its events and results in a uniform graphic design, in both Hungarian and English. 127 commemorative events have taken place from the opening event in early 2019 to the December 5 evaluation session (and 129 to the final stop of the Eötvös Commemorative Sport Marathon Series). Their implementation is due in part to this project financed by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office and partly to other organizations supported by the National Cultural Fund of Hungary (NKA), the Ministry of Human Capacities (EMMI) and the Ministry for Innovation and Technology (ITM).
The Eötvös 100 Coordinating Committee, set up by UNESCO MNB and operated by MTA KIK, endeavoured to coordinate the various initiatives. The success of the Commemorative Year, which went beyond the original expectations, is due to the dynamically developing cooperation of all participating organizations. One of the focal points was the Roland Eötvös Commemorative Day on April 8 (beginning with the issue of commemorative coins and stamps, followed on the next day by a wreath ceremony and a thanksgiving mass). Another “fruit-yielding” program series was related to the
World Science Forum and the Hungarian Science Festival: student quiz, book presentations and an exhibition opening.
The sections of the website www.eotvos100.hu give full information about all these events and activities.
National and international events
Eötvös 100 exhibitions were held at major international congresses such as EGU
(European Geoscience Union) in Vienna, EAGE (European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers) in London, IUGG (International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics) in Montreal, and AGU (American Geophysical Union) in San Francisco. Eötvös was the Surveyor of the Year 2019, as declared by CLGE (Comité de Liaison des Géomètres
Européens). Eötvös’s oeuvre was the focus of many international events in Hungary, too (Modern theories in gravitation and Eötvös the Earth Scientist at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, GIREP (Physics Teacher Conference held at BME),
Precision Physics Conference in Tihany, Eötvös 100 Special Session at the World Science Forum).
An Eötvös 100 Honorary Board was created with the participation of the most prominent gravitational physicists, geodesists and geophysicists of the world. The most important foreign research institutions were regularly informed through them. Eötvös 100 presentations were held at conferences in Mexico, Canada and Germany. In Heidelberg a wreath was placed on the Eötvös plaque.
Toblach (Dobbiaco, South Tyrol, where the „ungarischer Baron” was a regular mountaineering guest for four decades) organized an exhibition of recently restored 3D photographs took by Roland Eötvös, which was open during the summer tourist season. The friendship with the people there was further strengthened by a cycling tour (following a cycling route of Eötvös and his daughters from Székesfehérvár to the Misurina Lake along the river Drava) and climbing the Eötvös Peak, where an Eötvös 100 plaque was installed.
A Slovak-Hungarian-Romanian-Croatian joint scientific conference summarized Eötvös’s geophysical heritage at Gbely (Egbell, SK, Moravian Basin, the world’s first petroleum field discovered by using field geophysical method). At the starting point of the once famous hiking trail (Eötvös-road) above Banská Štiavnica (Selmecbánya, SK) an Eötvös
memorial plaque was installed. There were Eötvös 100 conferences and lectures in Timișoara (Temesvár, RO), Cluj (Kolozsvár, RO) and Novi Sad (Újvidék, RS). At a Levice (Léva, SK) high school, a memorable Eötvös Day was organized. Important Commemorative Year events took place also at the Eötvös milestones in Hungary: Celldömölk (quiz, instrument demonstration) and Balatonfüred (installation of a memorial plaque and planting of a tree in the Nobel Prize winners’ promenade).
Debrecen, Gyöngyös, Kaposvár, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nyíregyháza, Ráckeve, Sopron,
Tihany, Szolnok, Szombathely, Veszprém, Zalaegerszeg were also venues of at least one Eötvös 100 event. Half of the events took place in the capital of Hungary. For example, on the closing day of the World Science Forum (WSF), 14 teams competed for the prizes of the Eötvös Loránd Jubilee Competition at the Palace of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. (224 four-person teams entered the high school-age competition; 181 completed the five online rounds. About 10 percent of the teams applied from neighbouring countries.)
Outcomes of the Commemorative Year
With the support of the Eötvös Centenary Project, two representative books
were published in both Hungarian and English: the “Roland Eötvös Memorial Album” for the average reader, and “The Eötvös Experiment in Its Historical Setting” for professionals. Until May 2020, the ELTE University Library and Archives hosts an
exhibition about the life and work of Eötvös, entitled “Under the Spell of Accuracy.” In 2019, a number of studies were published about Eötvös (journal articles, complete journal issues and other volumes).
Most of these, as well as video recordings and illustrations of the lectures given, are directly accessible from the archives of the Eötvös 100 website. All documents were also added to the REAL repository of MTA KIK. One of the tangible results of the Commemorative Year is that from now on all publications by Eötvös can be read on www.eotvos100.hu. Moreover, an MTMT (National Hungarian Scientific Bibliography) profile for Roland Eötvös was created. Another spectacular result of the Commemorative Year is the fact that a number of stereoscopic photos made by Roland Eötvös in Budapest, his field geophysical measurements and his climbings in the Dolomites have become widely known.
Virtual guided tours to the MBFSZ Eötvös Loránd Memorial Exhibition and to the Ság Hill near Celldömölk were completed. Both photos and virtual presentations can be viewed anywhere in the world; with anaglyph glasses or on 3D TV, even in stereoscopic form.
An eye-opening conclusion of the Commemorative Year: the name “Roland Eötvös” is an even greater brand in international science than it was thought a year ago. Roland Eötvös was an exceptionally visionary researcher. His experimental results survive any theory. In gravitational physics, the famous Eötvös experiment has become a focal and
reference point again. There is a great deal of interest in the re-measurement of his experiment, which was indeed started in Hungary in 2019.
For Earth scientists living and working in the Carpathian Basin, his name represents a cohesive force. Roland Eötvös can be a veritable role model for young people. A concise summary of his oeuvre was published in four languages in leaflet and poster versions. The poster photo can also be viewed in 3D.
The popularity of electronically downloadable documents was also due to the uniform appearance of all Eötvös 100 documents, and even a HungarianEnglish Eötvös 100 puzzle postcard for Christmas was sent to and multiplied by all contributors. Two excellent student presentations, enhanced by English subtitles, at the final of the high school competition have received internationally recognition.
Closing of the Commemorative Year
Although in 2020 a full-scale statue of Roland Eötvös is to be erected in Hegyvidék (Budapest, 12th district) with financial support from EMMI, the Eötvös centenary project has been completed by now. The project gives us many things to be learned. By making Eötvös’s oeuvre more accessible to the public, anyone can now approve Frigyes Károlyházi’s statement in 1998 (the 150th anniversary of Eötvös’s birth):
“On the gravestone of the great forerunner Newton reads: Humani generis decus – the ornament of humankind. We should write here that Roland Eötvös is the ornament
of the Hungarian nation: Hungarae gentis decus.” January 15 is the name day for Loránds in Hungary.
On this occasion we hope that Károlyházi’s words will be known to
everyone until the next Roland Eötvös anniversary year, 2048.
The most famous cave of Hungary will soon offer medical treatments
The Baradla Cave in the system of Aggtelek has an exceptional climate that seems to be beneficial for people’s respiratory system. For this reason, the cave, which is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, will soon become a medical cave.
Read alsoHungary’s Aggtelek National Park – The the most famous stalactite cave
Sokszínű Vidék reported that the ‘test therapies’ inside the cave have already started, and they are only waiting for the final examination’s results to make the cave an official medical spot in the country. According to the Aggteleki National Park’s report, the most important tasks for experts is to develop the cave’s infrastructure which would allow the introduction and usage of medical treatments.
The cave’s air system and water are both important ingredients for healing. The test therapy is a part of the project developed by Hungarian–Slovakian medical tourism and research.
There are more than 1,500 caves in Hungary, but only five of them are officially registered medical caves, reports Femina. These caves include the István Cave in Lillafüred next to Miskolc (Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County) and the Szemlő Cave in District 2 of Budapest on the Buda side.
Read alsoThe top five most beautiful caves in Hungary
The second-longest cave in Hungary, called Béke Cave, is also a part of medical caves in the country. The system is strictly protected as its air naturally produces antibiotics and calcium.
In Mecsek (South-Hungary), the Abaligeti Cave was proclaimed as a medical cave in 2000. Visiting the cave is not only healing but exciting as it is the main habitat for bats in the area. Last but not least, visiting the 300-metre-long Tapolca Cave is also advisable to cure your respiratory system.
Read alsoWOW! – Hungary’s most breathtaking natural wonders – VIDEO+PHOTOS
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons by Hanc Tomasz
Hungary elected member of UNESCO executive board for 2019-2023
Hungary was elected member of UNESCO’s executive board for the 2019-2023 period at Thursday’s General Conference vote, the foreign ministry’s press chief said.
Hungary returns to the prestigious body after a ten-year hiatus, Máté Paczolay said.
As one of the 58 members of the body, Hungary will be able to better represent its interests at UNESCO and boost its professional and political weight, he said.
The foreign ministry has coordinated the campaign for the membership, Paczolay said, adding that “the result mirrors the appreciation for Hungarian diplomacy”.
Hungarian city Veszprém becomes a UNESCO City of Music!
As reported by sokszinuvidek.24.hu, on Thursday the UN awarded the prestigious UNESCO City of Music title to Veszprém. With this, Veszprém is amongst cities like Liverpool, who are represented by The Beatles.
Veszprém Mayor Gyula Porga believes that the city was given this award due to Veszprém’s love for music; not just for hosting grand festivals such as VeszprémFest and Auer Fesztivál, but for the important role music plays in residents’ everyday lives. In his words, music helps build communities in Veszprém and is a crucial element in local education.
Music can be heard everywhere in Veszprém – whether performed by professionals or amateurs – as it is part of the cultural fabric of the city.
During Veszprém’s Utcazene Fesztivál, musicians take to the city’s streets to perform all sorts of musical genres – from classical to hip-hop, from folk to rock.
According to a statement by the local government, the city was able to achieve this award by being the European Capital of Culture in 2023 and being part of the UNESCO Creative Cities network.
Veszprém is amongst cities such as Liverpool, the home of The Beatles, and Kingston in Jamaica, where the roots of reggae can be found. Other notable cities include Sevilla for being the hotspot for flamenco. London and New York are also UNESCO Cities of Music, as their theatres host world-famous musicals.
The House of Hungarian Music won the best public building award. We also communicated that Carlos Santana is coming to Hungary next year!
WOW! – Hungary’s most breathtaking natural wonders – VIDEO+PHOTOS
Besides its amazing touristic attractions, Hungary has several outstanding natural treasures and incredible geological formations. Let’s see which are the most breathtaking natural wonders – listed by impressmagazin.hu.
White limestone terraces at Egerszalók
Egerszalók is an open-air spa and village in the northeastern part of Hungary, 6 kilometres from the city of Eger.
This small town hides one of the most amazing natural treasure of Hungary – the 120-square-foot limestone terraces were created by a thermal spring of 65-68°Celsius hot water, coming from a depth of 410 meters.
The breathtaking natural wonder is also known for its curative effect due to the high content of calcium, natrium, magnesium and sulphur.
Red clay soil in Vértes
Hungary’s first cultivatable bauxite land was discovered in the mountain range of Vértes, in the north-western part of the country. Due to its uniqueness, the colourful landscape has become a field study of scientific works and space research.
The red stone desert’s special gullies, extraordinary rock formations and unique surface forms have made the area a perfect ‘Mars-like’ treasure of Hungary.
Lunar Landscape – “The small Hungarian Cappadocia”
Beehive stones are such rock formations whose sides are decorated with carved niches. The cone-shaped rock formations can be found in the area of Pilis and the Buda Hills; while the majority of them can be found in the vicinity of Eger and Bükkalja. It is also called “The small Hungarian Cappadoccia” due to the similar natural rarity of Cappadocia in Turkey, which is a World Heritage Site.
Europe’s largest thermal lake – Hévíz
As Impressmagazin reports, the beautiful thermal lake was firstly visited by the Romans, who also recognised its healing effect. However, the special lake’s formation can be traced back much further as its thermal spring is more than 1,5 million years old, by which it is the largest thermal lake in Europe. The water can provide curative solutions for musculoskeletal problems and joint pains.
The Ancient World’s Pompeii – Ipolytarnóc
The Fossils Nature Reserve of Ipolytarnóc preserves ancient animal footprints and petrified remains of huge ancient trees. Ipolytarnóc is a real ‘fossil paradise’, conserving the memory of a 20 million-years-old bygone world. The nature reserve is also called “The Ancient World’s Pompeii” due to its buried prehistoric treasures formed during the Miocene age volcanic eruption.
Volcanic basalt land – Hegyestű
The unique volcanic butte “Hegyestű” can be found at the territory of Balaton Uplands National Park, famous for its unique geological formations. The solidified volcanic lava crater was split into polygonal vertical columns due to hypothermia; today, it is one of the most unique and breathtaking natural attraction in Europe.
Caves of Aggtelek
The cave system of Aggtelek and Slovak Karst became a Natural World Heritage Site of UNESCO in 1995.
The diverse caves were formed about 2 million years ago. In Hungary, 273 caves are opened to the public, out of the total 712.
Huge movable stones and stone lands
One of the most exciting attractions of the Kali Basin is the huge rocks and solidified sand block residues of the Pannonian Sea. The peculiar shape of these natural wonders has been “carved” by the wind. The movable stone of Szentbékkálla is a large stone block which starts to move in case of standing on its edge.
Video: www.facebook.com/ipolytarnoci.osmaradvanyok/
Investments make Hungarian village Hollókő more popular in the country
The incredible Hungarian village Hollókő (Nógrád County) will face several investments in the future to make it a more popular destination worldwide. The town is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1987.
Sokszínű Vidék reported that the aim of the 1 billion HUF touristic investment (3 million EUR) is to increase the popularity of Hollókő and the number of visitors/year by 30,000.
Out of this money, the UNESCO World Heritage Site will get a brand-new gastronomy-centre, and its medieval castle will feature more exhibitions and other spectacular events.
In the gastronomy-centre several exciting programmes will await visitors, for example, cooking school, jam cooking, pig slaughtering, and a presentation about the Palóc cuisine, which is a Hungarian ethnicity. In the castle, the exhibitions will be modernised, and represent the castle’s original look from the medieval era. Also, the interior of the building will be decorated with medieval furniture, and the tower will be renovated to its original height.
The government of Hollókő and its organisation undertake this project with the help of the Hungarian Tourism Agency.
Europe’s Amazon: Hungary is getting a new UNESCO Biosphere Reserve!
Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia have submitted the final papers of the application process to UNESCO in order to attain a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation for the land around the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers. This was the final step in achieving a joint Biosphere Reserve status for the land occupied by all five countries.
As reported by sokszinuvidek.24.hu, the status is a result of careful planning which began nearly 10 years ago in 2011.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve designation, similarly to the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, is internationally recognised and reputed. The area’s new status should be confirmed and come into effect in June 2020.
The resulting Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve – often dubbed as Europe’s Amazon – will have a length of 700km and 800,000 hectares, which means it will be the continents largest UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is one of Europe’s most ecologically pristine river systems; the three rivers act as a green corridor for local wildlife, connecting over 1 million hectares of land.
The waters of the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve’s waters provide a habitat for over 300 waterfowl and numerous fish species, including the Danube salmon.
According to conservationists, the river system provides potable water and flood protection for local villages. It is hoped that the UNESCO designation will increase tourism in the area.
The designation is a testament to successful international cooperation with regards to environmental protection in the area.
This week we wrote guide and itinerary for a daytrip to UNESCO World Heritage site city Pécs. Budapest is also one of the most photographed UNESCO sites