Beautiful and unique geopark is awaiting you in north-Hungary
(Szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu) – Get to know the specially protected values of 63 Hungarian and 28 Slovakian settlements, the beautiful Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark lying in 1600 square kilometres.
The protection and the representation of the values of nature are considered more and more important. However, when it comes to the values of nature, people tend to mean special flowers and colourful birdies. For some reason, caves, stones, and other “lifeless” values seem to be less important.
UNESCO launched a geopark programme in 1997, and the European Geopark Network in 2000. The aim of the organization is to prioritise this region, and show how important the geological values of the geopark are, Szeretlekmagyarország.hu informs.
Geotourism has brought positive effects on locals, because they are enhanced to keep these values and take care of them. Environmental education and research are spreading, and the operation of other geoparks has also been being introduced.
Two geoparks have been created in Hungary so far, Szeretlekmagyarország.hu notes. One of them is called Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark stretching beyond the Hungarian borders with an area of 1619 square kilometres. The 63 Hungarian and 28 Slovakian settlements of the park show great and effective cooperation to protect this natural heritage.
Hollókő, the small village, part of the World Heritage, is situated here, as well as the Ipolytarnóc Fossils. The castle of Somoskő, Fülek, Ajnácskő and Salgó are also found in this region.
Also, several programmes are awaiting tourists, including Vulcan Days at Ipolytarnóc, where a range of geological values of the region are to be shown between 26 May and 11 June, or the Geotours around Sámsonháza, where the 15 million years old tufas were mined in the Middle Ages. In the 19th century, they were used for road construction; the Baglyaskő Castle Nature Reserve Visitor Centre, and Széchenyi castle park.
Find more information on programmes and guided tours here.
Grab the opportunity whenever you are given to visit this unique natural miracle.
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Photos: Facebook.com/Novohrad – Nógrád Geopark
Videos: Youtube.com
ce: bm
Hungarian city gets UNESCO award
Pécs (MTI) – Pécs is the first Hungarian city to have won UNESCO’s Global Learning City Award this year, the local council and Pécs University said on Friday.
UNESCO has granted the award to the south Hungarian city along with other 15 cities in recognition of their outstanding and tangible efforts in “promoting access to education and lifelong learning,” they said in a joint statement.
“Pécs has initiated a forum to serve as a platform for experts and stakeholders to further learning city development,” they quoted UNESCO’s release as saying.
The award will be presented during the 3rd International Conference on Learning Cities in Cork, Ireland, to take place between September 18 and 20, said UNESCO.
Budapest hosts conference on Roman Limes
Budapest, January 10 (MTI) – Budapest is hosting an international conference on the extension of the UNESCO World Heritage site comprising the one-time Roman Empire’s border line, the Limes, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Conservation experts by Hungary and nine other European nations are meeting here to coordinate their strategies for submitting their relevant applications to the UNESCO and finalise a joint thematic study about the defence line constructed in the 2nd century, the office said.
They are also discussing the document that defines the universal values of the nearly 6,000 kilometres long chain of fortifications stretching along 18 countries on three continents.
The conference may help the Hungarian government submit its application in January 2018 for listing as UNESCO World Heritage Site the remains of the over 400-kilometre stretch of the Limes on its territory, in partnership with the similar Austrian-South German and the Slovak applications.
The conference is held in the Hungarian National Museum behind closed doors.
Kodály method included in UNESCO World Heritage list
Budapest, December 2 (MTI) – UNESCO’s intergovernmental committee for the world’s cultural heritage has included Hungarian composer, researcher and music teacher Zoltán Kodály’s method for the preservation of folk music in the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Hungary’s human resources minister told MTI on Friday.
Zoltán Balog said that the Kodály method has been included in the register of good safeguarding practices, as a method to be spread and followed in other countries.
“We trust that this international recognition will contribute to the strengthening and renewal of learning music at school,” the minister said. He added that the Kodály concept has already been adopted and applied at all levels of education in many countries.
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The concept is based on the idea that preservation of the musical heritage should start at an early age, such as including learning playful folk songs in kindergarten activities.
According to UNESCO, “over the past century, the Kodály concept of safeguarding traditional folk music has helped to promote, transmit and document local practices in Hungary and assisted communities abroad for similar purposes. … It advocates: making traditional folk music accessible for everyone through mainstream education and civic organizations; teaching music skills; encouraging everyday use of the music by communities concerned; researching and documenting it using local and international strategies; coexistence between research, education, community culture and composition; and respect for all music traditions.”
The concept has been incorporated in school curricula since 1945.
So far, southern Hungary’s end of winter Busójárás masquerade, the folkdance house method, and the popular art of the Matyó people have been traditional cultural assets included in the UNESCO list.
Photo:Â szentesinfo.hu
Liget project: Municipal leaders plan to chop down more than 2,000 trees?
Budapest, June 8 (MTI) – The capital should seek an expert opinion from UNESCO on the planned Liget Project, a scheme involving the construction of a museum quarter in Budapest’s City Park, the mayor of Budapest’s 14th district said on Wednesday. More than 300 million forints (EUR 1m) will be spent this year on developing green areas in Budapest, the City Assembly decided at its session on Wednesday.Â
Gergely Karácsony told a press conference ahead of a meeting of the municipal assembly that the project warrants consultation with UNESCO because the City Park is located in a world heritage site.
If Budapest fails to consult the cultural heritage body before approving the project, the resolution could be considered legally invalid, Karácsony, co-leader of the opposition Dialogue for Hungary party, said.
He said municipal leaders had so far ignored both professional and civil protests over the project and are now set to pass a resolution that will make way for the “destruction” of the City Park.
Earlier on Wednesday, civil activist group Ligetvédők said municipal leaders plan to chop down more than 2,000 trees in the near future. Gergely Csák, one of the activists, said the tree-felling would lead to an environmental disaster.
Silent protests were held at the city assembly against plans to cut down 600-800 trees in the City Park to make way for the state-backed museum quarter. Another mass tree-felling is planned at the Roma banks of the River Danube affecting 1,100 trees while in the Orczy Park in Pest plans are to fell 300.
Budapest to spend over EUR 1m on green areas this year
Fully 200 million forints will be spent on upgrading a playing field area on Gellért Hill, while 15 million will be ploughed into a similar project at Feneketlen Lake on the Buda side.
Other projects include revamping a public park at Krúdy Gyula street on the Pest side and Jozsef Street in the central 8th district, as well as areas around József Attila Theatre in the 13th district and the Népliget Park in the outer 10th district.
The proposal was approved with 23 votes in favour and 4 abstentions.
Photo: MTI
The Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark is on the World Heritage List
According to turizmusonline.hu, the Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark was enlisted as a World Heritage on the list of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). The park is a beloved destination of tourists, school groups and families and its huge area goes beyond the border between Hungary and Slovakia.
The Geopark located in 64 Hungarian and 28 Slovakian settlements became included in UNESCO’s Global Geopark Networks two years ago, thanks to a decision made in Paris. Such an achievement results in offering more opportunities regarding tourism and scientific research. In 2012 the Council of Salgótarján submitted a tender to gain support for development. They received the support and could carry out two major improvements for 614 million HUF.
The Council operates the House of Geomiracles (Geocsodák Háza), which awaits its guest, while in Eresztvény, not far from Salgótarján, the Geopark Nonprofit Kft. established the Geopark’s centre of research, control and learning. Katalin Molnár, CEO told turizmusonline that the centre also functions as a showroom, where the natural values of the 92 settlements can be seen. Last year they experienced a high increase in interest, as thousands of tourists visited the park. Many organized trips, mainly from the Great Plain and Budapest.
The castles of Somoskő, Salgó and Fülek are especially popular destinations, but so are the Medves plateau and the exhibition of Ipolytarnóc that shows the ancient world. Luckily, the establishment of the centre boosted the tourists’ interest, therefore, the number of guest nights increased greatly, while the educational, teaching part of the facility cooperates with the schools located in the area of the park.
To make people become aware of the opportunities around them, lectures and presentations are given in libraries and community centres about the geopark, the results of research, and current programmes. But the youngsters and tourists interested are also welcome in the centre, where interactive programmes await them. Furthermore, they demonstrate how to protect nature and our environment and show promotional videos about the park. Trips are organized, too; visitors may go and see the castles in the area, and become mesmerized by the scenery.
Moreover, an event called the European Geoparks Week will be held in the second half of May in the Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark. The Photo Marathon also challenges the enthusiastic participants, for the third time. Those interested in something else may just as well attend a night trip, as some will be organized both for the younger and the elder generations.
Turizmusonline also notes that writes that the Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark and the Bakony-Balaton Geopark established the Hungarian Geopark Committee (Magyar Geopark Bizottság) within UNESCO. That happened in March. The work plan, the regulations of operation and the board charter were all accepted at the meeting in Csopak.
Additionally, Katalin Molnár called attention to the fact that they submit tenders to gain international support this year, which would be spent on establishing further showrooms illustrating geological values, and also for training events. They aim to adjust more to the conditions of the international geopark networks and hope to be visited by many tourists this year too. Hence, the cooperation between Hungary and Slovakia is seen really important.
Photo: facebook.com/nngeopark
Copy editor: bm
Balcony-gate: UNESCO committee to investigate the construction
According to hvg.hu, UNESCO wants to investigate whether or not the reconstruction of the Buda Castle goes against World Heritage rules with a committee. Együtt wants to hear about the construction licence.
RTL Klub found out from the international organisation that a UNESCO committee will investigate whether or not the planned 100 m2 balcony was built to the Karmelita Monastery by line and level.
As it has been previously reported, the Buda Castle and the Daube view is part of UNESCO’S World Heritage sites, which means that the organisation has to approve of any type of change concerning the place. But the Prime Minister’s Office only asked and got permission for condition safekeeping; however, they want to attach a completely new balcony to the building, which will be the place for the Prime Minister’s offices.
UNESCO claims that they will investigate whether or not the reconstruction goes against World Heritage rules.
Since Nándor Csepreghy, Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office previously stated that they got all permission for the construction, Együtt said that they turn to the Prime Minister’s Office with an information request of general interest concerning these permissions. They claim that, if they don’t get the documents, they’ll bring a suit against them.
Photo: www.hvg.hu
Copy editor: bm
Hungarian scientist recognised by UNESCO
Paris, March 25 (MTI) – Hungary’s Eszter Farkas has been awarded UNESCO-L’Oreal’s Rising Talent Grant to support further achievement as a young scientist.
The honour was presented to Farkas at a ceremony under the organisation’s Women in Science programme in Paris on Thursday evening.
Farkas, who works at Szeged University, in southern Hungary, received the 15,000 euro grant in support of further research aimed at working out therapies to mitigate stroke-related brain injury. Farkas told MTI she plans to use the grant to purchase new equipment and hire new colleagues.
The Rising Talent Grant was established in 2014 to support younger women who are in the early stages of their scientific careers.
European Commission data show that the proportion of women working as researchers in science is 33 percent across the EU. In 2010, 46 percent of Hungarian doctoral degree-holders were women, yet only 15 percent were inducted into the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Whereas the number of women scientists increased by an annual 4.8 percent in the EU between 2005-2011, the figure in Hungary was only 1.5 percent during the period, the EC data show.
The Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark is now part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network
The Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark, which is the first park in the world to go beyond borders, is now part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, turizmus.com writes. The title is as equally prestigious as being part of a World Heritage site, or the Man and the Biosphere Programme.
The letter of admission was sent by Flavia Schlegel, Assistant Director-General for the Narutal Sciences at UNESCO, as a response to the letters that were sent by the Hungarian and Slovakian National Commissions.
The Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark includes 64 settlements on the Hungarian side and 28 settlements on the Slovakian side. Now that the park is part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network not only will it get more international attention, but the government will also found the Hungarian Geopark Committee, which will represent the Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark and the Bakony-Balaton Geopark that are also part of the Global Geoparks Network.
In order for the Geopark to get the prestigious title, it had to renew its membership in the Global Geoparks Network, which was done for four additional years in 2014.
The House of Geomiracles was opened in June 2015 in the heart of the Novohrad–Nógrád Geopark, Salgóbánya, and the Geopark Educational, Research and Management Centre was opened in October 2015. The Centre is organizing different programs every year; one of the most exciting ones are the hiking-biking-and riding tours, the Geopark Week in May, and their most popular one, the Medves Photo Marathon between 3-5 June 2016.
Photo: Novohrad – Nógrád Geopark Facebook page
Copy editor: bm
Exhibition on Semmelweis, Romer opens in UNESCO headquarters
Paris, December 2 (MTI) – An exhibition presenting the life and work of Hungarian doctor and physician Ignaz Semmelweis (1818-1865) and architect Floris Romer (1815-1889) has opened in the headquarters of UNESCO.
The exhibition pays tribute to the two Hungarian personalities, marking the 150th death anniversary of Semmelweis and the 200th birth anniversary of Romer.
In her opening address, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova welcomed that Hungary celebrates the 70th anniversary of the UNESCO with an exhibition dedicated to two eminent Hungarians who won high acclaim all over Europe.
Semmelweis, who discovered the causes of puerperal or “childbed” fever and was a pioneer of antiseptic procedures, has left an ever-lasting mark on scientific research in medicine, culture and history, she said.
The life and work of Romer, who was the founder of Hungarian archeology, demonstrates how inseparable science, education and culture are, she said.
The exhibition will run until December 11.
The Hungarian Academy of Science celebrates UNESCO 70th anniversary with conference
Budapest, November 26 (MTI) – The Hungarian Academy of Sciences organised a conference on the 70th anniversary of UNESCO’s establishment on Thursday.
Miklos Rethelyi, the president of the Hungarian National UNESCO Committee, quoted in his opening speech the objective of the organisation’s founding charter from 1945: “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.”
Katalin Bogyay, Hungary’s permanent representative to the UN, said she had been one of three women who had been presidents of the UNESCO General Conference. She herself held the post in the 36th session for two years. She said during her term she focused on gender equality as well as women’s role in peace processing and conflict resolution.
Photo: MTI