It was 14 years ago when Hungary joined European Heritage Days. At the beginning the Lechner Foundation assumed responsibility for organizing the events. In 1998 the Hungarian Ministry of Cultural Heritage took also charge of the EHD, and subsequently commissioned the National Office of Cultural Heritage/Public Relations Department to coordinate the events in Hungary, which since 1999 have been running under the name of Cultural Heritage Days.

Short review of our former themes:

1999 - Industrial Heritage
2000 - Churches in the age of the Árpád dynasty
2001 - Buildings of Educational Institutions
2002 - Museums - background in the foreground (200-year history of the museums)
2003 - Captivating ornaments of Zsolnay (Architecture at the turn of the previous century)
2004 - Our breathing heritage (Parks, gardens, arboreta, nature reservation areas, cemeteries, cultural landscapes)
2005 - "Stone on stone...will endure" (Castles, fortresses, historical houses, mansions, palaces)
2006 - The Architecture of Dictatorship (Hungary between 1945-60)
2007 - Progress and Patria - the Art of Classicism and the Age of Reform Movement

In Hungary the Cultural Heritage Days are traditionally held on the 3rd weekend of September every year.

The next in line will be on 20 and 21 September, 2008. Our coming up theme is:
"Revival" - Year of the Renaissance

Not only the buildings and sites registered for the EHD show themselves in our brochure issued in 100.000 copies, but also a growing number of guided walks, which have gained incontestable popularity during the last couple of years. The short presentations included in the brochure were provided by the respective sites.

During the last few years a nice new practice has been introduced: On the occasion of the Cultural Heritage Days the President of the National Office of Cultural Heritage nominates one historic building typical of the current theme to be listed as a historical heritage site. (In 2003: Csukás House in Pécs; In 2004: English park of Tata)

The national opening ceremony takes place in one year in Budapest, while the following year it is hosted by a provincial town. Beside the significant support that the event receives from the press one should not forget about the Hungarian Radio that also focuses its attention on our heritage during the two-day event.

In Hungary the local guides wear a badge with the logo of the Council of Europe.

During the last couple of years we have worked successfully together with the Council of Europe Information and Documentary Center in Budapest. The most important achievement of the year 2005 has been this website you are reading now.

Our recurring slogan is: Set off, see, discover, protect!

Cultural Heritage Days coordinators in Hungary are:

Margit Kertész: margit.kertesz@koh.hu