The European Heritage Days are held in September each year. The initiative came from the Council of Europe, and it aims at presenting parts of the built cultural heritage which are not normally open to the general public or are not widely known. During these days, the public have the chance to visit buildings or complexes which are normally subject to strict security: on these days anyone can walk into the Minister of the Interior’s office, for example, or the treasury of the Central Bank.
“Europe, our common heritage” is the slogan, celebrated all over the continent and it has long gone beyond the borders of the European Union. Today these heritage days are observed in as many as 48 countries - from the Baltic republics to the Balkans, from Iceland to the Iberian Peninsula – each September. The initial goal of opening up buildings that are normally closed to the public has been fully accomplished and the event has thus succeeded in promoting our cultural heritage.
Hungary
In 2006, the architectural style of socialist realism stands in the focus of Hungary’s programmes on the European Heritage Days, and the public will be invited to visit buildings erected between 1945 and 1960. In addition, the Episcopal palace in Fertõrákos will be open to the public on September 16 and 17; this was the seat of the Gyõr-based bishops in the 16th and 17th centuries and is celebrated for its richly decorated rooms and a chapel ornamented with murals. The Kamaldul Monastery in Majkpuszta, with its 17 cell houses, a castle and a church, is also well worth visiting.
In Budapest, the De la Motte palace built on medieval footing will be open to the public in Dísz square in the Buda Castle. The palace is known for the Baroque-Rococo and early Neo-Classic murals dating back to 1760-1790 on the walls of its upstairs rooms. It is only on the European Heritage Days that the Hungarian Electricity System Control Centre (which controls Hungary’s power distribution) can be visited. Guided tours will start every 30 minutes. Also in Budapest will be a special visit to the theatres of the 7th district, which will include a visit in the Hungarian Theatre built in 1897, also allowing access to so-far hidden parts of the building.
The Czech Republic
The European Heritage Days in the Czech Republic will focus on historic buildings and those who once dwelled in them (the official slogan is “Imprints of Glorious Names - Historic Buildings with Famous Residents”). On September 8 and 9, the public can visit the castle of Hlucín and the nearby park, the Hranice castle. Gustav Mahler’s house in Jihlava will be open to visitors, the imperial baths will be open to the public in Karlovy Vary, as well as Ferdinand’s spring pavilion in Marienské Lazne. The local history museum is also worth visiting, as the many magnificent buildings of the town have served as homes for emperors, composers and royalty over the years. In Ostrov, the former Sachsen-Lauenburg castle will be open to the public; in Pelhrimov one can visit the local prison, while in Plzen visitors can marvel within the walls of the old synagogue.
If you are in Prague, the Wallenstein Riding-School and the waiting room in Prague’s central railway station reserved for members of the Czech government are also worth visiting. In Príbor, the house in which Sigmund Freud was born will be open to visitors.Romania
The European Heritage Days in Romania are sloganed “Water and the architectural heritage”. The program offers sights such as the medieval castles of Arad County, the monastery of Hurez, or the last fire watchtower in Bucharest. The numerous wooden churches in Transylvania’s Maramures will also be open to visitors.
One of the most beautiful examples for a combination of water and our built cultural heritage is the Carol I Park (Parcul Carol) in Bucharest. The marvellous green area in the middle of the city was designed by the French architect Edourd Redond in 1890, commissioned by King Carol I. The 36-acre park is dominated by water: a two-acre lake and a water fountain built in neo-classicist style are among the main attractions of the park.SlovakiaProgrammes in Slovakia come under the slogan “Europe, our common heritage” and run from September 9th to the 30th. The opening ceremony will take place on September 14 in Skalica, where the local Záhorské Museum, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, is a place of special interest. Ruined buildings from the Roman age can also be visited in Skalica.
