Ochrona zabytków na Węgrzech

• Authors: Roman András

Title variants

EN

PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC MONUMENTS IN HUNGARY

• Languages of publication: PL EN

Abstracts

EN

The author gives a historical outline of the development of monuments preservation movement in Hungary since its beginning in the second half of the 19th century and describes its organisational and financial structure and implementation. The National Committee of Monuments was founded in 1872 and it dealt with the monuments survey, restoration and coordination of monuments preservation with archaeological discoveries. Although there were no great changes in this field in Hungary between the two world wars, still in the thirties a school was established based on modern principles, which resulted in a number of fine restorations. After the 2nd World War the emphasis was put rather on the cleaning up of destructions than on monuments preservation. A factual development of the Hungarian monuments preservation began only as late as in 1957 and it was then that the National Inspectorate of Monuments (OMF) was established. It employs about 100 professionals, 7 construction management offices and 800 workers in the country. It has its own and only one organization in Budapest, which is working and acting as an authority within the Municipal Council and under the professional guidance of OMF. All individual historic monuments are divided into three categories. The first category includes the most important historic structures that are theoretically forbidden to demolish. Buildings in the second category are called monument- like buildings, while the third category represents buildings which are significant with regard to the landscape. Apart from this division, there are also 2 categories of territories that are under protection (mainly historic town and village centres). Any kind of architectural interference on protected monuments can happen only upon the permission of OMF or the local inspectorate in Budapest. The money for monuments protection comes from a separate fund allocated by the Government for the purpose of supporting monument renovations. The Government may allocate also additional funds to this aim, if the need arises so. OMF provides a regular financial assistance for private owners of protected structures. In the case of larger restorations non-refundable state financial help is offered. Monuments conservation in Hungary is based on careful scientific research, which guarantees not only the professional and authentic restoration of individual buildings but also enriches the cultural and architectural heritage of the country. It is worth pointing out that the Hungarian monument preservation strictly adheres to the principles of preservation established by the Charter of Venice. As far as the preservation of rural monuments is concerned then the main goal is the in situ preservation. Hungarian monuments’ conservators can boast a number of achievements in this fie ld; they have slowed down the mass-deterioration process and brought to the fore historical and artistic values of old peasant houses. Much attention is also paid to the protection of modern monuments such as town main squares, workers' or villa settlements. Hungary maintains friendly and effective international contacts and is one of the founding members of ICOMOS. The coutry was the host of many successful international events. In the final part of his report the author describes main shortcomings of monument preservation such as the lack of good inventory processes, the financing practice, a lack of restoration capacity, i.e. an insufficient number of skilled workers. Still, there is some hope that a 2-year-post graduate course for architects and art historians organized within the Budapest Technical University will help in solving this problem.

• Publisher: Narodowy Instytut Dziedzictwa
• Journal: Ochrona Zabytków
• Year: 1985
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 79-85

Dates

published

1985

Contributors

author

Roman András

• dr, Instytut Zabytków w Budapeszcie

Identifiers

ISSN

0029-8247