Open Air Museum Train, Visitor Centre Inaugurated

English

 
"With the successful completion of these two investments, we have unquestionably reached the upper rung of European open air museums," said museum director Miklós Cseri.
 

Minister of Education and Culture István Hiller praised the Skanzen as an example of talent that spans generations.

 
Environment Minister Imre Szabó said the new developments were an extraordinary piece of nostalgia.
 
The new visitors' centre - a replica of a 19th century train depot from a city in southeast Hungary - is part of a HUF 2.2 billion expansion project started last year.
 
After purchasing their tickets at the train station, visitors will start on a trip through the museum's seven "villages", each of which represents the folk elements of a specific ethnic Hungarian region.
 
A train, pulled by a Ganz-Jendrassik locomotive, made in 1932, will take visitors on a 2.4-kilometre rail line around the museum grounds.
 
 
 
Preparations are being made to add an eighth village to the museum's "collection" showing the folk traditions of the Palóc region of northeast Hungary. The project is expected to be completed in 2010.
 
A museology workshop will also open in 2010.
 
Photo: Eszter Gordon