The goods inherited from the past can be saved for the future by dedicated people, emphasized Regional Development Minister Tibor Navracsics at the handover ceremony on Tuesday for the renovation of the eastern wing of the Sümeg Castle.

The saved monuments become part of the present, and equipped with the technology of the future, they can convey the values ​​of the past to the next generations, underlined the minister, the regional parliamentarian. He added: thanks to the investment, new jobs will be created in the region, the city will be renewed and it will become an increasingly important cultural and historical center.

Regő Lánszki , the Secretary of State for Architecture of the Ministry of Construction and Transport, said that the eastern wing of the Sümegi castle was renovated with HUF 1.1 billion EU funds and became a cultural attraction that can be visited all year round. The long-term goal is that, like the Sümeg castle, all the country's monuments are renewed and filled with new content. He said that the new architecture law is meant to create the conditions for a better, fuller, healthier life, and for this purpose a full review of the monuments will take place by December 31, 2025.

Oláh Zsanett , the managing director of the NÖF National Heritage Protection Development Nonprofit Kft., stated that the castle had been in decline for many decades, but now it is attracting more and more visitors thanks to its 21st century equipment. In the castle courtyard, jousting tournaments and open-air performances await those interested, while in the interior spaces there is an exhibition presenting the history of construction and daily life in the Middle Ages, castle models, a projection room and interactive tools.

Imre Papp recalled the history of the castle, emphasizing that it has been operated by his family since 1989. In the beginning, 10 percent of the visitors to the fortress were Hungarian and 90 percent foreign, this ratio has now reversed. The castle has more than 200 employees every year, and the free open days, during which visitors can learn about the programs and developments, attract many interested parties.

Source and title image: MTI/Tamás Vasvári