Rosta Szabolcs (szerk.): Expo-monatur (Kecskemét, 2013)
Monatur, Expo-Monatur
MONATUR, EXPO-MONATUR 9 Institute of Cultural Heritage Preservation. Excavations at Bugac-Felsőmonostor, undertaken by the Museum Organisation of Bács-Kiskun County (Katona József Museum of Kecskemét), began only in 2011. During the implementation of the MONATUR and EXPO-MONATUR projects, archaeological excavations at these sites allowed the experts to make historical, archaeological, technical and scientific studies. Smaller reconstructions, conservation and restoration works ensure long term durability and quality of presentation of the cultural heritage, as well as the arrangement of the surrounding area of the archaeological complex. In the projects the 2 partners implement smaller infrastructural works: the excavation site in Bugac is open to visitors, running water is installed in the surrounding area of Rakovac, car parks and toilet facilities have been built at Araca to improve services for visitors. Through joint marketing, monasteries will be integrated into the existing themed tourist routes and connect the sites in different ways. Development of tourism impacts on local people and their environment, and linking these locations through tourist trails will open a number of unique opportunities for developing these settlements and awakening further interest in them. Exhibitions mounted by the project partners present the results of research and excavations, the life of the monasteries and of the local people in the settlements around them. To complete the image of common historical and cultural heritage, the impact of cross- border research and cultural interaction will be achieved through the mutual participation of the project-partner experts, exchanging experiences and views. The cooperation will enable the direct (such as organization and modernisation of our cultural heritage, improvement of local roads) and indirect (activities advertised through various media and tourism to support the historical and cultural heritage) care and management of the common historical and cultural heritage. Marketing activities can target more groups through joint publications and exhibitions, radio and television programs and mapping of tourist trails. Improvement of cross-border research cooperation, cultural relations and tourism development contribute to the strengthening of Hungarian-Serbian relations. The special products of cooperation (joint exhibition materials, publications, information tables and promotional materials) are published in Serbian, Hungarian and English, which contribute to the realization of multilingualism. In terms of environmental sustainability, work to be carried out during the research and subsequent work supports the protection of the environment. In particular, the site of Bugac-Pétermonostora is at the edge of the Kiskunság National Park, while the site of Rakovac-monastery, Saint George is at the edge of the Fruska Gora National Park. The archaeological research itself does not threaten the environment, since authentic and natural materials were used during architectural reconstruction. The innovative character of the project is reflected in several areas connecting the sites of the medieval monastery complexes, which were determined by the historical period that left significant architectural elements as a unique cultural heritage. The extension of the project is an important possibility as well as its potential to branch out into other objects suitable to be included in the tourist site. With this extension these buildings/groups of buildings would be expanded to include other objects of research, would increase the number of comparative analyses and enable a more comprehensive overview of a given cultural milieu. Implementation of the project would include the final addition of associated facilities in— the tourist industry, thus expanding tourism and a number of new potential tourist trails within the covered facilities. This would impact the local population and the settlements themselves. Planning and implementing common programmes for tourists is part of the sustainable development of these regions. This part of the project focused on planning and improving the quality of life of the local communities. This includes responsibility, protection and promotion of cultural values and attempts to achieve social cohesion accompanied by growing opportunities, creating new services and jobs during the project and after its completion. The local community’s heritage and its presentation will be the fundamental resource.
