Balázs György (szerk.): The abolition of serfdom and its impact on rural culture, Guide to the Exhibition Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Revolution and War if Independence of 1848-49 (Budapest-Szentendre, Museum of Hungarian Agriculture-Hungarian Open-Air Museum, 1998.)

comfortable old lifestyle. However, this took generations to happen. HUNGARY THROUGH THE EYES OF FOREIGN AND HUNGARIAN TRAVELLERS In the second half of the eighteenth century Europe rediscovered Hungary. Travellers from Austria, the German territories, Italy, Denmark. France, Britain, and Holland roamed in the hitherto unknown country for various purposes. Some of them wished to get acquainted with the landscape and the people, others were spurred by the development of the natural sciences or the ideas of Enlightenment. For example, the German Count Hoffmannsegg collected insects, birds, and minerals here in 1793-94. The British Robert Townson also came here in 1793 to satisfy his scientific interest. In the early nineteenth century, the Dutch Jan Ackersdijck and the British John Paget were among the famous visitors (in 1823 and 1839, resp.). There were travellers who even mastered the Hungarian language and wore Hungarian costumes to express their love of the country. Some married Hungarian women and lived here to the end of their lives. Travelogues are interesting sources of conditions in the past, and offer a true picture of villages, towns, people, and contemporary politics. There were authors whose opinion was perfectly devastating, while others stressed the good qualities of the Hungarian people and the beauty of the country. Jan Ackersdijck wrote as follows: ..The spirit and strength of the nation manifest themselves mainly at the Diets... The pledge of the centuries-old existence of this important institution is not the code of 1222. not even the king's oath on these laws, but the uncomplying determination of the people... This steadfastness and national self21