Mezei István: Urban development in Slovakia (Pécs-Somorja, 2010)
6. Towns along the Hungarian and Slovak border
Towns along the Hungarian and Slovak border rowing and rock climbing, etc. This is how the Danube has become a connecting link and a possibility serving as the basis for future development. Eurovelo 6, an international cycling path, is being planned along the banks of the Danube, as well as the construction of marinas and other infrastructure necessary for water tourism. As an example we could mention the relations between the Hídverő (bridge-building) settlements at the mouth of the river Žitava, which was organized by the Rákóczi Alliance at the end of the 1990s. The idea was that the experience of former historical coexistence should be renewed and, in an abstract sense, a bridge should be built to connect the settlements on the two banks of the Danube, as a result of which cooperation would probably be easier in the future and the small region forming in this way might be more powerful when facing different forums. The idea was supported by the local government of Neszmély in Hungary. In Slovakia thirteen settlements joined the alliance, after it had been officially established on 2nd July 1999. The Slovak settlements that joined are Zlatná na Ostrove, Bátorove Kosihy, Búč, Chotín, lža, Kravany nad Dunajom, Marcelova, Moča, Modrany, Patince, Radvaň nad Dunajom, Virt and Vŕbová nad Váhom. On the Hungarian side, no additional settlements have joined the alliance, but they appreciate its work and participate officially in all of its programmes. Concerning the Hídverő settlements, it can be stated that the cooperation did not exclusively involve the Hídverő Days, which is an annual event held in Neszmély as its permanent venue and in another settlement of the alliance and which has inevitable regional gravitational force. In 2009, the Hídverő Days were organized for the fourteenth time. Every year a bridge-building column is always dedicated in any of the member settlements. On the occasion of the Hungarian millennium, almost all of the settlements erected a sculpture expressing that they are parts of Hungarian history. It was mentioned in Neszmély that alliance membership has greatly contributed to the development of the settlement and it is indispensable when the member settlements are planning the future of their villages and striving to achieve their goals. The infrastructure that is necessary for the organization of the Hídverő Days (a wooden community room - actually a hayshed - and a row of ovens on the bank of the Danube to provide for several thousand people) can be used by the local government of Neszmély for other purposes, too. At present, it serves as a stop of a scheduled cruise organized by an American travel agency where interesting programmes are awaiting tourists. The other 176
