A műemlékek sokszínűsége (A 28. Egri Nyári Egyetem előadásai 1998 Eger, 1998)

Előadások / Presentations - ÁGOSTHÁZI László: Szántódpuszta, a large farm in baroque style

Back in 1735, a chapel was erected, commissioned by Abbot Grasso Vilibald, on top of the hill rising above the puszta. In 1821, it was re-consecrated to Saint James after it was extended and a tower was added to it. It was restored basically to its 1821 shape and consecrated again in 1981,160 years later. CONCLUSION For long centuries, Szántódpuszta had lived so to say quietly. The estate had been a concern only for the Tihany abbey, since it was a guarantee of its living and operation. The puszta had no significance for citizen life, people like Gyula Illyés, István Sinka and József Erdélyi were probably the only ones to turn to the „puszta folks" to whom fate had taught to appreciate life. Even though farming was decisive for Hungary's economic life, its built assets were not discovered until recent times. Preservation and protection have still not become an actual, consistent process. In this respect, Szántódpuszta is an almost symbolic, and certainly model example for several reasons: - it was „discovered" very early, back in 1960, with persistent, stubborn fight for its safeguarding starting and leading to success - the heads of Somogy county initiated the architectural protection of this farming site back in 1961 - to meet the criteria of preservation, a new function was identified, which is based on the specific features of the area and its environment, ensures long-term survival and, first and foremost, involves no alteration to the character of the buildings, and highlights their architectural values - the buildings were restored in line with the standard criteria and techniques of monument protection, which were applied to the assets of farming architecture for the first time. Many more conclusions may be drawn from the history of Szántódpuszta than a short summary like this can include. It would be important that these conclusions are taken into maximum consideration when decisions affecting Hungary's rich heritage of farming architecture are made. May I suggest that Szántódpuszta is a model that deserves to be followed, since its restorers were awarded the minister's Architectural Prize for the high standard and spirit of its restoration in 1986, and a Europa Nostra prize in 1994. NOTES 1 The following books contain interesting data and reflections: Dorottya Cs. Dobrovits, Majorsági építkezés a 18. sz-i Magyarországon [Manor architecture in 18th century Hungary] /Bp. 1983/ Endre Kocsis, A mezőgazdaság és a falu építészete [Farming and rural architecture] /Bp. 19427 László Tomory, Mezőgazdasági építészet [Farming architecture] /Bp. 1978/ Károly Bugár-Mészáros, Mezőhegyes. Műemlékek. [Mezőhegyes. Historic monuments.] /TKM kiskönyvtára n°193,1985 József Zólyomi, A Mailáth uradalom cselédeinek lakáskultúrája a két világháború között [Interior of the dwellings of agricultural labourers at Mailáth estate between the two world wars] /Nógrád megyei Múzeumok Évkönyve 1978/ Ilona Pusztainé Madár, Uradalmi cselédek Békés megyében [Estate labourers in Békés county] /Békéscsaba, 1982/ 2 A concise presentation on the main facts and events of the architectural history of Szántódpuszta is available in: László Ágostházi - Marietta Boross, Szántódpuszta építéstörténete [Architectural history of Szántódpuszta] /Szántódi füzetek X. ed. SIOTOUR, 1985/ 3 The 13 volumes of Szántódi Füzetek published to date give useful information about the history, ethnography and literature of the puszta