GlobalGiving.org: Szadvar castle project and youth camp, Hungary

Looking back at 2011 and looking forward to 2012

Timea Tomatas — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:04:56 GMT

While the ruins of the castle of Szadvar sleep under the thick layer of white snow we can proudly look back at the 2011 achievements of out 5 year old nonprofit. Despite the worsening economic crisis in Europe with the help of our donors we were able to achieve more than in the year before.

The association was able to sponsor and assist on the preservation efforts of the northern wall where archeologists found and restored 3 medieval loopholes. In addition we organized a wildly successful archeology camp in the summer that gave some unforgettable memories to dozens of participants. Whether it was a 15th century polish coin, a lost bullet or a vase our members still recall the excitement of finding these artifact under four centuries of rubble.

This year we managed to reach another important milestone, in early December our friend Milan from Slovakia donated his time and effort to complete a geodesical survey of the full castle. As a result the current state of the ruins is preserved and can be used for any future restoration effort.

We are anticipating another great year in 2012. While the economic conditions are not favorable and securing grants is more difficult than ever, we believe that our donors will raise enough funds to repeat the archology camp in the summer. In addition using the results of the geo survey we will try to save the remaining wall of the former castle toilet that is about to fall down the hill within a year or two.

We would like to thank all of our donors for enabling us to carry out our mission. We would be also happy to host anyone who is interested in Archeology in the summer of 2012.

Links:

Geo survey

Digging for treasures

Timea Tomatas — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 01:35:33 GMT

The team in August

It all started 5 years ago and we wanted to make it a memorable 5th anniversary. This summer we organized not only conservation work but a week of archeology under the supervision of professional archeologists.

On August 1. two dozen volunteers occupied the outer bailey of Szadvar to start the first large scale archeology expedition. No one needed a reminder at 6 am that it was time to wake up. The enthusiasm was tangible in the air, the waiting was over. The lead archeologist designated 7 areas in the outer bailey and assigned a mix of volunteers and professionals to each one. In the following 6 days a total of 50 people dug deeper and deeper looking for walls, artifacts and treasures, locating the foundations of the outer and middle gatehouses and unearting the site of the blacksmith shop. People were thrilled to find Polish coins from the 15th century, parts of a pipe, various dishes, bullets etc. All of these artifacts bring us closer to understand how people lived in the castle 4-5-600 years ago.

A week of excavation required great physical sacrifice from our team, but as a number of volunteers commented after the event, they couldn't wait for next year do it again.

Before the excavation started a team of architects, archeologist and builders had begun work on the northern wall of the outer bailey. Thanks to grants and donations we we able to finance the research and conservation of this part of the walls. The archeologists found and restored three new loopholes and rebuilt a section of the wall before bad weather forced them to suspend the work. Luckily weather condition improved by mid August and the work can be finished in the next two week.

We are going to gather on the castle hill again in October to carry out our semi annual castle ground cleanup as well as take an excursion and spend time together as a team. This event would not have been possible without the donations of our supporters! Thank you and please consider helping us next year again!

The devil is in the detail

Digging, just digging

Links:

Latest news, pictures

Our 5 year anniversary

Timea Tomatas — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:19:25 GMT

Then and Now

Times passes by so quickly.

It was already five years ago that a group of people from all over the county ascended to Szadvar to dig out the ruins of the medieval castle from its 300 years Cinderella like dream. 5 years later again a few dozen volunteers gathered again in the valley of the Menes river at the Szalamandra house to clean up the castle from its winter sleep. It was a beautiful relatively warm day. We greeted our old friends and welcomed newcomers. We really appreciate that people spend their time and money to save a piece of medieval history.

The team climbed up the hill and reached the outer gate in 25 minutes. After short orientations smaller teams started cutting the foliage, collecting garbage and stones on the southern side of the castle.

We were especially pleased to welcome the representatives of Saros castle (Slovakia) whom came to Szadvar for the first time and we have every reason to believe that it is the start of a long term cooperation. On Monday the joined teams got into their cars and drove up to Saros to check out how the works progress up there.

Due to the grants and donations we are ready to start the conservation works in the summer on the eastern wall and provided we can raise an additional $3000 we will also conduct our first excavation workshop in July or August.

We would also love you to join any of these efforts. Please contact us for details if you want to have a medieval experience.

The team

Stone gathering

Links:

www.szadvar.hu

Looking forward to 2011 and looking back at 2010

Timea Tomatas — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:31:29 GMT

Karoly Kos Award

Dear Szadvar Supporters, Donors, Friends,

Approaching the end of the year we would like to thank you for your support, contribution and hard work! Our collaboration has been recognized by the Hungarian Government on Dec 16th when our organization was given the Karoly Kos Award. The award has been given since 1999 to local organizations that according to the funders "have done an outstanding job protecting our local historical heritage".  

As the award justification stated:

"Many of the castles that are far from the major tourist centers are in bad shape and disappear from our eyes year after year. Szadvar was part of this group until a group of volunteers decided to save it. The members of the Association cleaned up the courtyards, carried out a geodesical survey and started to conserve the walls and towers. The Association expanded its activities organizing a youth camp for children from 3 countries."
 
As we look back at 2010 we feel immensely proud to see the remaining wall of the old 15th century palace preserved for the future as well the northern part of the outer courtyard unearthed. We are grateful that thanks to the donations and grants we were able to spend multiple occasions this year at the castle and make progress according to our long term plans. Judging from the increase of visitors we are on the right path to help this long forgotten castle wake up from its Cinderella dream and assist the economical development of the village of Szogliget.

Thanks to our supporters we can optimistically look forward to 2011, despite the less than optimal economic conditions we are only a little bit behind with our fundraising goals and aim to complete the restoration of the northern wall as well as excavate the outer courtyard to learn more about the histroy of the castle. The excavations are expected to take place in August please let us know if you were interested joining us.

Again, thank you for your support and please think about Szadvar in 2011!

Holiday Greetings

2010 Plans

Timea Tomatas — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:02:29 GMT

Thanks to contributions from our donors, members and grants the effort to save the ruins of Szadvar Castle continue in 2010. As usual in March, dozens of Szadvar supporters marched up the snow covered hilltop to prepare the grounds for the works scheduled for July-August. Association members worked for 3 days, tirelessly removing vegetation, collecting stones while enjoying the challange and the company of friends not seen for a while.

In July the walls of the gothic palace would be conserved and renovated, while in August a section of the northern wall is to be unearthed and conserved. The urgency of works around the palace wall is underscored by the fact that during the winter another section of the two-storey wall collapsed due to the weather. Thanks to the survey executed in 2009 the previous of state of the building is recorded and can be restored.

The March efforts were not spectacular but they were absolutely necessary to keep the castle grounds clean and transparent.

In addition to the castle saving efforts the association is also committed to the education of children about the importance of saving historical heritage and to foster international collaboration. As a result in August 2009 we organized the first medieval summer camp for children from Hungary and Slovakia. In 2010 we would like to extend the international reach to at least three countries and include polish children as well.

The summer camp does not only teach them about medieval history, archeolgy but also gives an opportunity to the children to interact with others from a different cultural background.

Visit the following page for pictures: http://www.szadvar.hu/2010/03/beszamolo-a-viii-varmento-napokrol/#more-1721

2009 Fall Works

Timea Tomatas — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:48:30 GMT

Why Szadvar?

(A personal note from our last activity.)

I am completely biased to answer this question. I could say just because but then I would lose the exciting details of being part of this great initiative.

I arrived Thursday night to the usual accomodation and spent the next few hours with old (castle) friends.

Next morning by the time we climbed up to the fog covered castle the rain has stopped and we formed smaller teams to execute on the tasks that were lying ahead. Our work was not as spectacular as in the summer but was needed to keep the castle and the surroundings neat.

Some people cut the vegetation, others collected stone for the works planned for next summer while others continued the conservation work on the outer walls.

I was glad to get back to the village have dinner and head to bed to recharge the batteries for the following day. As usual going to bed early was not an option. As we were getting ready to call it the day relief forces signalled their arrival, several people from the distant Csobanc castle (150 miles away) arrived to take part in the effort. Instead of going to sleep we again spent hours to catch up with the newcomers.

Next day beautiful weather waited for us and several new people joined in as well, some from as far as 300 miles from Slovakia. Thanks to the good weather we could enjoy the spectacular panorama of the Aggtelek National Park.

The 7th Save the Castle day ended in a local restaurant where everyone joined in for some singing and dancing.

So why Szadvar? That is why! Because of the 2 days of hard work, of being together for a common goal, to help a local community.

Our activities are covered from donation from all around the world. We would like to thank our donors for making our work possible!

Plans for next year:

- 8th Save the castle day around March 15th to prepare the grounds for the summer works - Archeology camp for students in June - Conservation work on the 15th century gothic palace

We would also love you to join any of these efforts. Please contact us for details if you want to have a medieval experience.

2009 Summer activities

Timea Tomatas — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:09:23 GMT

Dozens of volunteers - under the supervision of the Herman Otto Muzeum and KOH - carried out the most extensive conservation work to date at Szadvar. The work focused on the most endangered section of the ruins, the remanants of the southern wall that once connected the outer gatehouse with the Nemet Bastion.

Our volunteers defying the summer heat removed several layers of earth under the walls, cleaned the walls and covered it with a protective layer to resist the weather conditions. As part of the project 5 previously unknown loopholes were located in the wall, some of them were partially restored during the workshop.

The results of the projects were visible already during the conseravation works. People who never visited the site before decided to check it out. The number of tourists visiting the site has exponentially grown since 2006.

A photoalbum can be viewed here: http://picasaweb.google.hu/nagyonvarbarat/Szadvar2009Julius814#

In mid July the effort of our nonprofit were recognized by the top heritage institute in Hungary, when it received the Podmaniczky price.

We would like to thank our individual domestic and foreign donors, the National Cultural Fund, the Aggtelek National Park, the Otto Hermann Museum, Eszakerdo and KOH for their support!

Contact us if you are interested joining our next workshop planned for late October or have any other comments, questions!

Links:

http://picasaweb.google.hu/nagyonvarbarat/Szadvar2009Julius814#

Spring cleanup

Timea Tomatas — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:33:06 GMT

A record number (70+) of volunteers turned out to kick off the 2009 activities at Szadvar castle.

On Friday March 14th, winter conditions awaited the association members, who were not deterred by snow and bravely fought their way through the woods just outside the southern wall.

By Saturday spring has arrived and we could continue the work in much better conditions.

The spring effort targetted the area around the old military road leading up to the gates as well as the area just outside the southern wall. We wanted to improve the visibility of the ruins as well as prepare the ground for the summer work that is scheduled for July to conserve and save the southern wall between the gate and the Nemet bastion.

Efforts are also underway to organize the International Historic Heritage Summer Camp for Children. We have participants signed up from Poland, Slovakia and Hungary so far.

2009 plans

Timea Tomatas — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:24:25 GMT

The Lisztes bastion after the October conservation work

Despite the difficult economic climate our organization is looking to do more in 2009.

We are gearing up for the 6th "Save the castle" Day scheduled for the March 13-14. The goal of the worksshop is to prepare the grounds for more conservation work as well as to set up desks, covered areas in an effort to create a pleasant tourist destination.

In the summer of 2009, (most likely in June) we are going to organize an international summer camp for children with learning disabilities. The camp will provide an opportunity to enjoy the natural wonders of the Aggtelek National Park (Unesco World Heritage) and learn about the history of Szadvar Castle. Participants will engage in reviving the Szadvar nature path, place informational signs for tourists about the path and the castle.

Also in the summer of 2009 - if we succeed raising the necessary funds - we will complete the conservation of the Lisztes bastion and start working on the Sourthern walls next to the outer gatehouse.

The Lisztes bastion after the October conservation work

September Workshop

Timea Tomatas — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:53:00 GMT

Lisztes bastion

Thanks to material and financial donations, preservation work has began on the Lisztes bastion. In the end of September members of the association collected and cleaned a large amount of scattered stone. Under the guidance of professionals from the Miskolc Bureau of the Office for Historic Preservation preservation efforts took place the first time in 300 year. As a result the deteriation was stopped and 3 loopholes were restored. The association will finish the year with the traditional fall castle workshop in the end of October.

Links:

September album