By Janos Dobos | Project Leader
Friends of Szadvar left no stones unturned.
1688. The Austrian Empire sent forces to Szadvar to set the proud and strong towers and walls of the castle on fire. They probably used explosives as well in certain parts of the castle to bring it to ruin and useless for the potential Hungarian rebellion.
Many stones were falling off the huge walls. The ones which remained were beaten by the rain and the winds and were fallen later.
In the next 3 centuries the majority of the castle stones were taken from the mountain to the valley and re-used by the people from the surrounding villages like the famous unpeopled Derenk. They used them to build their houses, fences, bridges. Derenk was unpeopled after 1938 so the people from Szögliget tore down the houses and used the stones of Szadvar again to build their houses.
2015. The Szadvar area had a beautiful autumn weekend on the 23-24th of October. All the colors and scents of the forest were surrounding a small group of enthusiastic people from around the country again. A group which climbed up to the castle mountain again to enjoy the autumn landscape and to help the ruins to rise from the surrounding forest. A group which was formed to save the castle of Szadvar.
We left no stones unturned. Although we were not looking for any articles this time since the excavations are already over for this year. But during the 19th “Save the Castle Days” the stones of Szadvar were moving again. Of course not the ones built in the houses long ago. But the ones still resting on the castle mountain were moved from under the walls down next to the passageway. It is needed to be prepared for the possible excavations and conservations in the future.
You cannot get blood from a stone. But we think each stone of Szadvar has seen a lot and has a heart inside. We believe Global Giving does give us the opportunity to get help to save this part of the Hungarian history and heritage. Thank you for your help in the name of the people who believes in it and contributes to saving the castle. Saving Szadvar and the heart in its stones.
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