A project in Hungary’s Western Transdanubian region aims to boost tourism and revitalise the area for residents through refurbishing and making accessible ancient Roman ruins.
- 01 February 2016
The ancient Roman ruins on Attila Street in Héviz had become worn down over the years, and the area was no longer attractive for tourists. Through the project, not only were monuments restored, but the surrounding area was revitalised as well.
Attracting tourists and city residents
A Roman villa was renovated and other structures were added. An amphitheatre was built to follow the Roman theme, and to encourage residents to gather together for festivals and shows. Hungarian sculptor Lajos Orr was commissioned to add a black marble dog statue in line with the style of the Roman era, and to symbolise guarding the park. A playground was also added to encourage families to visit. In addition to monuments, green space was revitalised throughout the park. A walking trail was added as well, allowing visitors to walk through the park and admire the ruins from the path. A new viewing platform accessible from the trail was added for enhanced enjoyment of the ruins.
Improving accessibility
The park was made accessible for disabled visitors too, including disabled transport, and an indoor bicycle storage and outdoor bicycle stands were installed to make visiting easier for everyone. The sewage system was updated and public toilets were added to increase visitor comfort. With more green space, an amphitheatre, and impressive ruins, the area will now be home to festivals, tours, and fairs. It is expected that tourist numbers will increase, bringing in revenue for the town and lesson the previously seasonal nature of the area.
Total Investment and EU Funding
Total investment for the project “Green surface recultivation and tourism enhancement project of Roman ruins in Héviz” is HUF 68 907 484 (EUR 219 374), of which the EU’s European Regional Development Fund is contributing HUF 49 374 220 (EUR 157 188) from the Operational Programme “West Pannon” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period, under the priority axis “Tourism development”.