VALUABLE PÉCS

The city of Pécs is not only special for its particular climate and location within the country, but also for the unique co-existence of different cultures in the city for the last 2,000 years. This untroubled co-existence of different institutions and beliefs make Pécs a unique city.

The goal of the Local Government of Pécs City with County Rights is to be able to exhibit the historical, architectural and religious variegation of the city as a complex to anyone visiting Pécs. Towards improving the above goal and tourism offers the Local Government called upon Pécsi Városfeljesztési Non-profit Zrt. to hand in a project proposition for the DDOP-2.1.1/AB-12 tender, based on the special religious and historical values of Pécs.

The project of Valuable Pécs is built up by the following organizations: Zsolnay Örökségkezelő Nonprofit Kft. (locations: Cella Septichora, Medieval University, Early Christian Mausoleum), Jewish Communities of Pécs (Synagogue), Reformed Congregation of Pécs-Downtown (Downtown Reformed Church, Sztáray-hall), Reformed Congregation of Pécs-Kertváros (Garden suburb Reformed Church), Serb-Orthodox Congregation of Buda (Zrínyi street 15.).

This tender is worth a gross value of 407,590,950 Ft of which 394,357,693 Ft is subsidy from the National Development Agency, as part of the New Széchenyi Plan. The aim of the tender is to help to develop, restore and make the buildings of the consortium members more interactive.

The central element of the project is to make historical values more attractive. As a part of this the Cella Septichora Visitors Centre, the Early Christian Mausoleum and inner spaces of the Synagogue of Pécs are all going to be restored and opened as well as the exhibition of the Medieval University. As a result of this, a new, modern and structured exhibition concept comes true, which also contains several innovative elements. As a result of development, the highly attractive Angster organ of the Synagogue is going to be operable again after several years of being unserviceable. A new chapel is going to be built for the Serb-Orthodox Congregation of Pécs, which would not only offer an opportunity for the significant number of orthodox citizens to practice their religion, but it would also function as an exhibition of lots of highly valued (historically and religiously as well) icons and it would also become a permanent exhibition space for „Serb Religious Art of Baranya County” exhibition. To secure the religious and historical coherence the next keystone is the restoration of values of the Reformed Church. As a part of this, the building under 33-35, Szabadság street is going to be restored. Ensuring accessibility, restoration of the church garden and adaptation of inner spaces to fit exhibitions are all related tasks. Development of the church of the Reformed Congregations of Pécs-Kertváros (12, Tildy Zoltán street, Pécs) is also part of the reformed value-based project parts. As a result of this project the ceiling of the church would be fitted with ornament themed cassettes, and a brand new mechanic organ would be purchased.