HUNGARY/SLOVENIA: Hungarians and Slovenians join forces across their borders for a common tourist region and wine route

Record ID: 783821

  • Title: HUNGARY/SLOVENIA: Hungarians and Slovenians join forces across their borders for a common tourist region and wine route
  • Date: 4th April 2007
  • Summary: (CEEF) LENTI, HUNGARY (RECENT) (REUTERS) THERMAL SPA WITH MURANIA SIGN IN FRONT OF IT THERMAL BATH INSIDE SPA WITH PEOPLE ENJOYING RELAXING WOMAN RELAXING IN THERMAL WATER SPA POOL OPENING TO OUTSIDE POOL PEOPLE SWIMMING OUT INTO THE OUTDOOR POOL YOUNG PEOPLE ENJOYING OUTDOOR THERMAL POOL
  • Embargoed: 19th April 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVA4RJ3XVZWULFX3D25SYSPS8JIQ
  • Story Text: The gently sloping hills around Lenti in south-west Hungary were once part of one large region under the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.
    The conflicts and wars in the 20th century led to divisions and borders but today Hungarians and Slovenians on both sides hope that they can re-establish a practically borderless, common region, once again.
    Since both Hungary and Slovenia are EU members and will soon join the Schengen zone, cross border co-operation has become easier. The most ambitious joint project is the creation of a common region called Murania. The name comes from the river Mura that runs along the border between Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia.
    The project focuses on co-operation in tourism and creating a new image for the region built on the similarities these border areas share. For example, both sides can boast of healing thermal waters as well as extensive vineyards. But instead of competing with each other they want to work together.
    Within the Murania framework, mayors of the Hungarian Lenti and the Slovenian Lendava decided last year to create a joint Hungarian-Slovenian tourist region.
    One of the first tangible signs of the project is the series of Murania billboards showing the main tourist attractions on both sides.
    "Both culturally and economically we would like this to become a model region in Europe where we can show an example that, if we think together responsibly, then the different languages are not an obstacle. We can forget the old conflicts between nationalities and those who live here can get by together regardless of what nation they belong to. We would like to serve with an example of this for the whole European Union," Laszlo Nogradi, mayor of Lenti said.
    The Murania project has already received significant EU funds, over 400,000 euros since last year.
    One of the priority plans is to create a joint wine route of Hungarian and Slovenian wine makers. Both sides along the border abound in vineyards and produce characteristic white wines. In fact, the two sides used to be one wine region before World War I.
    Laszlo Bussay is the leading wine maker of the Hungarian side, renowned for his full-bodied and oak-aged white wines, and recently experimenting with bringing red wine to the area as well. He believes the joint wine route would revive centuries old traditions of the common wine region.
    "People used to visit each other across the borders, they were relatives. They tasted each other's wines. One pub owner would send across for the other if they ran out of wine asking him to lend some, or asked each other to taste the wine. Today we call this wine tourism. We need to revive these roads again, cover them with new stones. These roads exist, we don't need to break new roads, they are there. And now, we have to revive these from a marketing point of view. It's nothing new, we would just return to the ancient order of things. Is there anything more beautiful than this?" Bussay said.
    The old Austro-Hungarian monarchy-era routes run through the woods in the hills that stretch along the border. The old border stones will soon lose their role when both Hungary and Slovenia become members of the Schengen zone next year. Once inside the zone, people will be able cross freely along the so-called green border areas.
    The old route and thus the planned new wine route would enter Slovenia very near where Lajos Cuk wine maker has his winery on the hills over Lendava town in Slovenia.
    Cuk belongs to Slovenia's Hungarian minority and he is the leading wine-maker of Lendava. His winery is renowned for its light, fruity whites all made in stainless steel barrels.
    Like Bussay on the other side, Cuk also believes the region is capable of giving grand reds too.
    Cuk hopes the new wine routes will boost wine tourism even more and bring tourists from all over Europe to the steep slopes of Lendava.
    "If we make good wines here then it will be really worth reviving the old monarchy roads because we will hopefully attract visitors from all over Europe," Cuk said.
    Lendava's main tourist attraction is its thermal water and the famous spa hotel, and many visitors end up taking long walks along the vineyard hills. The town is keen to develop its tourist attractions further and by joining forces with the Hungarian side they can access more funds from the EU.
    "In this way we can exchange ideas and experiences. We can strengthen the whole region around the border in both countries. And in this way, with continued efforts, we can make this area more attractive, more interesting and we can also apply together for bigger EU funds," Igor Kolenko, director of the Lendava tourism office said.
    Slovenian and Hungarian wine-makers hope that with the development of Murania, visitors and locals alike from both sides will find their way across the border and re-establish something of the old bonds.
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