Showing posts with label Fiumei Road Cemetery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fiumei Road Cemetery. Show all posts

National Pedagogy of Memory Programme in Budapest

Pupils around the Kossuth Maosoleum in the Fiumei Road Cemetery
Case study of the National Pedagogy of Memory Programme at the Fiumei Road Cemetery and the National Park of Mourning in Budapest, Hungary.

About the Programme

The National Pedagogy of Memory Programme is a comprehensive, nation-level educational initiative in Hungary operating at the intersection of experiential learning, history education, and cultural identity. Implemented through a strategic partnership between the National Heritage Institute (NÖRI) and the Klebelsberg Centre, the programme spans 53 national and historical memorials.

The programme directly challenges the common public perception of cemeteries as static spaces of mourning. Instead, it reframes them as dynamic "open classrooms" and cultural landscapes where history comes alive through individual human stories.

For more comprehensive information about the initiative, please visit the official page of The National Heritage Institute.

Case Study

The complete case study is fully accessible on the European Cemeteries Route website.

The published materials encompass the three-level pedagogical methodology, academic attendance figures, detailed 5-point scale statistical evaluations from teachers and students, as well as qualitative student testimonials and multimedia resources.

Event video overviews are also featured here:


WDEC 2026 at the Fiumei Road Cemetery

Guided walk at the Fiumei Road Cemetery
Explore the guided walks taking place at Fiumei Road Cemetery in Budapest during the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2026.

23 May 2026 | 1:00 PM

Architectural Values of the Fiumei Road Graveyard – The Mausoleums and the Arcades

The most spectacular architectural landmarks of the Fiumei Road Cemetery are its grand mausoleums and double arcades. Within the framework of the National Pedagogy of Memory Programme, these key attractions are presented to every student group visiting the Fiumei Road Graveyard National Memorial. During the walk, visitors will learn about the lives and legacies of those resting here, as the gates of the Batthyány, Deák, Kossuth, and Ganz mausoleums—usually closed to the public—will be opened.

A unique feature of this programme, prepared specifically for WDEC, is that the tour offers extensive art-historical and architectural insight into the buildings’ symbolism, structural elements, and stylistic features. The walk concludes among the family memorials of the double arcades, which evoke an Italianate atmosphere and were crafted in some of the most renowned stonemasonry workshops of the era.

Details and registration: www.fiumeiutisirkert.nori.gov.hu

29 May 2026 | 3:00 PM

Immortal Art – A Sculpture Walk in the Fiumei Road Graveyard

Strolling through the cemetery feels like wandering through an extraordinary open-air sculpture park, featuring works by some of Hungary’s most celebrated sculptors, including János Fadrusz, György Zala, Miklós Ligeti, and Jenő Bory. Statues often tell stories and possess histories of their own, many of which will be explored during the tour.

We will visit the resting place of Miklós Izsó and commemorate the double anniversary of Alajos Stróbl, born 170 years ago and deceased 100 years ago, a central figure in the artistic life of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Numerous works by Stróbl can be found throughout the cemetery, including the sculptural elements of the Kossuth Mausoleum, the memorial to János Arany, the granite lion of Dezső Szilágyi, and Hungary’s first surviving equestrian statue.

Hungarian Sculpture Day (29 May), marking the anniversary of Miklós Izsó’s death, falls during WDEC week. To celebrate the occasion, we are organising this special walk in the Fiumei Road Graveyard for the first time.

Details and registration: www.fiumeiutisirkert.nori.gov.hu

30 May 2026 | 10:00 AM

Informal ‘Conversation’ with Literary Historian Ágnes Széchenyi – A Literary Walk

In the spirit of scholarly outreach and to mark the occasion of WDEC, we have invited a renowned Hungarian scholar to lead a guided walk. Professor Ágnes Széchenyi is a prominent figure in contemporary literary studies and an expert on Hungary’s legendary literary journal Nyugat (1908–1944).

Walking among the graves of the writers published in Nyugat, the Professor will bring to life the careers, relationships, debates, and rivalries of the journal’s founders and successive generations. The graves scattered throughout the cemetery truly speak to us only when we attempt to weave the lives and works of those resting beneath the stone and bronze into a single narrative.

This walk will be an unconventional literature lesson, featuring fewer dry facts and many fascinating stories. We will remember, among others, Endre Ady, Mihály Babits, Zsigmond Móricz, Lajos Nagy, Aladár Schöpflin, Attila József, and Miklós Radnóti.

Details and registration: www.fiumeiutisirkert.nori.gov.hu

WDEC 2025 in Budapest

Guided walk at Fiumei Road Cemetery
Discover the activities that took place in Fiumei Road Cemetery as part of the WDEC 2025 and the Gardens of 80 project.

New Flower Bed

As part of this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries and the Gardens of 80 project, a new flower bed was created at the World War II memorial, a frequently visited part of the Fiumei Road Cemetery. The composition, featuring a dove and the number 80, was made of flowers in two colors and symbolizes 80 years of peace following the end of World War II.

Live Image Flash Mob

On May 9, 2025, a special event took place at Fiumei Road Cemetery, where students came together to create a powerful visual message of unity and hope. Together, they formed the word “PEACE” in a coordinated human formation flash mob.

This formation was recorded by a drone. The footage was later enhanced with a musical background and shared publicly as a meaningful message of peace.

Message of Peace

Mr. Gábor Móczár, General Director of the Hungarian National Heritage Institute, took a short walk through the newly planted tree alley at Fiumei Road Cemetery, consisting of nearly 80 trees, and shared his message of peace in a brief speech.

Guided Walk

A special guided walk entitled "The Struggle of Our Ancestors Is Transformed into Peace Through Remembrance" will take place at the Fiumei Road Cemetery, commemorating 80 years since the end of World War II. During the programme, we will explore life’s works of the writers, poets, and visual artists buried here, seeking to understand how the themes of war and peace appear in their creative legacy.

Highlights of the walk include:

  • The Memorial to the Hungarian Victims of World War II
  • Poets Mihály Babits and Miklós Radnóti
  • Sculptor György Zala and painter Jenő Barcsay
  • Composer Ferenc Erkel

The walk took place on May 9, 2025, and was conducted in Hungarian.

The photo was taken at the grave of Endre Ady during the guided walk. His poem “Man Among Inhumanity” became an iconic anti-war piece during World War II.

Additional information

For any questions, please contact István Kovács at istvan.kovacs@nori.gov.hu.

WDEC 2024 at the Fiumei Road Cemetery

WDEC 2024 at the Fiumei Road Cemetery
Discover the tours that will take place at the Fiumei Road Cemetery in Budapest, during the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2024.

May 25 at 10:00 a.m., Memorial Day of Hungarian heroes

Commemoration of the Hungarian National Guard and representatives of military and social organizations with wreath-laying.

The Fiume Road Graveyard National Memorial is where many heroes of modern Hungary are laid to rest. People, whose actions and decisions had an impact on Hungary’s fate. On the Day of Remembrance of Hungarian Heroes, we will remember them because Hungary would not be the same without them.

May 25 at 10:00 a.m., "The silver thread from my hand" (Literature walk)

On the walk, we will pay our respects at the graves of Hungarian writers and poets who weren't included in the previous literature walks. We will learn more about the lives of Béla Balázs, Anna Lesznai, Mari Jászai, Lenke Bajza, Sophie Török, Zseni Várnai, Dezső Tandori, Imre Sarkadi and Iván Mándy.

May 29, 17:00 p.m., Bicycle tour

On hidden paths – Bicycle tour in the Fiumei Road Cemetery.

One of the most distinctive green spaces in Budapest, the Fiumei Road Cemetery, is home to a wealth of special monuments, many of which are tucked away in the wooded areas at the back of the cemetery. The bike tour will explore these lesser-known corners of the cemetery, uncovering fascinating tales along the way. As we will ride through the tree-lined avenues, we will encounter artistic tombs, learn about our guardian angels, and discover the stories behind family mausoleums and slender female figures.

The tour will start at the main entrance of the Fiumei Road Cemetery.
Note: The organizer cannot provide bicycles for the programme. Please bring your own bicycle.

Additional information

The tours are organised in Hungarian language. If you would like to have a guided tour in English, please contact idegenvezetes@nori.gov.hu.

Planting a peace tree in Budapest

Planting a peace tree in Budapest
On 26 May 2023, a tree was planted at the Fiumei Road Cemetery in Budapest as part of the ASCE Peace Tree Project.

The Peace Tree Project

The ASCE Peace Tree Project aims to encourage ASCE members to plant a tree at their cemeteries as a symbolic reminder of the importance of peace, not only after death but also during life. In doing so, the central message of the project is spread: “Live in peace to rest in peace!”.

The planting of the first tree and thereby the official start of the project took place at Pobrežje Cemetery in Maribor, Slovenia, on 25 May 2023.

The second peace tree was planted a day after that, on 26 May 2023, in the Fiumei Road Cemetery in Budapest, Hungary.

You can find more details about the project HERE.

WDEC 2023 at the Fiumei Road Cemetery

Fiumei Road Cemetery (Budapest, Hungary)
Don't miss out on the wide variety of events that will take place in Budapest, Hungary, during this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries.

27 May 2023 (Saturday)

➤ 10 am: Minibus tour

On the occasion of the Day of the Memorial Places, held in the Fiumei Road Cemetery, there will be free guided minibus tours offered with a duration of 45 minutes. Using the minibus allows us to present the entire area of the cemetery. The tour’s specialty is that visitors can also be presented to famous people, graves, and exciting places that cannot be reached on an average thematic walk due to long distances.

➤ 10 am: Sporty walk

Hungarians, go for it! Athletes and sports leaders in the Fiumei Road Cemetery. During our walk we will visit the graves of well-known and lesser-known figures of Hungarian sports history. We will get to know their humorous, dramatic or even tragic stories, and remember their successes that brought glory to them and their country.

➤ 11 am: Minibus tour

On the occasion of the Day of the Memorial Places, held in the Fiumei Road Cemetery, there will be free guided minibus tours offered with a duration of 45 minutes. Using the minibus allows us to present the entire area of the cemetery. The tour’s specialty is that visitors can also be presented to famous people, graves, and exciting places that cannot be reached on an average thematic walk due to long distances.

➤ 1 pm: Bicycle tour

On hidden roads. Bicycle tour in the Fiumei Road Cemetery. One of the most unique green areas of Budapest, the Fiumei Road Cemetery, hides countless special monuments, many of them located in remote, almost wooded areas of the cemetery. During our bike tour we visit these lesser-known parts of the cemetery, which preserve more interesting stories. On the roads, densely overgrown with trees, we will ride between artistic graves, and unravel the secrets of guardian angels, family mausoleums and slender female figures.

➤ 9 pm: Turek – Radnóti’s poetry theatre evening

The audience of Miklós Turek's poetry theatre performance will witness the last moments of the life of a Hungarian poet who tragically died at a young age. 


28 May 2023 (Sunday)

➤ 11 am: Concert for children (Kolompos)

Kolompos is an authentic Hungarian folk music group, playing mainly for children. They introduce folk music, dance and customs, poetry and tales to little ones in an interactive and entertaining way. On Children's Day, a one-hour concert will take place at the Fiumei Road Cemetery on a meadow among flowers.

➤ 1 pm: Family walk

The mysterious world of the Fiumei Road Cemetery is not only interesting for adults, its stories can also be explored through children's eyes. We will decipher the decorations of old graves and the meanings of special sculptures, while also getting to know the varied flora. The walk is recommended for children aged 7-12.

➤ All afternoon Discovery game

Search - seek - collect - explore the tomb garden. Explore the graveyard with the help of a puzzle sheet. The game can be played individually or in a team.


1 June 2023 (Thursday)

➤ 10 am: Maternity/Baby-mommy and/or daddy walk

We will invite parents with small babies to our unusual themed walk, in a more informal way. By informal, we mean that the rhythm of the walk and the stops are adapted to the needs of the participants, that is, it is possible to stop at any time during the walk, to feed a baby at the resting places, and the crying of a child is not considered a disturbing factor among those applying for the walk. We hope that not only the beautiful environment, but also the cultural and historical experiences during the walk will be a source of refreshment for new moms and dads.


3 June 2023 (Saturday)

➤ 10 am: Minibus tour

On the occasion of the Day of the Memorial Places, held in the Fiumei Road Cemetery, there will be free guided minibus tours offered with a duration of 45 minutes. Using the minibus allows us to present the entire area of the cemetery. The tour’s specialty is that visitors can also be presented to famous people, graves, and exciting places that cannot be reached on an average thematic walk due to long distances.

➤ 11 am: Minibus tour

On the occasion of the Day of the Memorial Places, held in the Fiumei Road Cemetery, there will be free guided minibus tours offered with a duration of 45 minutes. Using the minibus allows us to present the entire area of the cemetery. The tour’s specialty is that visitors can also be presented to famous people, graves, and exciting places that cannot be reached on an average thematic walk due to long distances.


4 June 2023 (Sunday)

➤ 11 am: Pest-Kolozsvár walk

"Beautiful city of Cluj Napoca". During our walk, we will reminisce about the capital of Transylvania, visiting the graves of people whose lives were marked by Cluj-Napoca: either because they were born as a native of this treasured city, or because their time in the city was a turning point in their career or at a certain stage of their lives. We can find out what Ferenc Erkel and Zsigmond Móricz owed to the famous city, as well as whose works have markedly defined Cluj-Napoca's built and intellectual heritage, as with János Fadrusz’s emblematic statue of Matthias, or the first permanent Hungarian-language theatre, with artists such as Mari Jászai and Márton Lendvay.

➤ 1 pm: "Beyond the borders" walk

They were born in the annexed areas and their graves are located in the Fiumei Road Cemetery. During our walk, we will talk about the writers, poets, artists, statesmen and soldiers born outside the borders of today’s Hungary, and whose life's work is an integral part of Hungarian culture and history.


 

Photos of the WDEC 2022 in Budapest

WDEC 2022 in Budapest
Events from the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2022 in Budapest, summarized in a short photo review.

This year, the National Heritage Institute (NHI) joined the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries (WDEC) with various colorful events, that took place from May 27 to June 1, 2022, at the Fiumei Road Cemetery in Budapest (Hungary).

For those of you who could not attend the events, or just want to relive the memories, we collected some highlights of the events in the photos below.

Opening of the Sculpture Park at the Fiumei Road Cemetery

Opening of the Sculpture Park at the Fiumei Road Cemetery Opening of the Sculpture Park at the Fiumei Road Cemetery Opening of the Sculpture Park at the Fiumei Road Cemetery

Poetry theater with Miklós Turek at the Fiumei Road Cemetery

Poetry theater with Miklós Turek at the Fiumei Road Cemetery Poetry theater with Miklós Turek at the Fiumei Road Cemetery Poetry theater with Miklós Turek at the Fiumei Road Cemetery Poetry theater with Miklós Turek at the Fiumei Road Cemetery Poetry theater with Miklós Turek at the Fiumei Road Cemetery

"In the footsteps of heroes" – Family Day at the Fiumei Road Cemetery

"In the footsteps of heroes" – Family Day at the Fiumei Road Cemetery "In the footsteps of heroes" – Family Day at the Fiumei Road Cemetery "In the footsteps of heroes" – Family Day at the Fiumei Road Cemetery "In the footsteps of heroes" – Family Day at the Fiumei Road Cemetery "In the footsteps of heroes" – Family Day at the Fiumei Road Cemetery "In the footsteps of heroes" – Family Day at the Fiumei Road Cemetery "In the footsteps of heroes" – Family Day at the Fiumei Road Cemetery "In the footsteps of heroes" – Family Day at the Fiumei Road Cemetery "In the footsteps of heroes" – Family Day at the Fiumei Road Cemetery "In the footsteps of heroes" – Family Day at the Fiumei Road Cemetery "In the footsteps of heroes" – Family Day at the Fiumei Road Cemetery "In the footsteps of heroes" – Family Day at the Fiumei Road Cemetery

Crossroads of diversity: photo exhibition

WDEC 2022 in Budapest: Crossroads of diversity exhibition WDEC 2022 in Budapest: Crossroads of diversity exhibition WDEC 2022 in Budapest: Crossroads of diversity exhibition WDEC 2022 in Budapest: Crossroads of diversity exhibition