HÉVÍZ.

Code number of the project: NYDOP-2.1.1/F-12-2012-0018

Location of the investment: Egregy quarter of Hévíz town, County Zala

Amount of finance: 448,664,541 HUF, Financial ratio: 100 %
Start of the project: 01.04.2013
Planned completion of the project: 31.01.2015
The development is carried out by the support of the European Union and it is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Project description:

In the autumn 2012, the Local Government of Hévíz town submitted a tourism tender entitled „Eras and Wines – Thematic walking path in Egregy quarter of Hévíz town” for the development of the district of Egregy.  

The project aims to introduce the historic sights as well as culinary and cultural attractions of the Egregy quarter in the framework of a cross-era thematic walking path. As a continuation of the previous project, the enlargement of the ruin garden’s area, the further rehabilitation of the land and the implementation of further developments can be realised. In this area, there are three buildings without function and in poor condition, which will be demolished in order that an event square could be constructed.  The starting point of the thematic walk is the partially excavated ruin, and the Árpád Age church is the ending point, chronologically from Roman times to Christianity, and the arrival of Hungarians. A ceremonial square can be built next to the Roman Catholic Church connected to the church entrance, thus opening the space between the Zrínyi Street and the ceremonial square. The small public square can be lowered compared to the pavement and covered with decorative paving blocks, and a drinking fountain, benches, as well as an arbour-like gate structure on the eastern side towards the museum and the ruin garden can be placed there. On the southern side of the square, between the church and the square, it is planned to plant a line of tree for the purpose of shading, before which the line of thuja trees, situated on the northern and partially eastern side of the church, has to be cut down. Between the ceremonial square and the future exhibition building, all the way to the border of the ruin garden, a grassy event area will be created as part of the project. Two access-roads will cross the lawn: the northern road (stone-paved) will be connected to the building of the museum, the southern road (gravelled) will provide direct pedestrian access between Attila Street and the quarter of Egregy. Along the northern road, plantage of perennial beds is planned for decorative purposes and for the emphasis of the museum entrace. Along the southern estate boundary, a line of bushes frames the territory and there is a line of trees in parallel of it. The line of trees provides shade for the occassional vendors and offsets the effect of the green surface of the single-story park at the same time. An automatic irrigation system establishment is planned in the green area. On the outline of the unexcavated ruin’s existing walls, the developer intends to establish a path of dry Kneipp stepstones to refresh exhausted tourists. A spice garden welcomes visitors in front of the museum building. It is practically integrated into the event square. There are two advantages of the spices: on the one hand, the beneficial fragrances of the spices have an effect on senses, and on the other hand, the culinary use of the spices can be also possible in the future. Next to the ruins – in a building currently used for agricultural purposes -, an exhibition area will be developed, where historic relics of the area - findings collected during previous excavations and other artifacts - will be exhibited in accordance with the requirements of modern age. A pergola system and an open/covered space are connected to the building on the western and southern sides forming a small inner courtyard according to Roman traditions on the southern side. The further development of the playground built as an element of phase 1 is planned in a grassy, wooded parkland. As part of the Roman theme, this combined climbing frame basically functions as a gladiator school, which was widespread in ancient Rome.  

The lower, southeastern part of the Egregyi Street straddles the kindergarten and the area of the bus and dotto-train stop. Currently, in addition to the building of the bus stop, there are a public container toilet and a brick building out of use on the island-like public place next to the kindergarten. A wide green area runs in front of the residential properties on the northeastern side of the upper part, and a stone-paved sidewalk have been built on the southwestern side recently. According to the concept plan, a sidewalk paved with decorative stone-blocks will connect the gate of the ceremonial square and the Domböldi Street as the Egyregy Street section of the thematic walking path.   

To minimize traffic in Dombföldi Street, bus and car parking spaces will be created in Egregy Street, 30 parking spots will be established on the green area in front of the northeastern residential properties. During the reconstruction of the currently disused building, toilets for men, women and disabled people will be realised.  The planned building is surrounded by a charming veranda, therefore it can provide a rest area protected from sunshine and rain to those who are waiting for the bus or dotto-train, and a covered bicycle parking rack would also be placed under it.

Walking from the Egregyi Street rest-building upwards in Dombföldi Street, you arrive at the parking area to be established at the „gate” of the taverns. 4 pieces of barrier-free parking space will be provided for the disabled and a taxi rank for 3 cabs will also be created.  Walking towards the Árpád-age church in Dombföldi Street, the built environment is in a rather chaotic state: there are buildings, structures, fences, advertisement boards of various quality and materials, as well as badly deteriorated road surface. The project aims to resolve these problems, too. The current attractions of the road include the tomb of a Roman soldier and the Árpád-era church at the final station of the thematic walking path.  The tomb of the unknown Roman soldier was found during earthworks in 1925. Due to the poor condition of the tomb and in order to raise visitors’ awareness, the renovation of the tomb and the planning of the environment are needed.

The last stop of the thematic walking path is the historic Árpád-era church. According to the plans, the aim is to preserve the building in the framework of the current project.