- The often seen eight hundred year old historic walls are home to an exhibition space, making use of today’s technology. The municipality and companies are also happy to organize their events in the castle.
- The director of the Foundation, Marika Benteke, evaluated the last period.
- Developments continue at the castle, says the head of the foundation.
– Almost ten thousand people have visited Ivar Castle since its opening, and almost without exception have reported their satisfaction – Marika Benteke, President of the Foundation, began our conversation. The eight hundred-year-old walls, he adds, do not house a museum, but an exhibition space.
Birthday dinner with a knight
– The history of the castle and the institution can also be learned in the museum’s educational sessions. So far, more than eight hundred primary and secondary school students have come to us, and they will visit us at several camps during the summer. This week we are organizing a children’s camp – the head of the foundation has opened, in his words, the new community space, the Knight’s Room, which was already a venue for conferences, corporate events and press conferences, but it has also hosted children’s birthdays, with a Knight’s dinner in keeping with the spirit of the place. A kind of extension of the indoor gallery is the outdoor gallery on the castle promenade, which is free to visit, where famous former students who graduated from the local academy are presented.
They keep our signature
– There are many restaurants in Mosonmagyaróvár, we do not want to compete with them. We dreamed of a literary cafe, where we remember the namesake of Strauss and the famous student of the Academy, Istvan Fekete. Books and magazines are available, and we run a gift shop with products from artisans associated with the academy. Many people come for coffee, to relax among the centuries-old walls – this confirms the head of the establishment.
They also revived an interesting tradition: in a restaurant in Óvár there was a table on which farmers loved to carve their names. Now they can engrave their signature again on the marble table in the café: instead of a chisel, they now use an electric engraver.
– It gives me a good feeling that the municipality of Mosonmagyaróvár and the companies are happy to bring their events to the castle and its surroundings. We are proud that after Advent, the district of Magyaróvár Castle was also decorated with light painting as part of the Szigetköz Piknik. It gives me great pleasure to be able to host Szent István Nap and VinÓvár again. Starting in September, we will try to organize our own musical and literary evenings every month with the support of the University – Marica Péntek participates.
Ongoing Developments
He adds: The improvements do not stop at the restoration of the castle, the castle gate and the castle walkway. Many people come to the new ecological playground, the castle captain’s building is being updated, but the castle reception area and the former training kitchen opposite the castle lake have also been added. A pedestrian and bicycle bridge will be constructed towards Wittmann Park. “It is with great pride that I run such an institution, there is not a day that I do not think of what these walls have witnessed during the eight hundred years.” Marika Benteke says goodbye.
