1. Touristic Opportunities

• Presentation of Szentes area, Hungary
  
• Presentation of Faget area, Romania
  

2. Events and activities

• Local development through economic and touristic cross-border mobility - Center for Communication - Promotion and Cross-border Marketing, Faget (Timis county, Romania) - Szentes (Csongrad county, Hungary)

3. Cross-border funding and business opportunites

• Cross-border Faget – Szentes Touristic and Cultural Conference and Fair
  November 18 – 19, 2005
  Timisoara, Romania
  

Presentation of Szentes area, Hungary

Szentes, a town of just 31,000 inhabitants, is situated in the Hungarian Plain, Csongrad County, along the Tisza River, which runs 5 km from the city centre. The small Kurca River, flows through the town and helps to shape the towns face.

It is easily accessible, lying only 40km from the M5 motorway to Budapest, and 70km from the Romanian and Serbian borders. A main road, the number 45, crosses the town allowing for easy vehicular access. Szentes has a major railway station which is on the Budapest, Szolnok, Szeged, & Orosháza lines. There is also a grass runway airport 5 km from the city centre, which is suitable for smaller aircraft and helicopters.

Perhaps the biggest single asset in the town is that it lies on Europe’s most concentrated geothermal field, with 32 thermal wells within the boundaries of the town. Unsurprising then, that Szentes is also the site of the largest-scale thermal water exploitation in Hungary.

The thermal waters produced are of alkali hydrogen-carbonate, in some instances with significant amounts of fluoride and metasilicic acid. The wells are 1593 to 3250 metres deep. All wells have a temperature above 600C, and 23 of them, above 900C.

The thermal waters are utilized in two ways. Firstly, the hot water is used to provide agricultural and residential heating to a number of public buildings, several residential areas and a number of greenhouses. The unique automated thermal utility of Szentes comprises three heating centres and five thermal wells, and heats over 4000 dwellings. Secondly, thermal water coming from the closed-system heating at 400C feeds the basins of the swimming pool and the thermal medicinal bath.

Among the numerous wells, there is one with certified medicinal water that feeds the thermal pool. There are also several other wells that contain the precious minerals found in medicinal waters.

The opportunities that thermal water represents are utilized in the swimming pool in Széchenyi Green, supplied with thermal water and the Thermal Medicinal Bath, fed with medicinal water. The two institutions cater for distinctly different needs. While the swimming pool attracts those who enjoy being active, the Medicinal Bath focuses on efficient preservation and restoration of health. Nevertheless, the swimming pool still provides bubble baths and saunas for those who enjoying relaxing alongside the sport basins, slides and water polo competitions for more active persons.

The services in the Medicinal Bath are there for health and after-treatment following operations. Services include the pool bath, carbonic acid bath, underwater jet massage, stretch bath, tub bath, four-chamber galvanic treatment, mud packs and water and land gymnastics. These services are alongside various electro- and physical therapies available including iontophesis, electro stimulation, short waves, decimetre waves, ultrasonic treatment, microwaves, sollux and laser. Supplementary services such as saunas, massage and a beauty farm are available to those simply wishing to recreate and relax. The medicinal well that supplies the Bath was the first to be drilled in the town – in 1947 – it is 1735 metres deep and the water is 710C warm. The Medicinal Bath itself was constructed in 1962, and can cater for 350 guests in its outdoor thermal pool and five indoor pools. The great basin under the dome is 350C the others have varying temperatures. The warm fluoride containing water is suitable for treatment of musculoskeletal and chronic gynecological diseases.

Szentes has much more to offer than just thermal waters and the various services that these waters have been used to provide. Szentes is also famous for its sports centres, sports teams, active culture, local cuisine, architectural heritage, County Hall and of course its year long events.

Szechenyi Green, surrounded by the Kurca River, is the largest park in Szentes, it is a botanical and – with its museum – cultural monument. It has been a conservation area since 1953. Its valuable botanical collection features, plane-tress, horse chestnut, ash, linden, maple trees, swamp cypresses, Austrian pines and oaks. The Koszta Jozsef Museum is contained in a classicist building in the middle of the park. A nearby building, also classicist, is being converted into a hotel. Behind these buildings, the swimming pool and a tennis centre are available for use. Joggers, bikers and rowers too and regularly seen in the Green. Finally, the “Esperanto” Bridge over the Kurca provides the Green with a beautiful bridge that is an architectural monument every visitor to the Green should see. At the back of the swimming pool there are bungalows available for rent, and a Restaurant open to guests.

Opposite the Green lies a Sports Centre, which is also housed in a monument building. At the centre dancing, kayaking, canoeing, and numerous sports fields are open for use.

Szentes was the Hungarian national town of sport in 1996. This title reflects its position at the heart of Hungarian sport. Hungarian water polo, which has an international reputation, has one its strongholds in the town. Since 1972 the male team has been in the top league, won the Hungarian cup and been finalists in the Cup Winners European Cup. The female team too has not been starved of success; they have been Hungarian Champions nine times since 1987. During the 1990’s they made up the majority of the national team, and won the European Championship, the Cup Winners’ European Cup, and the World Championship.

Aside from the water polo, the competition dancers show excellent results, as do the Kyokushin karate teams who have repeatedly been crowned Hungarian champions. Szentes has also proved a world champion in athletics. The senior swimmers are amongst the best in the country, whilst the rugby team and the indoor-soccer ladies are in the top league. Skittles and boxing are also becoming increasingly popular, whilst fencing, kayaking, canoeing, air sports, archery, shooting and riding have deep traditions in the town.

Outstanding events in the sporting arena include the Open Aerobic Day, on the 15th March and the Kyokushin Sai Karate Festival, the 23 hour Sports Day on the 23 October, and the Festival of Fighting Sports in November. Even the local councilors take part, with their yearly contest of indoor football and tug-of-war with their colleagues from the neighbouring town of Csongrad.

In a town of just 30,000 people, 5,400 are active athletes, whilst the juniors provide a firm base to ensure that Szentes will remain at the top of Hungarian sport.

The population of Szentes leads an active life. There is strong involvement in swimming, football and tennis. In the summertime, sports fields and the bank of the Tisza are alive with people.

Szentes offers more than just sports though, it has a vivid cultural life with year round events. NGOs and municipal institutions cooperate to organise literary, musical, theatrical, and plastic arts evenings. The regular events include some standard, and other more unconventional activities. The End-of-Winter Municipal Carnival has been held since 2002. Amongst the participants, masked people of the Slovenian minority and other costumed figures are regular participants there. The street carnival is followed by the End-of-Winter Ceremony, which is a torchlight procession, and a gala of Mediterranean atmosphere. Every year, on the 30th April, a lampion procession and street dance is organised. The main theme of this event is variable, it can be historical, it can also relate to local sport. For the beer lovers, there are several beer festivals sponsored by various enterprises throughout the year.

Szentes is also renowned internationally for its local cuisine. The area has been characterised by traditional family and the wealth in grains and scarcity of meat. As a result, nourishing single-dishes have become popular, as they are now typical for the region. In and around the town numerous vegetables are grown and sold fresh on market stools.

Szentes though is not just about sport, festivals and food, the town is also home to a deep architectural heritage. Unique buildings are found in and around the Erzsebet Square including the late baroque Town Hall, the Catholic Elementary School, and the baroque St. Anna’s Church and the classicist Court. When one reaches the main square the town offers two sculptures, with many surrounding picturesque buildings. Further away, the Orthodox and Lutheran Church, the ornamental fountain and the form synagogue – which is now a library – are worth a look.

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Faget is in the eastern part of the county of Timis, in the depression that bears the same name, at the foot of the Poiana Ruscai, mountains. It took its name from the beech forest in the area. The earliest known mention of Faget dates back to 1548, when the nobleman John of Bozwar made a donation to his daughter Doretheea, at the castle of the nobleman, Iacab Bekes. Originally the town was called Fagyath, the name gradually changed first to Faczat in 1594, Facsat in 1616 and Facset in 1907 and finally Faget in 1918. Although there are six other towns bearing the same name in other counties, Faget of Banat is the best known. It has a long history of tourism, Bel Matyas, who visited the town in the 18th Century stated, "Faget is an old and well-known town of primary importance, which lies on an elevation, and is surrounded by a wonderful plain".

The area consists of nine picturesque suburban villages - Bichigi, Batesti, Begheiul Mic, Branesti, Bunea Mare, Colonia Mica, Jupinesti, Povergina, and Temeresti – and at its heart the lively town of Faget.

The area is easily accessible with Lugoj, Arad and Deva only being a short distance away. The national road 68A connects Faget with Lugoj, Deva and Timisoara, there are also rail services which connect Faget with Lugoj and Ilia.

Faget was able to impose itself on the social-cultural area of Banat, due to its location in the heart of this historic area. It is sometimes described, with good reason, to be a Bucovina of Banat, due to its the deep cultural traditions, which have changed little throughout the centuries.

The fortress of Faget, which dates back as far as 1548, has been the object of severe confrontation between Romanians, Turks and Austrian for more than 150 years. Archaeological excavations, which began in 1987, have begun to unravel the important history of the fortress and the town itself. At the same time as the fortress was evolving so too was civilian life, with Faget becoming in a relatively space of time, the administrative centre it remains today.

Owing to its position at the crossing of the roads connecting Maramures valley and the Padureni zone, Faget was able to become an important economic centre. In 1607, the town was a small rural district, by 1720 a mill had been built. In 1723 an imperial sawmill was constructed, in the same year, blanket manufacturing began in the town. This manufacturing was the first of its kind in the country, and one of the first manufactories to be established by the state in the area of Banet. Since the beginning of the 18th Century, Faget has organised eight annual fairs. These fairs attract visitors from across Romania and beyond. The town is also home to a post office, custom office, an eight room inn and a Romanian and German school.

Faget has also been a town of political unrest, due to being situated on the border between Banat and Ardeal. The war of the Kuruts, 1703-1711, the uprising of 1785, and the revolution of 1848-1849, all touched on the history of Faget. In the modern age, Faget has been supporting the Romanian spirit of Banat. It has kept unspoiled the Romanian set up of different associations including various bank and cultural societies such as reading circles, choral societies and societies for the preservation of traditional customs.

During the inter-war period, Faget was the headquarters of the biggest rural district in the county of Severin, being one of the most representative communes in Banat. There were institutions which gave Faget an urban character including, the pretorium, townhall, school, law court, railway station, military police, revenue office, forest district, post office, agricultural district, notary office, sanitary service, drugstore, veterinary service, cinema, three banks and three restaurants.

The post war communist system attempted to put an end to this cultural evolution and led to a period of stagnation. Nevertheless despite these restrictions, the towns’ life continued. After 1960, the hardworking inhabitants of this town began to change its outlook. New houses, blocks of flats, schools, and cultural centres were built as were a forage base, mechanical transport depot, bus terminal and tourist centre.

However, despite these obvious achievements communism had stopped the natural evolution of the town. Therefore it is not surprising that the abolition of the totalitarian regime in December 1989 stirred up feelings of joy and hope amongst the inhabitants of Faget. After 1990 representative institutions were re-established including a law court and an elected mayor. The current mayor has been holding his position since 1990.

When one bears in mind all the qualities of the town, it is hardly surprisingly that this picturesque settlement and its strategic fortress have caught the attention of foreign travellers for centuries. The Turkish traveller Evlia Celebi, who passed through the town in 1660, described the medieval citadel with warm words. “It is a construction with a square form, beautiful and strong”. Similarly, Johann Lehmann who visited the town at the end of the 18th century wrote: " Faget is a beautiful field town. The place is rich thanks to the animal fairs that are held there. The town is Romanian; it has over 200 houses and two churches. The inn of Faget is the most beautiful, clean and roomy inn on the entire Timisoara-Sibiu way.” Their kind words were echoed by the 19th Century Italian traveler, Domenico Sestini, who described Faget as “a beautiful town”. The inn of Faget was described by the Italian traveler as “one of the best”, having “good rooms for travelers and stables for horses”. The town left Bodo Antal, who visited the town in the early 20th century, equally impressed. He was particularly enthused by the proximity of the main buildings of the town: "From the railway station, in 3 or 4 minutes one can reach, by hackney coach, the centre of the town, the park of the churches square. Driving towards the centre on the Big Road, one can see the Town Hall, the Roman-Catholic Church, the Court of Law and the hotel".

Besides the town, and its people, Faget is also renowned for its vegetation and wildlife and of course its local cheese!

Numerous trees including the Turkey oak, the Hungarian oak, and various hybrids of Quercus surround the town. One can also find Evergreen and Pedunculate oaks and the ash, hornbeam, elm, lime and beech trees. Besides the trees, there are also hawthorn, cornel and blackthorn bushes. In the spring time, lots of multi-coloured spring plants including snowdrops, hollowworts, violets, saffrons, and many other species contribute to the beauty of the area.

The animal world to is equally diverse with squirrels, hares, forest mice, badgers, foxes, wild boars and deers alongside rarer species including pheasants, hoopoos, nightingales, blackbirds, warbles, wood-peckers and turtle doves. One can also find reptiles that are spread in the woods, and the pasture lands, such as lizards, vipers, and snakes.

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Local development through economic and touristic cross-border mobility - Center for Communication - Promotion and Cross-border Marketing, Faget (Timis county, Romania) - Szentes (Csongrad county, Hungary)

The Euroregional Center for Democracy, the city Hall of Faget and the City Hall of Szentes is pleased to announce the launching of the Local development through economic and touristic cross-border mobility - Center for Communication - Promotion and Cross-border Marketing, Faget - Szentes project.

This innitiative is accomplished with the support of the European union through PHARE CBC Programme Romania - Hungary Joint Small Project Funds 2003.

The aim of the project is to support the economic development of Faget and Szentes areas by attracting tourists and investors - at cross-border level - by using integrated services for informing, training and consulting, enhancing the touristic and economic capacity of the two areas.

The target group is the local public administration of Faget and Szentes, actors and promoters of touristic activities in the two areas (SMEs, travel agencies, NGOs, etc.), representatives of companies seeking to invest in the mentioned areas.

The main activities of the project are:

A) Information (through two Centers for Communication - Promotion and Cross-border Marketing and two Tourism Promotional Fairs in Faget and Szentes)
B) Training (five training sessions for authorities and professional tourism organisations, travel agencies and tour-operators, etc.).