Technical Excursions & Tours

Uranium City
Story or History? From Socialist Urbanism to a Modern City District

Date and time: Wednesday, 24 August, 14.00-17.00
Price: € 15/person (Limited to 20 people)
Guides: Andrást Horváth, chief architect; Miklós Magay, Head of Department, Department of City Operations, Pécs.
Meeting point: University of Pécs, János Szántó Kovács Str. building

Cultural revitalisation as a catalyst for urban regeneration
The case of the European Capital of Culture project in Pécs

Date and time: Thursday, 25 August, 09.00-12.00 
Price: € 15/person (maximum 20 people) 
Meeting point: University of Pécs, Rector’s Office, 48-as Square

The European Capital of Culture 2010 programme meant far more than a series of cultural events for Pécs, since the city had to face a serious dilemma: which way forward? For soon after Hungary had embarked on the path of democratic transition (1989) and joined the European Union (2004), the very economic foundations of the city had collapsed, leaving one third of its labour force unemployed and its economy with a negligible industrial base. Thus, the application for the programme had to envision a new economic and urban future, and facilitate the democratic transition as well.

However, the project was haunted by a series of contradictions, which would emerge over the investment phase, and continue into the present: the difficulties of “changing scale” on the periphery, the global economic and financial crisis, creating a sustainable model of culture-based development, as well as centralisation vs. local autonomy, and the project’s ultimate “ownership”. This difficult legacy shall be discussed in context of the transformed built heritage, from the modern Kodaly Centre to the project’s keystone, the opulent, fin-de-siècle factory/artists’ colony of the Zsolnay Porcelain Factory.

The presenters will provide different perspectives about the programme and the results. While Istvan Tarrosy can give us insights about the aspirations and experiences of the team who wrote the application, Gabor Lux (Institute for Regional Studies) can reflect on the viability of its economic vision, and Ders Csaba, the former chief architect of the city, will place this “cultural event” into an urban context.

The excursion is divided into two parts: 
Story – presentation on the project’s planning and implementation by Istvan Tarrosy (University of Pécs, Rector’s Office, 48-as Square)

Walk – Rector’s Office – Regional Library and Knowledge Centre – Kodaly Music Centre – Zsolnay Cultural Quarter – Zsolnay Mausoleum – „The Golden Age of Zsolnay” Collection (optional)

Innovations serving new challenges  and  the region at the University of Pécs 
Major innovation and research projects including the National Virus Laboratory and the Health focused Silver Economy regional development initiative

Date and time: Friday, 26 August, 09.00-12.00 
Price: € 15/person (limited to 20 people)
Programme Coordinator: Attila Sik 
Meeting point: János Szentágothai Research Centre, Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, 7624

The University of Pecs with its 10 faculties is the hotbed for multidisciplinary research. The Szentagothai Research Centre as part of the University incorporates 23 research groups distributed into 7 clusters (Data Science, Building Energetics, Immunology, Industrial-Scientific, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Physics-Chemistry) and an associated members group. The introduction will focus on the innovation potential of the research activities at the University of Pecs showing the most interesting real life oriented projects.

PÉCS City Tour with the most important sights

PÉCS by night with a local/Pécs wine tasting in a vinoteka

Food and Wine” Experience in Villány – immerse yourself in the gastronomy of the „Hungarian Toscana”

Date: Wednesday, 24 August, 18.00-23.00
Price: € 75/person (Limited to 40 people)
Languages: English, Hungarian
Meeting point: University of Pécs, Rector’s Office, 48-as Square

The wines of the Villány Wine Region are considered to be wines both of excellent quality and of commercial success by experts and consumers. The treasures of the region include also the protected streets of cellars in Villány, where we will take a short guided tour and get introduced to the local culture and heritage.

The first full origin protection system of Hungary was introduced here. The Villány-Siklós Wine Route is the first stronghold of Hungarian wine tourism. The biggest attraction of the region is of course wine. In the Villány Wine Region development was built on strong foundations and a respect for traditions. Traditions include the presence of Kadarka, Portugieser, or Schiller wines. The Villány Wine Region, however, is also able to continuously move onward.  It offers an almost perfect and full range of wines. In several modern cellars the most up-to-date technologies are applied. The wine producers of Villány are frequently among the most successful participants in wine contests and exhibitions. The most distinctive feature of the Villány Wine Region is the large number of cellars run by experts with technological knowhow.

We will visit one of the founder’s – Bock’s - cellar in Villány. Aside from their already well-known wines you can taste some real specialties and catch a glimpse of the skills of wine-making. Your Villány gastronomic experience will become complete through the Óbor Restaurant next door to the cellar.

Detailed schedule:

18.00 Bus starts from the University
18.40 Arrival in Villány
18.40-19.00 Short walk in Villány with our tour guide
19.00-19.30 Visiting the cellar of Bock Winery and wine tasting
19.30- Dinner on the terrace of the Óbor Restaurant
Menu: Bock mixed appetizer (homemade ham, salami); Crispy duck leg with steamed cabbage and fried potatoes; Yoghurt cube with fresh fruits
23.00 Arrival in Pécs