Museum and civil coalition for Galanta Mansion
MúzeumCafé 39.
“Let’s unite to save our neo-Gothic mansion!” Thus says the Galanta Neo-Gothic Mansion Civil Association’s website (http://hu.nkga.sk). Two years ago, local museum director József Keppert initiated a civil movement and, with the establishment of a non-profit association, action began to support “the complete renovation of the long-since unused monument”. In itself this is no unique occurrence. There have been numerous similar examples across the Carpathian Basin, in Hungary primarily town and village protection groups, while over the border tradition-preserving associations. What makes the Galanta situation special is the magnitude of the task and the mobilised, growing force and number of groups involved – the museum, the local authority, monument protection specialists, sponsors, local businesses and citizens, Slovak and Hungarian alike. Also important is the mansion’s above-average architectural and cultural significance, on behalf of which local citizens have joined battle. They recognise that their old mansion doesn’t simply embody a past to be preserved, but could represent a turning point in the town’s development. Galanta, which is today in Slovakia, was at one time in the possession of the aristocratic Esterházy family. In fact, the town has two Esterházy mansions. One is a smaller, more modest, originally 17th-century edifice, which was later reconstructed in Baroque style. The other is a more imposing ensemble and is an outstanding, though almost unknown example of Hungary’s 19th-century Eclectic mansion architecture. The former has been renovated and serves cultural purposes, but the latter has stood empty for decades and is falling into ruin. Only now is it beginning to awake from its long sleep, thanks to enthusiastic citizens and – equally important – local specialists.