We have started our trip to the history camp in Eger in the burning heat but still motivated (20. July).
In Eger we have had an excellent dinner after the long travel in the Rubinia apartment house above the city. After discussing the program and the rules of our stay we went to have rest.
2 nd day- The next day we discovered the city of Eger on a sightseeing tour with a tour guide lady. The sightseeing was done through creative exercises. Then we have seen the library of the Líceum college and the cathedral(which is the 2nd largest cathedral of Hungary with the 2nd largest organ). Here we could enjoy a beautiful organ concert. Obviously we have visited the well known and heroic fortress of Eger. We were amazed by the stories of our tour guide Gabi in the Halls of the Heroes then we took a time travel in the rooms of the museums to the Middle Ages. After this we had a great baklava with apple tea in the phasa tent next to the walls. Finally we have visited the Marcipánia sugar museum, where all exhibited objects were made of sugar and chocolate. At the end of the day we could stay in the swimming pool, we had a dinner and we took a short trip around the apartment. We are looking forward to the following days.
I was glad to take part in a Historical camp in Eger as a volunteer and history teacher, where the Foundation’s Pécs 2nd and Nagybajom 1st groups also participated. Despite the hot temperature we have discovered the life of the ancient Turkish Empire in Hungary and the city of Eger and its famous sites, especially the events of the famous 1552 victory over the Turks. Moreover, the children could see the famous buildings of later times and they could get an insight to the life of the soldiers and into Turkish culture. Obviously we have not only visited Eger but the surrounding places such as the work camp in Recsk, the castle in Sirok, the stud of lipica in Szilvásvárad and the Szalajka valley with the cave of the prehistorical men. We could see there the Fátyol falls and the crystal clear lakes with trouts. In Miskolc we have been to the country’s largest collection of the Settlement of the Hungarians and we could visit the Pannon sea’s interactive presentation rooms, furthermore the students have visited Lillafüred and its famous hotel with the Anna cave. After that, we have also taken a look of the amazingly renewed medieval castle of Diósgyőr which is highly recommended to all history lovers. Finally, we couldn’t miss Egerszalók with the salt hill and the cave houses in Noszvaj and there was enough free time in Eger too. Those who wanted could even go to the city’s thermal spa. To sum up, the camp helped the participants discover Eger and its surroundings geographically, historically and also culturally. Their new knowledge can be integrated into their studies and I hope I could also contribute to that, with some interesting facts and details. Our program schedule was so complex that the whole week just passed by quickly, in a good mood. It was a pleasure to work, tour and learn with these children, so thank you for the opportunity that I could be there. András Gál, volunteer