Title of the project: “Untold stories” Pilgrimages in the Slovene-Hungarian border area
Project value (ERFA co-financing): 198.169,00 EUR
Time span of the project: 2024.01.01 – 2026.06.30.
Project partners: Muraba EGTC, Vas County Municipality Office, Municipality of Lendava
The project, known as MESSAGES, aims to preserve the memory of Blessed János Brenner (1931, Szombathely – 1957, Szentgotthárd-Zsida), martyr of Lendva, and Danijel Halas (1903, Črenšovci – 1945, Hotiza), to bring alive the memories of our community and to present them to visitors and pilgrims. At the heart of the project is the creation of a pilgrimage route linking the two border regions, presenting the history and spirit of the martyred priests.
The project will promote the development of religious tourism in the region through the research and processing of the stories and the marking of the pilgrimage route. It will contribute to enriching the visitor experience by surveying pilgrimage sites, mapping pilgrimage routes and linking local infrastructure and services.
In preparation for the pilgrimage routes, we have collected available material on the martyrs and studied the pilgrimage routes in Europe and our region and their tourism potential. The situation analysis of our partner, the Vas County Municipal Office, shows that adequate infrastructure, services adapted to the needs of pilgrims and the presentation of local history and stories in a tangible way can contribute to the success of pilgrimages, but also to the satisfaction of non-religious visitors. A look at the works on the lives and martyrdom of Blessed János Brenner and Danijel Halas, Servant of God, will in itself provide an insight into the lives and memories of the martyrs, but will also help those who wish to learn more about their story. With the addition of personal memories, this collection is not only a documentation but also a bridge between the past and the present, and a useful basis for the professional organisation of pilgrimages and youth programmes in the region.
In the next period, the route of the pilgrimage will be mapped, marked out and background material will be produced. In addition, local guides and pilgrimage organisers will be trained to help visitors discover the historic sites and the history of the martyrs during the planned programmes.
By the end of 2025, a travelling exhibition will be set up to present the lives of the martyrs and the history of the border region.
The project will pay special attention to young people. Youth camps, school activities and a drawing competition will help young people to learn and understand more about the recent past.