Hungary plans heritage protection reform and museum restructuring

Zsolt Sári, the state secretary responsible for collections and heritage protection, has outlined a new strategy to reform Hungary’s cultural sector. He criticized the previous administration for creating a fragmented heritage protection system and noted that the establishment of the Hungarian National Museum Collections Center was a poor organizational and financial decision.

Sári proposes the creation of an independent heritage protection agency to manage monuments, archaeological sites, and cultural goods. He also highlighted the need to address the lack of state support for regional museum networks following their dissolution in 2012/13 and the migration of professionals from the field.

In a separate development regarding historical sites, the Mohács National Memorial is undergoing reconstruction. While the project aims to create one of Europe’s most significant battle memorial sites by 2028, including new underground exhibition spaces, the site remains partially closed. Current challenges include the lack of protected status for the battlefield landscape and the absence of marked walking routes through the historical area.