World War One Sites - The NETWORLD Database

Miners Memorial - Hősök square

The miner’s memorial was built in 1938. The base is of phonolite and red sandstone, the figures of salt glazed pyrogranite made in the Zsolnay factory of Pécs. Sculptor: László Szomor. The irregular pyramid formed monument features three figures. A miner’s figure is found to the lower left, an infantryman is featured higher up to the right, the main figure of the sculpture is the Patrona Hungariae, the Virgin Mary as Hungary’s patron saint. She is wearing the Holy Crown of Hungary and portrayed as a robust warrior with a shield and sword. The infantryman is in uniform and wearing a helmet, carrying a gun, about to throw a grenade. This is a typical infantryman depiction in WW1 memorials. The bare-chested miner is stepping forward holding a pick-axe and a Davy-lamp that can actually by lit for ceremonies.

The following inscription is found on a white marble plaque on the base: “For the memory of the mine’s heroes, who sacrificed their lives for the honour of their country while fulfilling their vocational calling. Erected by the First Danube Steamboat Shipping Company. 8 June, 1938.”  (A bányaművek hőseinek emlékére, akik a haza becsületéért és hivatásbeli kötelezettségük teljesítése közben életüket áldozták. Emelte az Első Dunagőzhajózási Társaság 1938. június 8.)

Hungary, Hungary

Type of WWI-heritage

  • War monument

Dimensions

~6-10 m tall

State of repair/preservation

Well preserved – needs partial renovation/re-arrangement – derelict

Renovated in 1985.

Historical WWI Context

1. WWI heritage related historical context

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The Miner’s Memorial commemorates the miners of the Pécs area who fought in WW1.

Despite it's quite conspicuous, that this memorila is reather focuses on the military victims instead of mourning the victims of mine work.

 

 

State of legal protection

No information available

Owner

Public property

Kind of cultural use of WWI

No information available

Opening

The Baka Museum in Szekszárd is open Saturdays 9.00-13.00

Other visiting opportunities may be arranged for groups or non-locals by contacting György Borbandi (tel.: +36302260868, e-mail: bbander@freemail.hu) or Zoltán Tálosi (tel.: +36304571022, e-mail: repulos@hotmail.com)

For more information about “Új világ született” exhibition visit:

http://ujvilagszuletett1.elsovilaghaboru.com/en/visitor-information

The Museum of Military History is opened from Tuesday till Sunday, form 9.00 – 17.00.

(tel: +36 1 325-1600; e-mail: webmaster@mail.militaria.hu )

Entrance Fee

Entry to the Baka Museum in Szekszárd is free of charge, the entry to “Új világ született” exhibition is 3000 HUF, while the entry to the Museum of Military History is 1.500 HUF.

Information regarding cities, villages, other touristic attractions (non-WWI) nearby

The city of Pécs is home to countless tourist attractions. It has been inhabited since the Roman ages, when it was called Sopianae. One of the main tourist attractions is the Early Christian Cemetery which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. This heritage site can be accessed through the Cella Septichora Visitor’s Centre. Pécs continued to be a religious seat, the diocese being founded in 1064. Medieval relics can be found in the Dóm Museum. The present neo-romanesque cathedral was built at the end of the 19th century. During the 16th century Pécs was occupied by the Turkish, and the modern cityscape has preserved some of its built heritage. The main attraction is the mosque of pasha Gazi Kasim, which is found on the main square (Széchenyi tér) of the city. Another important element of Pécs’ heritage is Zsolnay porcelain, their legacy being carried on and rejuvenated by the founding of the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, which has become a new cultural scene in the city. Further tourist information about Pécs can be found at: http://www.iranypecs.hu/en/ and http://www.zsolnaynegyed.hu/

Accomodation

Various providers in broad range of categories can be found at: booking.com

Search: Pécs, (Baranya, Hungary)

Public Transport

Pécs can be accessed by train and coach also. InterCity trains leave from Budapest, Keleti pályaudvar (Eastern railway station) every two hours. The trip is 3 hours long. Timetables can be found at https://www.mavcsoport.hu/en. Coaches leave from Népliget Bus Terminal (https://www.volanbusz.hu/en/travel-information/our-stations/budapest#nepliget), the trip is about 4 hours long. Coach timetables can be found at www.menetrendek.hu and clicking on “csak Volán járatok”.

You can get to Hősök square by using local city bus lines 4 or 2.

Further information sources

Other heritage sites nearby

Museums Private Collections

There is a museum in Szekszárd (60 km north of Pécs in Tolna county) dedicated to the infantryman of Tolna county who served in the 1st and 2nd World Wars. It is the private collection of György Borbandi and Zoltán Tálosi that has been made available for public viewing. Hungarian language website: http://bakamuzeum.hupont.hu/

Address: Béla király tér 1., Vár köz, 7100 Szekszárd

„Új világ született“(„A New World Was Born“) permanent exhibition guides visitors from the belle époque through wartime enthusiasm to bitter disillusionment on over 600 square metres. The exhibition brings the horrors of war closer to the spectators of today with the help of exceptional visual devices.

Address: Várkert Bazár, Dél Palota, Ybl Miklós Square 6., 1013 Budapest

There is another permanent exhibition in the Museum of Military History in Budapest with the title, „Hungary in the Great War 1914-1918“.

Address: Kapisztrán Square 2-4, 1014 Budapest

Location

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