The Skanzen Open-Air Ethnographic Museum, Szentendre, Pest County, Hungary

The Hungarian Open Air Museum in Szentendre was founded in 1967, first operating as the Village Museum Department of the Budapest Ethnographical Museum then in 1972 it became independent, functioning in an area of 46 hectares in the valley of the brook Sztaravoda. Uniquely in Europe, parallel to founding the national open air museum a network of regional skanzens were also established in Hungary; in 1968 the Göcsej Village Museum in Zalaegerszeg, in 1973 the Vas Museum Village in Szombathely, in 1979 the Sóstó Museum Village in Nyíregyháza, in 1980 the Szenna Open Air Ethnographic Collection and in 1985 the Ópusztaszer National Historical Memorial Park opened its gates. Almost at the same time a range of regional houses preserved and furnished in situ were reconstructed and opened to the public. Nowadays their number approaches 400.

The aim of founding the Szentendre Open Air Museum was to present folk architecture, interior decoration, farming and way of life in the Hungarian language area from the 2nd half of the 18th century to the 1st half of the 20th, through authentic objects and original, relocated houses arranged in old settlement patters. The more and more elaborate settlement plan appropriates the relocation of more than 400 edifices into the museum, arranged into village-like regional units on the basis of ethnographical considerations. Within the units buildings are fitted into the traditional system of peasant households, supplemented by sacred, communal and outbuildings which used to be integral parts of traditional villages. Dwellings and farm-buildings represent the typical houses and outbuildings having evolved historically in each region.

During the past 40 years the Hungarian Open Air Museum has become one of the most successful museums of the country by its exhibitions, infrastructure, programmes and professional and scientific results. The number of visitors approaching a quarter of a million during the 7-month opening time unequivocally proves its popularity with inland and foreign tourists.

0:03 - Panorama of a replica Northwest Hungarian town.

0:32 - A renovated Ganz-Jendrassik style electric locomotive goes past on the Skanzen Railway.

0:43 - Inside a Smithy, or Blacksmiths.

1:09 - Inside an traditional North-Hungarian house, dating back to 1841.

1:46 - The thatched roof.

1:53 - Inside an old confectionary shop, now a cafe.

2:31 - Inside an 1835 North-Hungarian house.

3:39 - Outdoor communal ovens.

3:56 - Hungarian racka sheep.

5:17 - Magyar Szürke Marha (Hungarian Grey Cattle) with farmer feeding them hay.

6:04 - Hungarian pigs.

Filmed using the Sony HDR-HC9 HDV1080i High Definition Handycam.

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