HUNGARY - Nagyçenk

There was human life in Nagyçenk since ancient times. During recent excavation, they found relics of a 4000-year-old village. The community with 1860 people situates next to the western border. The nearest town is Sopron (12km), which is also the border station to Austria. Vienna is 75km away. Two significant principal roads are going through the village.

The Széchenyi family had great impact on the history of the village. They possess land in the village since 1677. The earls family moved to Nagyenk around 1750 and built a castle, surrounded by a French garden. Earl Ferenc Széchenyi turned the castle into a cultural centre. Through inheritance, one of his sons, Earl István Széchenyi became the new owner of the lands. During his ownership, the development of the village was immense. A model farm of extraordinary quality arose on his lands. They founded miller and weaver guilds. Silk spinners and a brewing company operated in the commune. In 1858 they built the sugar factory that processed the sugar beets of the neighbourhood until 1931.

The Reformer politician, Lajos Kossuth, denominated Earl István Széchenyi as the greatest Hungarian. As a great thinker, Earl Széchenyi fought and made considerable financial sacrifices for his country. He initiated the building of the oldest bridge, the Chain bridge in Budapest, across the Danube; he had the Sub-Danube and the Tisza Rivers regulated; he introduced steam ships crossing the Balaton, he was the man behind the construction of the first Casino in Budapest, he domesticated the first horse race etc. Until his illness, he was also the minister of transport during the Batthyány government in 1848.

Every year approximately 100,000 people visit the Széchenyi memorial in the family crypt, and the Széchenyi Memorial museum in the castle. The castle park with its 200-year-old plane trees, various exotic plant types, and 20-25 different types of birds is unique in Europe. Employment possibilities are limited in the municipality. Following several years of strategic planning, they start developing an industrial, commercial and economic park. If there are suitable investors, this investment may give a new perspective to the commune. Following the isolation and standstill of 50 years, Nagycenk is now opening up and works hard to develop the commune.