HIANZNMUSEUM
IN RAABFIDISCH / RÁBAFÜZES

“Do not forget that tomorrow, today’s tool is already history” - Franz Dankovics

In Burgenland today there are several ethnic groups, among them Croatian and Hungarian. But German-speaking Hianzen still live behind the Hungarian border. A museum in Rábafüzes tells their story. The first Hianzenmuseum was opened inRaabfidisch/Rábafüzes, Hungary.

The village (of approximately 400 inhabitants) is today a part of the town Szentgotthárd. There are still about 50 people who speak "Hianzisch". A museum was devoted to them and their forefathers in what was formerly the village school.

Memorial to the farmer culture and the Hianzen

The ethnological collection's foundation stone was laid by the former principal Ferenc Dankovics and his wife in the sixties. On 26 May 1986, the collection was opened to the public in the school building. After Ferenc Dankovics' death, the collection was also extended and, after years of hardship, it came under the maintenance of the Local Government of the German Minority and the Branch Library in Rábafüzes. The present exhibition room was provided by the local government as a final place and, after being redesigned, opened its gates to the public.

In the meantime, 500 exhibits have been assembled with years of hard work. The whole inventory is labeled in Hungarian, German, and Hianzisch.

Contacts in Burgenland

Until World War II, the population of Rábafüzes had close contact with their neighbours in Burgenland. The place was pulsing, says the village eldest, 86-year-old Paula Nagy Vincené. "There were 5 guesthouses in our village, 3 were outside in Bergen. Then there was another guest house next to the border that belonged to Burgenland - we also went there to dance", says the 86-year-old.

Female Choir of Rábafüzes

In 1976, the Female Choir in Rábafüzes was formed, which has faithfully maintained the song lore of the village and the surrounding areas ever since then. The songs are also presented in vernacular "Hianzisch". The founder and leader of the choir is Magdolna Unger, and its harmonica accompanist is her sister, Edit Unger. The choir has 2 albums so far.

Hianzenmuseum

Rábafüzes/Raabfidisch
Kodály Zoltán út 2

Opening hours:
Wed: 11 am - 4 pm
Fri: 12 noon - 6 pm

By previous agreement, other appointments are also possible.

Phone: +36-30-5686861

by Johannes Graf

2010.09.03