Debrecen Memorial Garden Renewed with EU Funding29 November 2010
As a result of the successful application by the local government of Debrecen, the Hungarian State and the European Union are supporting the implementation of the highlighted project “Function-expanding urban rehabilitation of the Inner City of Debrecen”, at a total cost budget of 2 billion HUF with close to 1.5 billion HUF from the resources of the North Great Plain Operational Programme. Some elements of the project were opened on Saturday.
The reconstruction of the Memorial Garden, the Garden of Ruins and Red Tower were the second of the urban rehabilitation projects to be completed, after the renewal of Halköz.
In the Memorial Garden new paved roads were built and streetlights, park and street furniture installed. The area was fenced with cast-iron type elements, and based on a gardening plan, the park’s plants have been renewed. The environment and the damaged walls of Red Tower have been renewed and the Tower itself given a glass roof.
The renewal and conservation of the damaged walls and brick surfaces in the Garden of Ruins have been completed, the paving has been renewed and replaced. The free-standing walls that had no cover before the renewal are now covered with a glass roof supported by steel elements, creating an exhibition area that will serve as a venue for the presentation of the stone elements unearthed in the excavation of the mediaeval St. Andrew’s church that stood on the site of the present Great Church. The exhibition area is now fully accessible and has a tea house and toilet block; on top of the toilet block there is a small open-air stage ideal for minor cultural programs. In the restoration of the northern chapel, the Dragon Gate was re-carved and the remains of the original wall found under the floor level were also excavated.