Between 11–13 March 2026, the Intercommunity Development Association Satu Mare County hosted an experience exchange event for cultural specialists within the project CULT.ROUTE – Thematic Route of Castles 2. The event brought together specialists from Ivano-Frankivsk (Ukraine), Fehérgyarmat (Hungary), as well as from Satu Mare County (Livada, Carei, Ardud and Medieșu Aurit).
The first day of the event included presentations by specialists on best practices in promoting castles from Satu Mare County (Livada Castle, Carei Castle, Ardud Castle and Medieșu Aurit Castle), as well as from Ivano-Frankivsk and Fehérgyarmat. Discussions were also held on the most effective methods for promoting cultural heritage.
On the second day, participants carried out working visits to Lónyai Castle in Medieșu Aurit and Károlyi Castle in Carei, where they had the opportunity to learn from local and international best practices, thus strengthening cross-border cooperation. At the end of the event, possibilities for intensifying cross-border collaboration were analyzed and common directions for action were identified in order to develop cultural heritage promotion services in the border regions.
The Intercommunity Development Association Satu Mare County, as project leader, implements the CULT.ROUTE project in partnership with Livada City Hall, the Department for Investments, Projects, International Relations and Promotion of the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council (Ukraine), and the Municipality of Fehérgyarmat (Hungary).
The main objective of the project is to strengthen cultural cooperation by expanding the thematic route of castles that promotes the shared cultural heritage in the cross-border area. The current project continues the SMAR.T.OURISM project implemented by the Intercommunity Development Association Satu Mare County between June 2021 and November 2023.
The main activities of the CULT.ROUTE project include: the rehabilitation of the Vécsey Castle park in Livada, the rehabilitation of the Tapay Manor roof in Fehérgyarmat, equipping several castles and manors with IT equipment, creating a website for promoting castles and manors in the cross-border area, and organizing cultural festivals and experience exchange events.
The total budget of the project is EUR 758,832.10, of which EUR 682,948.89 represents the contribution of the European Union through the Interreg VI-A NEXT Hungary–Slovakia–Romania–Ukraine Programme. The project has an implementation period of 24 months, starting on 3 February 2025.
