Make GMR Great Again
The “Make GMR Great Again” action plan, implemented with the support of the Interreg Hungary-Slovakia Programme, aims at the complex, cross-border development of the Gömör tourist destination in cooperation with Hungarian and Slovak partners. The programme focuses on expanding the experience-based tourism offer and on improving the accessibility and presentation of the cultural, natural and active tourism values of the region.
The infrastructure developments are implemented by the #gemer2 project, which is built on three thematic pillars – HISTORY, ACTIVE and BIKE. These connect cultural heritage, natural values, and active and cycling tourism into a unified tourist offer.
The tourism and cultural development of the Edelényi Castle Island is implemented as part of the HISTORY pillar. The project element provides EUR 499,220.94 in funding, of which EUR 399,376.75 is EU funding. The aim of the investment is to increase the tourist appeal of the castle, present its cultural values in a modern way, and strengthen its long-term competitiveness and sustainable operation. The development is related to the process that began on June 15, 2023, when the Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Government took over the operation of the Edelényi Castle Island from the Hungarian state. The goal of the municipality is to fill the castle with new cultural and tourist content, thereby promoting the tourist, economic, cultural and social development of the region.
As part of the project, the entire professional and visual content of the exhibition will be renewed with interactive and digital elements. A 3D model of the castle and the castle garden will be completed, animated videos will present the history of the building and its former owners, and the temporary exhibition space will be renewed, a thematic escape room and “talking portraits” based on artificial intelligence will also be created. With the acquisition of the necessary IT, audiovisual and exhibition equipment, a modern, innovative and experience-oriented cultural attraction will be created by 2029, which can increase the number of visitors to the castle in the long term and contribute to the development of the Gömör region.
The development can stimulate the creation of new tourism services, entrepreneurial collaborations and jobs, while increasing the number of visitors to the region and retaining a larger share of tourism revenues. The renewal of Edelényi Castle Island and related Gömör attractions will strengthen the county's investment attractiveness and create a more favorable environment for the development of accommodation, catering, local producers and other tourism businesses.