Zemplinske Hamre – discovering history of mining and iron smelting

Project completed

The purpose of the project is the development of the peripheral Snina region through mobilisation of cultural-cognitive tourism and the revival of the cultural and historical heritage of the municipality of Zemplinske Hamre. Possibilities for all-year tourism shall be created and tourism services shall be improved with the aim to prolong the stay of guests in the municipality.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Slovakia
Promoting economic growth and improving working conditions
Regional development and employment
01.02.2012 - 31.12.2015
CHF  1’192’000

Note: the texts under all the headings, with the exception of 'Results achieved', describe the situation before the start of the project.

Background

The region of Snina in the most Eastern part of Slovakia, close to the borders with Poland and Ukraine, is among the underdeveloped parts of the country. However, mainly thanks to the Vihorlat protected landscape area and other NATURA 2000 sites, the potential for tourism development in the region is high. Moreover, in Zemplinske Hamre a unique history of mining and iron smelting exists which could serve as an important tourist attraction in the region. A part of this heritage has been destroyed and without a financial support can not be revived.

Objectives

The overall goal of the project is to develop the peripheral region Snina through mobilisation of cultural tourism. Specific objectives are: (i): revival of cultural, architectonical and technical heritage of municipality Zemplinske Hamre and its effective use for development of active tourism in the Snina region; (ii): improvement of tourism services, creation of possibilities for all-year tourism and for prolongation of visitors’ stays; (iii): promote economic growth through elimination of regional disparities.

Activities

Four activities shall lead to the fulfilment of the project objectives. At first, replicas of destroyed technical monuments connected to iron mining and smelting, wood cutting, charcoal production and timber transport shall be constructed and 2 historical buildings shall be renovated. In the reconstructed buildings a municipal museum shall be established with 4 permanent expositions in the second step. Lastly, a tourist information centre shall be built and an educational path introducing the history of the local industrial production shall be created.

Results

Achieved results:  

  • The municipal museum has 4 internal and 3 external expositions and is fully operational
  • 8 monuments were renewed (stone house, corn loft, mine, blast furnace, hammer mill with water headrace, charcoal pile, narrow gauge railway, bell tower)
  • The municipal museum employs 2 staff members.
  • A tourist information center (32 m2) is operational and 3 information kiosks are installed.
  • The length of the marked tourist trails in the cadastre of Zemplinske Hamre was increased by 6.8 km, now reaching 10.4 km. An educational trail with 14 stops was also created.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Swiss Contribution to the enlarged EU
Project partners Contract partner
Foreign state institution
  • National State Institute North


Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’192’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’192’000
Project phases

Phase 1 01.02.2012 - 31.12.2015   (Completed)