Severovychodná brána údolia Ipl'a a Narodného parku Dunaj-Ipel'

The establishment of a visitors centre to facilitate the introduction of areas along the River Ipoly, the construction of two bird observation towers and the reconstruction of the Páskom Grassland study trail. Locations of the project can be found along the cross-border River Ipoly. By the project implementation, the partners primarily aim at the development of a complex nature conservation and tourism package. On the Slovakian side of the border, the Ipoly Union plans the establishment of a Visitors Centre. The Centre itself will include 8 two-storey wooden buildings and a three-storey main building of which reconstruction is proposed by this present project. The main building will include a kitchen and a restaurant suitable to serve 80 people, workshop rooms and a large lecture room, 2 offices and, following the reconstructions proposed, a covered gallery. At the outdoor areas, the establishment of sports fields and an open-air theatre is proposed. The area was originally meant to be used as a pioneers camp site however construction works come off in 1989. Since 2004, it is under the ownership of the Ipoly Union. At the other side of the river, the 9th national park of Hungary, i.e. the Danube-Ipoly National Park planning the construction of bird observation towers on the flood-plain of the River Ipoly (at Ipolyvece and Dejtár) as well as the reconstruction of the Páskomi pasture-land study trail in this present project is found. The study trail starts from Dejtár, next to the church. Information boards set on the study trail also require reconstruction. The added value of the joint development is the improvement of the relationship those visiting and residing in the region to nature conservation as nature conservation as a remote, difficult-to-interpret activity becomes understandable and reasonable and, in the meantime, an awareness raising approach strengthening environmental sensitivity can also be implemented that is essential to the region´s sustainable.

The Ipeľ/Ipoly region is part of the peripheral regions of Slovakia and Hungary. The main economic sector in the region by the end of the 80s of the last century was agriculture. At present, this region can be characterised by high unemployment, an ageing population and the lack of economic investments. However, the potential of the region is hidden in its nature and landscape and the development of rural tourism established on the basis of natural and cultural heritages. The aim of the project was to establish a visitors’ centre to facilitate the introduction of the areas along the river Ipeľ/Ipoly. Besides the creation of the “visitors\' starting point”, two bird observation towers in the flooding areas of Ipeľ/Ipoly were constructed along with the reconstruction of the Páskom Grassland study trail.