On Friday, July 13th, 2018, a tribute was held for the Hungarian count István Széchenyi at the Karababa fortress, in Chalkida. He is one of the greatest personalities of modern Hungarian history.
The event was organised by the Municipality of Chalkideon and the Embassy of Hungary in Greece. Aim to highlight an unknown to the general public, historical fact. During his visit, the Count Széchenyi in Chalkida in the winter of 1818-1819 financed the release of three Greek prisoners.
During the event, Mayor of Chalkideon Christos Pagonis and the Hungarian Ambassador in Greece Erik Haupt planted symbolically an ash tree. They then unveiled an honorary plaque in the courtyard of the Karababa fortress.
Ambassador Haupt referred to the great contribution of Count Széchenyi to the creation of the modern Hungarian state and to the strong ties of friendship between the two peoples, Greece and Hungary. He emphasized his great admiration for the rich history of Chalkida. He also expressed his conviction that the emergence of the historic event of the visit of the great Hungarian Széchenyi in Chalkida would be an important occasion for attracting Hungarian visitors to Chalkida. Finally, he did not fail to mention the initiatives already undertaken for the closer cooperation of the municipality of Chalkideon with the Hungarian embassy in Greece.
Mayor of Chalkideon Christos Pagonis welcomed the Hungarian community of Chalkida, the philhellene Ambassador and his associates. He referred to the importance of highlighting this historic event by expressing the conviction that it would trigger closer cooperation between the municipality of Chalkideon and Hungarian cities. He also mentioned the effort made by the municipality of Chalkideon to become a tourist destination through an extrovert strategy.
The Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Evia, Aggeliki Simosi, referred to the history of the Karababa fortress and its timeless presence in the city of Chalkida.
In the event Hungarian and Greek dances were presented from the dance groups of the Greek Center for Folklore Studies and the Lyceum of Greek Women of Chalkida. A guided tour of the western bastion of the fortress followed.
