LIMNEUS: First International Meeting successfully held in Polgár, Hungary
From 24 to 27 July 2026, the first international meeting of the European project LIMNEUS – Lakes, Identity, Memory, Nature, European Uniting Stories took place in Polgár, Hungary. The project is funded by the European Union under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme – Town Twinning 2025.
Hosted by the Municipality of Polgár, the event brought together delegations from Italy, Lithuania, Spain and Hungary, including the project coordinator People and Europe Cooperation APS (Gradoli, Italy), the Municipality of Polgár, the Municipality of Panevėžys (Lithuania), and CEDER La Siberia – Reserva de la Biosfera La Siberia (Spain).
The meeting focused on the theme "Tourism, Sustainability and Democratic Participation in Lakeside and Riverside Communities", encouraging participants to reflect on how lakes and rivers can become drivers of sustainable development, active citizenship and European cooperation.
Activities were centred around the Tisza River and Lake Tisza, one of Hungary's most valuable protected natural areas. Following the opening conference and workshop on sustainability, cultural heritage and civic engagement, participants visited the KÉRÉSZ Eco and Active Tourism Centre, a leading example of sustainable tourism and environmental education.
The programme continued with boat excursions and cycling activities around Lake Tisza, allowing participants to experience environmentally friendly mobility and responsible tourism practices.
A highlight of the programme was the visit to the Lake Tisza Ecocentre, where participants explored the area's biodiversity through freshwater aquariums, amphibian and reptile exhibitions featuring both native and non-native species, and educational nature trails illustrating the importance of ecosystem conservation.
The event also included a dragon boat experience on the Tisza River, promoting teamwork and a closer connection with nature, together with workshops and discussions dedicated to responsible tourism, environmental protection and democratic participation at local level.
Participants also discovered Hungarian culinary traditions by tasting freshwater fish specialties—including pike, carp, perch and lake bream—as well as Slambuc, one of the country's most iconic traditional dishes prepared with pasta, potatoes and smoked bacon.
The first LIMNEUS international event demonstrated how lakes and rivers can become places of dialogue, democratic participation and European cooperation, strengthening the connection between communities committed to sustainability, inclusion and active citizenship.