Another ICOMOS award for the Market ROM Vándor programme

The Market Építő Zrt. ROM Vándor programme once again won the recognition of the ICOMOS Hungarian National Committee in 2025, this time for the restoration of the Varjaskéri church ruins in Somogyszentpál. Following the 2024 „Exemplary Monument Preservation” award, which praised the programme, the professional committee has now also rewarded a specific ROM Vándor programme location, according to a statement sent to our newspaper.

The ruins of the 13th-century Varjaskéri church, the remains of the former church of the Kér settlement from the time of the Hungarian conquest, are located on the outskirts of Somogyszentpál. The renovation of the ruins, which had been forgotten over the centuries, was initiated and carried out by Market Építő Zrt. as part of the ROM Vándor programme, in close cooperation with the local government of Somogyszentpál, which can be read about at presentation.

How values are preserved and displayed

The aim of the project is to create a unique representation of the forgotten foundations of the former Árpád-era church based on plans drawn up by KÖZTI Zrt., to reveal the forgotten foundations of the former Árpád-era church and to preserve and stabilise the remaining brick façade. The work included cleaning and conserving the brickwork using restoration methods, preserving the sculptural silhouette of the building remains that blends into the landscape.

While preserving the natural, harmonious relationship between the poetic ruin and the landscape, the monument has also been given a small-scale contemporary addition. The Corten steel gate element, attached to the brick wall, both stabilises the medieval wall remains and indicates the location and scale of the original gate. As part of the environmental works, the foundation walls of the former church and the adjacent cemetery area were marked with uniquely vegetated earth piles. Information panels are also on site to help visitors find their way around.

According to the Certificate of Diploma ICOMOS, the Varjaskéri church ruins deserve the award for "thorough preparation, careful restoration, witty solution of static reinforcement and special transformation of the environment".

"We are extremely proud that our ROM Vándor programme has once again been awarded the ICOMOS prize. The Varjaskeri churchyard project is a perfect example of how a forgotten monument can be saved and given new life through teamwork, expertise and dedication. With the ROM Vándor programme, in which the volunteer work of our staff plays a key role, we are not only saving special, centuries-old structures, but also building communities and raising awareness of our national treasures, which we have a shared responsibility to preserve. This recognition confirms our commitment to social responsibility, to protecting our built heritage and to creating value."