'Rakoczi Expres' to bring Hungarian tourists to Košice

Debates from experts, expositions, and music and dance performances are set to come to the fore during the 'zeroeth edition' of the Hungarian Culture and Hungarian-Slovak Cooperation Week set to take place in Košice on October 23-29, TASR has learned. Going by the name of 'Rakoczi Expres', Hungarian tourists are to be brought to Košice with a train powered by a locomotive adorned with a portrait of Frantisek (Francis) II Rakoczi. The name for the series of events is inspired by the present-day 'Rakoczi Intercity' railway link between Košice and Budapest, which used to be called Rakoczi-expres. Francis II Rakoczi was a Hungarian nobleman who spearheaded the Hungarian revolt against the Habsburgs in the early 18th century. "There'll be events that will contribute to Slovak-Hungarian collaboration in the area of culture as well as tourism", said Hungary's consul general Adam Szesztay, adding that he hopes this 'pilot' event will mark the beginning of a new tradition for years to come. The week's events are being organised by Hungary's Consulate General in conjunction with Košice City Hall, the Košice regional government and the Eastern Slovak Museum. Eastern Slovak Museum head Robert Pollák assures Hungarian visitors a wealth of history. "They'll get to see the latest exposition in the memorial house which we made available for the public in 2013. It includes new additions in the form of collector's items that Francis II Rakoczi used to personally use", says Pollák.