The home of peace – The Legacy of the Peace treaty of Vasvár
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area : Vasi Hegyhát |
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category : social practices |
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An ambiguous kind of memory is the heritage of the ‘Shameful Peace Treaty of Vasvár’. The retreating Ottoman army was able to get more favourable conditions than the losing side used to have but in fact it was a contemporary political deal. The exact place of the signature is not known because the so-called “Peace House” is more than a hundred years older than the signature. Those days the whole town was destructed, so it was most likely it took place in the Ottoman grand commander’s tent. However, the town wants to remember the signature by the function of the building. The Peace House is also a place where peace conferences are held. A precious permanent painting exhibition is shown at the Peace House too.
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The local tradition claims that the ‘Tretter house’, or ‘Peace House’ near the city centre was the place where the so-called “Peace Treaty of Vasvár” was signed.
This document was signed after the battle of 1664 between the Christian and Ottoman armies. The Christians had won the battle. However, the retreating Ottoman army was able to get more favourable conditions than the losing side was supposed to have. That is the reason why the treaty is often called the 'Shameful Peace Treaty of Vasvár' by the historians, but it's possible that is was simply a compromise, a political deal based on contemporary 'Realpolitik'.
The exact place of the signature is not known because the so-called 'Peace House' is more than a hundred years older than the signature. Those days the whole town was destroyed, so most likely it took place in the Ottoman grand commander’s tent.
The building was part of the church's local lordship being used as an office with its full environment where there were stables, barns and granaries. In the 20th century the whole place were converted to parcels, and in the centre they made plots. The office that remained was purchased by notary Győző Tretter, whose family had been using the building since the 1980's. (This is why some still call it ‘Tretter House’.) Today it is under public ownership.
However, the town wants to remember the signature even by giving a community purpose to the building. Vasvár has recently joined a community which integrates those places where important peace treaties were signed. This community also helps the communication between the accessed cities and they organize a thematic tour track in cooperation with the towns to attract historical time travellers.
The Peace House is also a place where peace conferences are held. Nationally and internationally well-known scientists share their ideas about peace or debate about the peace treaty of Vasvár.
A precious permanent painting exhibition is shown in the Peace House too. |
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