Dobrodošli/Üdvözöljük

Welcome to our homepage
www.vendvidek.com !

What is the "Vendvidék"?

“Vendvidék” is a Hungarian expression and means “the country of the Wends / Windish-land”. This term means respectively meant the Slavs/Slovenes living in the south-eastern Germanic language area. As a consequence of the immigration of the Slavs in the German-speaking part in the 7th and 8th century, the Germans used this term as a synonym for the foreign. This expression became a loan word of the Hungarian language, and even today it is still a term to describe the Slovenes living on Hungarian soil (Hungarian = vendek*). This region got the name “Raba Region” and “Slovene Raba Region” (Slov. = Porabje / Slovensko Porabje) respectively. The term and the appellation of the Slovenes as “Slovenes from the Raba region” in Hungary come from Slovenia itself. Already after the First World War the term “Slovenes from the Raba” for the Slovenes living in the Monošter / Szentgotthárd area could be read in the Slovene press. After the Second World War they were called “Slovenes from the Raba river bank”.

Where is the "Vendvidék"?

The “Vendvidék” is located in the border triangle Slovenia-Hungary-Austria, in the area of the small town Szentgotthárd, which lies close to the Austrian border and is being flown through by the river Raba, hence the name “Raba Region”. What is more, the “Vendvidék” is part of the picturesque national park Orség in south-western Hungary, which enraptures with its flora and fauna. On the area of approximately 94 km² there are seven Slovene-speaking villages: Gornji Senik / Felsoszölnök, Dolnij Senik / Alsószölnök, Sakalovci / Szakonyfalu, Slovenska ves / Rábatótfalu, Števanovci / Apátistvánfalva, Ritkarovci / Kétvölgy, Andovci / Orfalu). The little border town Monošter / Szentgotthárd inhabited by people having Slovene and Hungarian roots is the economic and cultural centre of the Slovenes from the Raba Region. In Hungary, beyond the Slovene Raba Region, some Slovenes still live in Szombathely (the capital of Vas County) and in other parts of this county. Furthermore, in the counties Somogy, Győr-Moson-Sopron and Budapest and widespread over several other Hungarian regions you can find Slovenes as well.

Why the "Vendvidék"?

In a geographical, cultural, linguistic and ethnical point of view, the Raba Region / Porabje belongs to the Mura Region / Prekmurje. These two areas were linked together until 1919. The Mura Region became part of Yugoslavia, and the Raba Region remained under Hungarian sovereignty. After the Treaty of Trianon (1920) and during the time of the Iron Curtain, the Slovenes of the “Vendvidék” were separated from the rest of the Slovene people. With our website, we want to conduce to the people, who consist of approximately 5000 souls today and who had almost fallen into oblivion due to the historic events mentioned above. We want to be a kind of “voice” for the rich culture, customs, language, tradition and history of the Slovene population group in order to enable them to gain publicity also beyond the Hungarian Raba Region.

Who are we?

We are both fascinated with the history and culture of ethnicities. On this account we have decided in favour of the Slovene population group. Our names are Tibor Horváth and Joël Gerber. Tibor Horváth studied economics and law in Bern (Switzerland). Joël Gerber studies history and English literature in Fribourg (Switzerland). With our project we can both deal with the manifold history and culture of the Slovene Raba region. What is more, Tibor Horváth has a very personal relation to this region because he comes from the “Vendvidék”, more precisely from Apátistvánfalva / Števanovci. Both Tibor Horváth and Joël Gerber are deeply interested in journalistic work. Therefore the section “Articles” marks a crucial element of the website. It offers the readers not only the possibility to gain information about the latest developments in the Slovene Raba Region, but they can also read cultural and historical reports and articles, the goal of which is to give them an understanding of the life in this very region.

Go on an expedition through the fascinating Raba Region and get to know the rich history and culture of the people from the “Vendvidék”!

* The “Vendvidék” in Hungary is also called “the Slovene Raba Region”