Bagod’s new permanent exhibition, which presents the history of the village from prehistory to modern times, has opened and is now open to visitors. The exhibition was realized through the successful cooperation of the Directorate of Zalaegerszeg Museums and the Municipality of Bagod, in the renovated and redesigned village house based on the plans of architect Imre Makovecz.
The opening event gathered the entire local community: kindergarteners, local families, representatives of the older generation, and many other visitors. Mayor Ferenc Sipos welcomed the guests, followed by Member of Parliament László Vigh, who emphasized that with the realization of the exhibition, a long-cherished dream had come true. As he noted, thanks to the archaeologists and community staff of the Göcseji Museum, such valuable finds have come to light that they truly deserve public attention.
The exhibition was opened by archaeologist Dr. Bálint Havasi, Director General of the Directorate of Zalaegerszeg Museums. In his speech, he highlighted the idea of the community museum, the community-oriented approach of the ICOM‘s new museum definition, and emphasized that museums must work for and with communities. The new permanent exhibition was created in the spirit of this concept.
The research into the history of the village began as early as 1973, when a fragment of a Roman marble tombstone was unearthed during ploughing. The high-quality stone, brought from far away, depicts a three-member family: a wealthy military officer father, his wife, and their son embraced protectively.
The core of the exhibition is formed by the archaeological finds and research results from the rescue excavations carried out between 2003–2004 along the Zalaegerszeg–Zalalövő railway line and the 2020 excavation campaign. Outstanding exhibition elements include the reconstruction of a Middle Neolithic longhouse, the fragment of the Bagod idol, and a scaled-down model of a Roman villa used for museum education purposes.
The village takes pride in its heritage: in 2022, an open-air Roman resting site (Bagodium) was inaugurated, and the locals had long wished for a covered exhibition space. That wish has now become reality. At the opening ceremony, István Eke, head of the archaeological department and curator of the exhibition, presented the exhibition to the public, followed by historian Katalin Béres, author of the book Bagod – Centuries of a Village in the Zala Region, who shared special stories from the village’s past.
The exhibition can be visited by prior appointment in the village house of Bagod.
