Lenau Haus (Lenau House), Pecs

The Lenau House (Lenau Haus) serves as a cultural hub for the German minority in Hungary, preserving and promoting their language, history, and traditions. Located in Pecs, in the southern region of Hungary, this institution plays a vital role in fostering the Hungarian-German identity and strengthening cultural ties between Hungary and Germany.

Constructed between 1987 and 1989, the Lenau House was made possible through financial support from the German city of Fellbach, a sister city of Pecs. The generous contribution of 10,000 Deutschmarks was part of a special agreement between the German and Hungarian communities, highlighting a shared commitment to cultural exchange.

The site itself carries significant historical weight, as it was originally the Dominican Church. Some of the original Gothic walls have been preserved, and crypts discovered during construction remain as part of the structure’s historical heritage. This blend of medieval elements with modern cultural functions makes the Lenau House a fascinating venue that bridges past and present.

The Lenau House serves as the main cultural hub for Hungarian Germans in southern Hungary, offering concerts, exhibitions, theater, workshops, and literary readings to showcase their heritage. It also fosters German identity among youth and connects them to the German-speaking world. Since 1985, the Nikolaus Lenau Cultural Society, the first post-WWII Hungarian-German civil organization, has operated here, preserving language and traditions while bridging Germany and Hungary.

The Lenau House garden features a bust of Nikolaus Lenau by Jeno Hanzely (1972) and Ferenc Trischler’s “Displacement of the Germans of Hungary” (1997), a memorial to post-WWII expulsions. Through cultural programs and commemorations, the house preserves Hungarian-German heritage and fosters dialogue.