The community of Visnyeszéplak was originally formed by a group of middle class and intellectual persons,who knew each other from a folk dance house.
These clubs were quite popular among those who had strong connection with traditional roots. During the 90’s some of them decided to search for an abandoned palace to get away from modern society’s influence which they believe to be very harmful.
They started to move to this tiny town in south-west Hungary. The village itself was almost fully abandoned due to the collectivism of the socialist era. It was just too isolated to control by the power, so it was left to die.
What was it's disadvantage for the authorities, soon became it's benefit for these escapists.

Every family could buy a really cheap house with land of about 2 hectares. They mostly farm animals, arable land is not typical but of course they produce vegetables and fruit. Unlike many of the later established eco-villages, where the most common idea is to have fresh air and healthy food, it’s organizing force is the catholic morality and peasant tradition. Religious life plays a key role in everyday actions.

As a photographer and as a sociologist, the most important question was how life will develop during the years. My first visit here happened in 2006, I was amazed at first site. Not only by what I saw, but actually how devoted these people were, and how much effort they put into the idea to make it work. Of course they worked physically a lot, but still the most fascinating was the ideological approach to daily life. Everything had it's religious meaning also, which elevated peasant life from its daily routine.
Still the biggest question is what is happening to the new generation. Generally every family who originally moved here have around 5-6 children. They taught the little ones themselves and later they studied in secondary schools and typically also in universities, which obviously made them move far from home. Some moved back some did not, as it would be hard to be a surgeon or researcher from here. Is it a dead-end or is the town able to reproduce itself? At the moment there are about 150 inhabitants, which means the town is practically full, buying a new house is hardly possible. Probably this is the decisive time when the challenge of the future needs to be faced.
As one of the leaders of the community described me one day: We came out of the map behind God’ back where we suddenly found ourselves right in front of God.