People First

The Janus Pannonius Museum Visitor Center was a fantastic experience for us and marked the beginning of a very effective partnership, in which we hope that more and more museums in Pécs will become similarly accessible. As the building is located in the heart of Pécs, at the top of Széchenyi Square, behind the Mosque, after visiting the exciting exhibition, it can be a great starting point for exploring the city's other sights. To find out which of these are accessible, it is worth checking our database beforehand, especially the Sights or Culture categories.

The Visitor Center has opened a new chapter in the cultural life of the city of Pécs, connecting the past with the present and promoting the understanding and appreciation of local heritage. Its permanent exhibition offers such interactive learning and entertainment that you should plan to spend at least two hours there! Of course, you can spend less time there, but it's not worth it :) Basically, it presents the life's work of famous people with ties to Baranya County who played a significant role not only in local but also in Hungarian history and culture. The interactive installations make a visit to the museum a real experience. The artists and cityscapes of 19th-century Pécs also take a special place in the exhibition. Johann Varoni's views of Pécs, Viktor Madarász's portraits from his early student years in Pécs, and Xavér Ferenc Weber's works provide insight into the city's merchants and artistic life.

However, accessibility is very important to the experience, and this is taken into account as much as possible at the Visitor Center. The building and the exhibition are already accessible, but the museum workers have asked the People First Association for help with further improvements. And we are very happy to cooperate!

The Visitor Center is located at the top of Széchenyi Square, so if you are arriving on foot from below, expect a slight uphill climb. Tactile signs lead all the way to the gate.

The gate entrance is on the same level as the sidewalk, with no steps or bumps.

Inside the gate, the floor is covered with old wooden blocks, which may be a little bumpy for wheelchairs, so it would be worth installing a smooth cover strip here. On the right-hand side of the gate entrance, there is a sign in Braille directing visitors to the Information Desk. Below it is a bell intended for wheelchair users to signal the need for a ramp. We recommended that a board should be placed next to the bell in Hungarian and English, as well as in Braille, to make its purpose clear. On the other side of the wall is a digital information board, which is accessible and usable from a wheelchair.

There is no permanent ramp at the entrance with a few steps leading into the building, but one is available nearby and the information staff will bring it immediately if someone needs it. The metal ramp is easy to use, stable, not steep, and the assistance provided is very attentive.

Unfortunately, the information desk is high up from a wheelchair. Entrance is free for people with disabilities and their companions, but a disability card must be presented.

There is also an accessible toilet on the ground floor, which meets all requirements.

The museum space is located upstairs, which can be accessed by stairs or elevator. The elevator can accommodate one wheelchair and two people, the buttons are marked in Braille, and to our great delight, there is also an audio announcement in the elevator.

We can only speak in superlatives about the exhibition; it is clear that it was organized with enthusiasm and love, and accessibility was truly important to the staff. The floor is smooth everywhere, with no steps or slopes, and tactile markings where necessary. All exhibits and experiences are accessible from a wheelchair, which is also very useful for children. There are also tactile objects for the visually impaired, although there could be a few more. In most places, we can enjoy audiovisual installations, and QR codes provide additional information.

Only one small area is accessible only by stairs, but plans are underway to make the materials located there available for viewing on tablets in the near future for wheelchair users.

It is delightful that there are lightweight chairs available at the entrance to the exhibition, which are more comfortable for older people, those with limited mobility, and everyone else during their visit. We think this is necessary, as it is worth spending more time in each room.

Back on the ground floor, you can take a look around the museum shop, where products are also available from wheelchairs. Admittedly, getting around is a bit difficult in a wheelchair, but we have been promised that the area will be reorganised.

Website:
There is no separate accessibility icon or menu item on the website.
As a visually impaired person, the website is easy to navigate with screen reader software. The menu items on the main page and the subcategories on the site map are clearly visible and can be expanded. After opening the links, the information can be quickly accessed using header navigation.
Unfortunately, the images are not captioned, so they cannot be enjoyed by visually impaired users, and the "Photos, Videos" and "Services" menu items at the top of the page are also not available.
As a person with a mobility impairment, the website is well structured and easy to use. As is customary today, the menu items are divided into submenus, which can be difficult to navigate for those who have difficulty moving their hands.

Getting there:
by car, the nearest accessible parking is next to Nagy Lajos High School, about 20 meters from the entrance, on flat ground. There are two additional accessible parking spaces on Széchenyi Square in front of and next to the Courthouse. This is a traffic-calmed zone, entry is only permitted with a disability card!

by bus, it is worth getting off at the Árkád Shopping Center and walking up Irgalmasok Street to Széchenyi Square. Almost all buses stop at Árkád. The route is slightly uphill, and the stones on Széchenyi Square can be a little slippery for wheelchairs. The ground is smooth and barrier-free, and tactile signs help with navigation.