Rural gentrification - the example of Erdőbénye

Abstract

The phenomenon of urban-rural migration is embedded in a variety of theoretical frameworks in the international and Hungarian academic literature, the most common of which are suburbanization, deurbanisation, amenity migration and rural gentrification. We adopt the analytical framework of rural gentrification in our study, as it provides the most nuanced understanding of the phenomenon. We examine the case of Erdőbénye using 41 semi-structured interviews that we conducted. The village is located in the Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county and is part of the Tokaj-Hegyalja historical wine region. The settlement first became a tourist destination, then more and more people bought second homes. After that, investors, winemakers, and providers of accommodation arrived, and later, a wine and gastronomy festival was launched. As a result, the village has become more and more popular. Few people have moved here permanently, but the process of gentrification is evident. The different groups of people who moved here (second home owners, entrepreneurs, etc.) had various and complex motivations, but the quiet, the tranquillity, the beautiful scenery, the location (Tokaj is nearby) and the built environment were the most important factors. In our study, we seek to explain what motivated people from outside to buy a house and vineyard in Erdőbénye and why they chose this settlement for this purpose. We also examine how the newcomers perceive Erdőbénye and how the process of gentrification is affecting the village.