2004 Fertőrákos, Hungary

From July 9 to 11, the European Stone Festival took place in Fertőrákos at Lake Neusiedl in Hungary. The event was organized by the Hungarian National Association of Stonemasons and Artificial Stone Manufacturers. In total, 128 stonemasons and stone carvers from 11 countries came to Fertőrákos to showcase their skills.

The journeymen and masters created a stone bench for the Esterházy Baroque Palace in nearby Fertőd, based on a historical model. Working in groups of three, each team produced a bench within 15 hours. The themes referenced the historic event of 1989, the Pan-European Picnic organized by the Hungarian and Austrian foreign ministers at the Hungarian-Austrian border, during which 150 citizens of the former GDR crossed into Austria. The second theme celebrated the unique cultural landscape of Lake Neusiedl, which is part of the World Heritage.