In most lieux de mémoire volumes published so far the national anthem of the given community appears as a site of memory, just like in the Hungarian research. The modern state is expected to have a national anthem representing the unity of the people, national and state consciousness, and anthems are also crucial from the aspect of national memories. In my paper I give a survey of our national anthem, Himnusz, both of its emblematic text and score from the point of view of lieux de mémoire studies, with special attention to instrumentalization and the manifestations of alternative memory.

In most lieux de mémoire volumes published so far the national anthem of the given community appears as a site of memory, just like in the Hungarian research. The modern state is expected to have a national anthem representing the unity of the people, national and state consciousness, and anthems are also crucial from the aspect of national memories. In my paper I give a survey of our national anthem, Himnusz, both of its emblematic text and score from the point of view of lieux de mémoire studies, with special attention to instrumentalization and the manifestations of alternative memory.