Trips in the Bükk Mountains
HANGING GARDENS OF LILLAFÜRED
The hanging gardens built by the side of the Palace Hotel invites you for a romantic stroll. The magical garden with its thematic terraces: terrace of sculpture, terrace of music and the terrace of waterfall not only evokes the mood of the early 20th century but surprises visitors with its botanical wonders.
LILLAFÜRED TRAIN
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Lillafüred Weaving through the thick forest between Miskolc, past Lillafüred and onto the little forest village of Garadna, the train ride is every bit the enchanting experience you might imagine, especially in Autumn. If your travels take you to Miskolc and Lillafüred (which we hope they do!), you need to add this gorgeous train ride to your itinerary while here.
ANNA CAVE
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The Anna cave, managed by the Bükk National Park Directorate, can be found near the waterfall in Lillafüred. Only a few of the kind can be visited in the whole world: in 1951 it was declared protected, then in 1982 a strictly protected area. The entrance to the cave can be found at the lowest floor of the Hanging Gardens of the Hotel Palota, in Lillafüred, right next to the Szinva Waterfall. The ticket office is a floor higher, in the tower building.
István Cave
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The protected St. Steven Cave (Szent István-barlang) is located in Lillafüred 3,5 km far from Miskolc. The cave entrance is about 500 metres far from the Palota Hotel, next to the Eger-Miskolc road. The total lenght of the cave and the alleys is 1043 m and it is about 94 m high. The presented route is about 170 m long. It was mentioned the first time by Ottokár Kadić, who sloped down to the cave with a rope in 1913. In 1927 the first routes started to build and in 1931 it was opened to the visitors.
Szeleta Cave
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Szeleta Cave is located in a North-East direction from Lillafüred, 96 metres above the road, on the slope of the hill. Through the entrance you reach a hall (length: 20 m; width: 15 m; height: 8 m), then a 40 metres long alley and a narrow, 30 metres long alley where the smaller chambers starts. Ottó Herman initiated the excavations in 1906. They found pure hand-made tools, used by the aborigines from the ice age. Some of them are the well-known spear-heads. Szeleta Cave is the location of the first Hungarian cave excavations.
Hámori Lake
Lillafüred, a holiday resort surrounded by one of the most beautiful natural environments in Hungary, in the Eastern part of Bükk Mountains in 350 m height, next to Hámori Lake, deserves the name "Pearl of Bükk". Discover the Terraced Gardens next to the lake and learn more about Lillafüred and its neighborhood! The one and a half kilometers long and nine meters deep Hámori Lake was first mentioned in a certificate issued in 1319, it was called "Feltó-halastó" (Upper fishpond) then. The present lake was evolved by increasing the water yield of Szinva and Garadna by the dam, the design of which was one of the most important achievements of 18-19th century engineering. It was needed because of the water shortage of Hámori Iron Plant was becoming constant. By the time the new smelter was put into operation by Frigyes Fazola in Újmassa in 1813, the dam had been already ready. The water of the lake was used to drive the machinery of plants built under the lake.
HERMANN OTTÓ MEMORIAL HOUSE
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The museum was furnished in the summer house of Ottó Herman ethnographer and naturalist. The exhibition is dedicated to his life, scientific and political work. Hungarians also refered to him as "the last Hungarian Renaissance man". His house was built by his wife, Kamilla Borosnyay's plans in Lillafüred, between 1898 and 1903. This house was converted to Ottó Herman Memorial House, where the first exhibition was opened in 1964. The building was reconstructed between 2006 and 2007, during this time the salon called "Dicsőség nincsen, csak kötelesség..." ("There is not glory, just duty...") was opened. In the first room we can see his workroom with his personal things, letters, family photos.The second room shows his naturalist work, especially the ornithology and his searching for the Hungarian spider faunas. Modern computers make the exhibition more interactive with: movies, sound-recordings, bird voices and quizes.
TROUT FARM
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The trout from Szilvásvárad is a so-called fast trout, which belongs to the family of salmonids. It differs from other similar fish species in both taste and texture of its pink flesh. It is bred entirely in the Szalajka Valley in the Bükk Mountains in northern Hungary, from breeding to harvesting. The fast trout breeding stock in Szilvásvárad is the same as ever, genetically pure. No live fish from foreign farms or water bodies belonging to the salmon family have ever been introduced into the trout farms and the Szalajka stream. The excellent quality of the water of the mountain springs and the local expertise and experience together ensure that the trout of Szilvásvárad retain its unique characteristics.
Veil Falls
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Fátyol-vízesés (Veil Falls), a staircase waterfall in Bükk Mountains, a must-see sight among the top natural beauties of Hungary as one of the few waterfalls in the country. It is usually height and not length that is typically associated with the word 'waterfall', however, Fátyol-vízesés (Veil Falls) is an example for a staircase waterfall of 17 meters long with 18 stairs. The formation of stairs is an interesting phenomenon demonstrating the special interaction of lime and water.
OUTDOOR FOREST MUSEUM
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The Outdoor Forest Museum in the Horotna Valley next to the Veil Waterfall reminds of the old forest crafts and the poor living conditions of the ones performing these works. The tools, buildings and work phrases of such crafts were reconstructed in their original environment, like log cutting, lime and charcoal burning, shingle, resin and glass making or potash cooking. Walking through these tools we can imagine that almost only the beauty of nature compensated the forest workers for their hard physical work.
STATE FOREST RAILWAY SZILVÁSVÁRAD
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The train leaves from the Timber Depot station at the entrance of Szalajka Valley. The length of the track is almost 5 km, the destination is the Gloriette Glade. The narrow gauge, steam operated forest railway that was built based on the plans of engineer Márkus Ágoston from Eger started operating in 1908. In 1910, Sir Wessely Károly gave it to Margrave Pallavicini Alfonz Károly, who operated it until the Second World War. In the thirties it was used mainly to transport wood and lime (on the almost 30 km long line).
CISTERCIAN ABBEY OF BÉLAPÁTFALVA
The Abbey is one of the oldest built monuments of the Hungarian history. It is located in a very nice area in the mountains. You can drop your car and walk or just drive to the abbey.It was built in 1232.The interior of the abbey was fantastic with amazing lights coming in through the windows! Bring your cameras to take breath-taking photos of medieval history. Use the audio guide which is part of the entrance ticket.
Bél-kő Hill
A conveniently ascending 5 km long study trail consisting of 7 stations goes up the 815 m high Bélkő hill, which can be done on foot, upwards 2-2.5 hours, downhill about 1.5 hours. At the stations the tables make you acquainted with the flora and fauna of the hill and the variety of the rocks and minerals. From the top of the hill one of the nicest views of Hungary opens to you: in bright weather even the line of Tisza river and the Tatras can be seen.
Lillafüred
Although Lillafüred is administratively part of the city of Miskolc, it is actually located about 15 km from the city. This small jewel-box is located on the eastern edge of the Bükk Mountains, where the Garadna and Szinva valleys meet, on the shores of Lake Hámori, surrounded by magical beech forests. Lillafüred was declared a holiday resort in 1892 on the proposal of Count András Bethlen, Minister of Agriculture. Legend has it that the place got its name from the count's niece, Elizabeth Vay (nicknamed Lilla).
Szilvásvárad
Discover the internationally known and liked nature reserve on foot, by bike or on narrow-gauge railway. The Fátyol waterfall cascading from a height of 17 metres, Szikla spring, the famous Gloriett glade where once the houses of the village Szalajka stood and the Istállóskő cave: these are just a few of the sights that await you in Szilvásvárad and the Szalajka Valley.