Wandering tales in Mecsek: forest shelters and bivouacs in winter

Rules for sleeping outdoors and wild camping

Bivouacs in the Mecsek

Büdöskúti chalet

Réka hut

Zengő lookout and Viki rest area

The secrets of sleeping in the forest vary from season to season: it depends on which region you are visiting, how long you are staying, what kind of weather you can expect, and how and in what way you sleep. Those who prefer more comfortable solutions can browse the offer of chalets, while those who are fans of nomadic adventure can try spending the night under the open sky, in a hammock or tent, or they can fall asleep in a built bivouac.

No matter how you plan, each version has its advantages and disadvantages: a tent is more comfortable than sleeping on the ground or in a hammock, but its weight makes it less practical for longer hikes. A hammock can be set up almost anywhere, but for some people it is less comfortable. For bivouacs, a feather-bedding is enough, everything else is just extra.

Today, built bivouacs can be found in many parts of the country, which are free to use, provide protection from the weather, and you do not even have to worry about unexpected animal guests. The forests of Mecsek are practically teeming with bivouacs, so there are plenty of opportunities to explore. Here is a taste of what we have to offer:

Near Orfű, in a beautiful valley, you will find the Büdöskúti chalet, which can be reached by following the signposts of the Pál Rockenbauer South Transdanubian Blue Trail. The house is also a sealing point, located on the section between Jakab Hill and the Fehérkúti chalet. The renovated accommodation, which lacks all comforts, can comfortably accommodate 10 2 people; water can be drawn from the nearby stream, and a cooking-range is available for cooking.

In front of the hut there is a fire pit and a wooden bower. Few people know that a bivouac has also been created in the attic of the building: you can climb up to it through a trap door and a steep ladder. The hidden small accommodation can comfortably accommodate up to 4 people.

Réka hut is located just a few kilometres from Zengő lookout, at the intersection of the blue square and the red cross. The resting place, created at the meeting of three streams, is an ideal choice for those who want a slow, signal-free rest. The renovated hut can accommodate up to 10 people and, thanks to the heating option, can also be used in winter. You can light it with candles and oil-lamps, and you can get water from a nearby spring.

At the Réka hut, you also find – similarly to the Büdöskúti chalet – a wooden bower. The attic is lower, so you cannot stand up straight in it, but there is a similarly cosy space with a window, for up to 4-6 people.

The “oldest biker” in the area is the Viki rest area, which has been standing in the immediate vicinity of the highest point of the Mecsek, the 682-metre Zengő lookout since the 1970s. To the great delight of hikers, the cosy bivouac has been renovated in recent years and its popularity remains unbroken. Unlike the two bivouacs mentioned earlier, this small shelter is open in front, so it does not offer complete protection against the weather, but the advantage is that at night you can listen to the sounds of nature from quite close up.

Did you know? The nearby Zengő lookout is a real curiosity: the six-storey structure was originally built in the 1970s, but it got its current steel frame form in 2020. The popular hiking spot was also awarded the title of Lookout of the Year in 2025. In clear weather, you can even see the panorama of the Croatian Papuk Mountains from here. Several tourist routes lead to the peak: you can also approach it from Hosszúhetény, Pécsvárad and Püspökszentlászló, but being the highest point in the Mecsek, the climb is inevitable.