The place that teaches you to slow down: Natura Hill

Tourists arriving from the direction of Budapest may be a little unsure where to go, if they don’t notice the information board from the corner of their eye. Beyond the village, a thin little road winds steeply up between the cottages: the houses slowly fade behind us, and we are still not there. When we already think that we are in the wrong place, we see our destination. The owner Adrienn Hodik works along a concept, giving an arc to all development and improvement that makes Natura Hill more and more complete year by year. “We cannot deny ourselves: ever since we opened we are going ahead on a designated path paying attention to the world and to the people. This can also be seen from the fine-tuning of the menu: fixed points are the quality of the ingredients, regional character and locale. However, we have to react to the changes of the world, therefore we present a growing number of plant-based dishes – sustainability has always been a keyword to us. We have been working in this spirit for a long time, and we wouldn’t like to change that."

The catering establishment went ahead of the trends in many ways. They never had coke or TV, said the owner laughing, but some details operating since their opening have started to become a standard in Hungarian tourism only recently. “The restaurant and the accommodation were fitted with geothermal heating, and zero waste approach is not just a slogan – for example, by offering less meat and an environmentally conscious experience, we can motivate our guests, since once they enjoy these here, they might change their approach at home as well. We think that it’s no longer a matter of belief, the world is truly changing around us, and we feel it is our duty to react to this,” adds Adrienn.

The period of pandemic brought such changes to tourism and hospitality that nobody expected. Not only has the business environment changed in no time, but the needs of hikers as well. Instead of crowded party places, quieter destinations close to nature became the most successful. “We have always worked with rooms opening to the outside environment, there is one guest per half a hectare – those who want to focus on their family, partner or themselves instead of the cavalcade can get everything they need for a retreat, for the experiences overriding the hustle and bustle of the city, here on the top of the hill in Zebegény, in the Börzsöny.”

According to Adrienn Hodik during the coronavirus pandemic they have been in a better position than others, since they did not have to respond suddenly to the new needs, because they started out in this spirit years before. “Our profile never included mass tourism or buffet meals. The people who visited us were happy about separation. Those who longed for this could find it here. Natura Hill is somewhere halfway between private accommodation and classic hotels. There is restaurant, massage, sauna, so maximum care is given, but everything is tied to an appointment to protect peace and intimacy.” According to the owner, during the pandemic when they could be open there wasn’t any problem: old guests were happy to visit them again and new guests discovered them, especially those who have not been so interested in domestic tourism so far.

Adrienn Hodik adds: “It’s good to see how much the Danube Bend has developed; it offers more and more experiences, not only down along the river, but also up on the hills, in the woods of Börzsöny as well. We have met several interesting people recently: covid did good for domestic tourism, and opened Hungarians’ eyes to the possibilities offered by their home country. Their style of recreation is also becoming more active: hiking, cycling turned fashionable again. We are happy that the people visiting us like the environment and marvel at the beauty of the Danube Bend. We can’t get bored with it either.”