3 small villages in Baranya County where time is measured differently

We can approach Révfalu via a long, lane embankment, and this introductory section is a wonderful sight in itself. It almost comes to life before us as in rainy weather the access road is swallowed up by the River Drava and the settlement becomes inaccessible. Of course, this is just a fantasy, brought on by the atmosphere, like the world of Tim Burton’s films. Such is the case in Révfalu, in Croatian language: Drvljanci, a charming little Baranya County village right next to the border.

In the early 1900’s, it was home to nearly 200 people, but by the late 1980’s almost all had left. The village, with its beautiful natural surroundings, is today inhabited by only one or two families, the rest of the villas being used as holiday homes. The area also attracts visitors, with lush green lawns, a tidy chapel and vibrant flora and fauna. Révfalu is just a street returning to itself, lined with tidy courtyards – there are no neglected buildings, every corner is friendly welcoming and inviting. Here, in the heart of the Danube-Drava National Park, you will find the Lóka Guesthouse. In the Ormánság shelter, the silence is broken only by the inhabitants of the house; donkeys, mangalica pigs and ducks. This is the “noise” that makes it worth leaving the city sometimes.

This beautiful, wild little dead-end village near Orfű, rests peacefully on the friendly slopes of the Mecsek. The small village is bordered by Lake Kovácsszénájai, one of the best skating spots in the county. In cold weather, you can go on a real voyage of discovery with skates on your feet, as from this fishing lake you can easily cross (literally) to the neighbouring Ottó Herman Lake. 

The Orfű Destination Circle Tour, which is one of the most extensive gastronomic and adventure tours of the West Mecsek Landscape Protection Area, also passes through the village. Whether you visit Kovácsszénája as part of the Circle Tour or explore it on your own, be sure to stop by the Novák Cheese Workshop. The estate is the show farm of Peter Novák, the current mayor of the village. Here you can pet little goats and piglets, and indulge your taste buds with artisan cheeses. Just rely on the mayor and ask him about the area and his own and the village’s produce. When you are tired, choose one of the beautifully renovated farmhouses for rent. The Szilvamag (‘Plum Seed’ House, for example, is an authentic adobe house with a wonderful panorama, a garden and a barn, which awaits those who wish to relax in its pampering surroundings.

Almáskeresztúr is a tidy dead-end village not far from Szigetvár. When you arrive in the village, you immediately notice that every doorway is tidy and every corner is inviting and welcoming. It’s as if someone is whispering in our ears that we are in for a wonderful experience. Interestingly, in the early 1900’s, half the population was Hungarian and half German.

There are many successful farmers, entrepreneurs and guesthouses here, but the charming little farm of Lamine and Simone Kaba is a must-see. The half-Guinean, half-Hungarian man and his wife, who came from Switzerland, are goat farmers, producing mainly hard and soft goat cheeses with seasonal seasonings. You can also buy home-made goat’s milk and meat products at Kaba Farm, but what’s really worth it is the village guest table or tasting. What’s more, the delicious snacks can be enjoyed in the open-air communal space on the sloping hillside, with its half-roofed terrace, almost blending in with the panorama.