Helyszín címkék:
A bowl of potato dumplings, off on an adventure to the Őrség!
Szabó Sára
The rustling of the forests, the sight of the gentle hills and the gurgling of the streams can bring peace to a person's heart. It is beyond doubt that the Lord must have been in a good mood when he created this region: it is as if nature itself had found a home here. But the Őrség is not only a geographical location, but also a way of life: a realm of silence, tranquillity and timelessness. The houses of the small, scattered villages seem to have come to life from the pages of a storybook. The old harrow houses, pottery workshops and rural homes preserve the traditions and hospitality of the people living here. The Őrség shows its new face from season to season: in spring it entices you with the scent of blooming meadows, in summer it offers rest in the shade of pine forests, in autumn it dresses in gold and red, and in winter its snow-covered landscape turns into a fairy-tale wonderland.
From Galambaszer to Pityerszer, freely!
The Őrség was originally settled by families guarding the border, who had a good view of the surroundings from the heights. As the families expanded, the houses, yards and orchards were not arranged in streets, but in a bush-like manner, not separated from each other by fences. The smaller groups of houses located on hilltops are the so-called “szers”, which are often separated from each other by forests and meadows. This loose, close-to-nature system also served to protect the landscape and maintain community life. What is more, it is a real speciality, since nowhere else in our country people live according to such a settlement system.
It is worth marvelling at the Őrség-style “szer” construction, either on foot or by bicycle. When arriving in Őrség, it is worth staying in traditional farmhouses, barns, and harrow houses. The creaking of the wooden floors, the warmth of the fireplace, and the farm world that can be observed from the kitchen are a great experience for children too! A great family-friendly accommodation is, for example, the Fecskefészek Guest-house in Őriszentpéter, where there are also animals and a playground on the farm. It is great fun to bathe in a tub or take a sauna at sunset in the wood-fired Finnish sauna on the property boundary. In Szalafő, the apartments of the Őrség Boronaház Porta are also happy to welcome younger adventurers – the crackling fire in the tiled stove and the furniture of the old times bring the authentic Őrség atmosphere here too. Wherever you book accommodation in this wonderful region, it is worth making sure that electronic devices do not disturb your peace!
Lambs, bison, wild horses
During your adventure, you should definitely not miss Szalafő, which consists of a total of eight “szers”. One of them is Pityerszer, where you can get an insight into the traditions of the past with the help of the Őrség Folk Monument Complex. The “fenced house”, the “kástu” or the “tóka” used to collect drinking water can only be found here in our country! A 300-metre-long nature trail called “Life in the meadow orchard” leads through the area of the open-air village museum, thanks to which you can learn about the formation of the orchards that provide hay and the native fruit trees. There are also numerous other nature trails in the area, such as the 6.2-kilometre-long Körtike nature trail, which leads through Szalafő and presents the unique wildlife of Őrség. It pays special attention to the moor meadows and the small-flowered wintergreens, from which the nature trail got its name. In addition, animal experiences await young and old during the tour.
The Szalafő bison farm is a 70-hectare separated area where the reintroduced European bison, which once lived here, live. In addition to the largest known land mammals on the continent, you can also observe wild horses from the bison high-stand. And if you are lucky, they will come extremely close to you!
Last but not least, if you are in Őrség, it is worth exploring not only the wonders of nature, but also the local gastronomic treasures with the family. In Szalafő, at the Őrségi Ízek Portája, Ildikó Horváthné Tamaskó will cook you delicious, home-made dishes after prior registration. In Ispánk, at the Eszti Falusi Vendégasztala, you can taste the masterpieces of traditional cuisine of the Őrség, but the Kiscsupor Lakásétterem és Gasztroport belonging to the Batha Porta are also open all year round. And if you would like to entrust yourself to the mercy of chef István Akács, you should visit the Michelin-starred Pajta in Őriszentpéter. In addition, it is also worth getting local delicacies at the Producers' Market in Őriszentpéter held on Saturday mornings, where you can taste and take home the most delicious artisanal products of the region.
