Fabulous Zengő hike, or crimson peak conquest beyond the Giant

The tiny, jewel-box-like villages of the Eastern Mecsek offer countless surprises, whatever your destination. But if you are heading out, consider planning your adventure for a weekend in late April. And why? At this short time of the year, a miracle happens in the forest: the crimson-petalled Bánát peony blooms!

At this time of the year, the protected flower gives the Mecsek forest a magnificent colour (the lavish fragrance is provided by the ramson, which also blooms at this time of the year). The Zengő ridge is home to approximately 15,000 hectares of Mecsek peonies, each with a conservation value of HUF 250,000. Photograph the beautiful flowers only from a fair distance and avoid unnecessary trampling of habitats!

At the end of April, tours organised by the Danube-Dráva National Park Directorate will allow you to discover the flora and fauna of Zengő and its surroundings, but there are also great routes available if you want to explore on your own. Here is a gentle version:

Length of the tour: 6 km

Estimated time: 1.5-2 hours

The best way to combine peony-hunting with the conquest of the Zengő Lookout is to come here from Hosszúhetény, Pécsvárad and Püspökszentlászló. Perhaps one of the easiest routes starts from the secluded, quiet little forest village of Püspökszentlászló, which, although steep, is a significantly shorter section than the others. If you start from here, you can admire the Giant Stone Crusher, which guards the boundary of the settlement and is a great photo opportunity. The wooden colossus, several metres tall, is part of a treasure hunt to find “lost” giants in the villages of Eastern Mecsek. Continuing on, you can park your car next to the Püspökszentlászló castle and arboretum. Whether as a ‘warm-up’ or a ‘cool-down’, it is well worth visiting the magnificent castle and its grounds, the ancient botanical gardens, the associated late Baroque church in the neoclassical style and the adjacent bishop’s summer house.

From here, you can take the yellow-marked hiking trail along the beautiful beech hills towards Zengő, the summit of which is less than 3 kilometres away. The third third of the way up gets really tricky, with a serious climb. As a consolation, the ordeal is soon over: at the top of the steep section, the highest point of the Mecsek and the Zengő Lookout soon appear between the trees. At the top of the 682-metre-high mountain, the 22-metre-high steel structure overlooks the enchanting villages of the area, Szársomlyó and the Tenkes Hill, and on a clear, sunny day you can even see the peaks of the Papuk Mountains in Croatia and the volcanic mountains of the Balaton highlands. We don’t recommend visiting the lookout in rainy or windy weather, and those who have a phobia about high places should expect a bit of a challenge, as the steel structure has “transparent” holes and sometimes even squeaking noises. On the way back, if you want a change of scenery, descend along the yellow circle, then after passing the chapel of St. Mary, take the pilgrim path back to your starting point. When you are finally tired, there are plenty of welcoming guesthouses in the village to welcome weary wanderers.

On the way to Püspökszentlászló, we certainly passed through Hosszúhetény: returning here, we can rest from the hiking in two great places. The Almalomb Kulináris Kitérő és Találkozóhely (Almalomb Culinary Excursion and Meeting Place) is also a frequent venue for special exhibitions, theatre performances, film screenings and weddings. Also in Hosszúhetény is the Hosszú Tányér (Long Plate), where guests compete for just five tables. The dishes prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients go well with the acid-rich white wines of Hosszúhetény, and it is also recommended to leave room for special desserts.