Helyszín címkék:
Mammoth bones, cookies, and lavender in wonderful Máriagyűd, which is worth admiring from two wheels
Szabó Sára
What exactly will it be about?
- Our starting point is the village full of wonders: Máriagyűd
- The incomparable Mediterranean microclimate
- Coffee, lavender, and cake at Czukor Borsó
- Strawberry road and cycling on the new bike path
- Arrival at Siklós Castle, then Tamás Riczu's winery
The village full of wonders: Máriagyűd
It is worth starting your tour in the small village of Máriagyűd, located on the side of Tenkes Hill, at the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This place has an amazing energy: it is no coincidence that pilgrims come here from all over the country. Among other things, this is where the 431-kilometre-long Hungarian Pilgrimage Route, which starts in Esztergom, ends, but the town in Baranya County also attracts many visitors during the Pentecost and Assumption Day pilgrimages.
The history of the Máriagyűd shrine dates back to the 17th century. At that time, Benedictine monks built a chapel over a statue of Mary. The statue then disappeared, and was later found by hermits at a miraculous spring. This was followed by miraculous healings and apparitions of Mary, which kept the veneration of Mary alive in the area for centuries.
The area around the church hill offers a beautiful view of the Villány Mountains, and the picture-postcard scenery is the perfect way to get in the mood for cycling.
The incomparable Mediterranean microclimate
From here, head west towards the vineyards, where you soon reach the Ipacs Szabó Winery. As the chief winemaker at the Vylyan Winery, István Ipacs Szabó started running his own winery as a hobby, and since 2009 he has been running his 1.5-hectare estate as a "soloist." When you visit, it is worth buying some of the famous Villányi Franc. The region has a truly unique microclimate, as evidenced by the pomegranate plantation next door and Kálmán Huber's Mediterranean arboretum, which is the largest collection of evergreen oaks in Central Europe.
For your next stop, roll back to the main street to Czukor Borsó. This café has an authentic rural atmosphere and offers a selection of divine cupcakes, coffees, macarons, and pies; it is the ideal place to stop for a break. Along with your coffee and cake, you can enjoy a few minutes of relaxation by the grandmother's sideboard or in the cosy garden.
Interestingly, a few years ago, mammoth bones were discovered during construction work nearby. During the construction of a residential building, the jawbones of a younger and an older mammoth, as well as several tusks, were unearthed.
From here, take a pleasant detour to the Lavender House in Máriagyűd, where you can not only learn about the history of lavender, but also take part in a presentation and tasting led by the owners. From Péter and Anikó Polgár's fragrant empire, you can take home essential oils, jams, lavender water, and syrups. The area is particularly charming in summer when the lavender is in bloom, but it is worth visiting at other times of the year too.
Epres Road, Malkocs Bey Mosque and Tamás Riczu’s Winery, as a closing
Returning to the town centre, leaving the Siklóssy Pálinka Manufactory, you reach Epres (Strawberry) Road. This charming path lined with strawberry trees is interesting because it was used in the 18th century by pilgrims travelling from Siklós to the church in Máriagyűd. Epres Road has been preserved in its original state and still retains the atmosphere of bygone eras.
From here, you can take the recently opened, nearly 2.5-kilometre-long bike path to Siklós Castle, and at the foot of the castle, it is worth stopping at the Malkocs Bey Mosque. The building is an important monument of Siklós from the Ottoman era. The mosque is a quiet counterpoint to the monumentality of the castle and gives a good sense of the town’s multi-layered past.
Leaving the town to the north, after leaving the Vértanúk útja, you can refresh yourself at the bike path rest stop before reaching the final section of the tour. You have one last hill to climb before reaching Villa Serena, and then you can prepare for the next and final rest stop. The "finale" of the tour is Tamás Riczu’s Winery, where visitors can taste the distinctive wines of the Villány wine region. This is the final destination, so after parking your bikes and registering in advance, it is worth taking part in a vineyard tour and a cellar tour, and if possible, we recommend pairing the wine tasting with a cold dish.
