Helyszín címkék:
The best trails in the Mecsek Mountains
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An article from Turista Magazine.
A misleading name, a guaranteed experience
An after-lunch stroll above Pécs
Dripping along the stream
Around the “Betyártanya” on the Mecsek karst
Wildlife experience in Baranya
Patrolling around a castle
On the trails of gorges
In the most unknown gorge
A misleading name, a guaranteed experience
The name of the Panorama Road above Kővágószőlős promises something that we search for in vain on the path that crosses the steep slope of Jakab Hill. Due to the mature forest, there is no view from the narrow path created in 1992; at most, we can occasionally glimpse the Drava plain through the foliage.
Nevertheless, it is a memorable experience to walk along the approximately 4.5 km long trail, which winds its way through mostly moss-covered oak and pine forests, dodging rocky outcrops here and there.
The trail leads to the panoramic rock terrace of Babás-szerkövek, and it is worth combining the hike with a visit to the tourist rest area with a bivouac room at the top of Jakab Hill and Zsongor-kő (Zsongor Stone). These attractions are linked by the following tour.
After-lunch stroll above Pécs
The nearly century-old Rotary Circular Promenade is a good example of what happens when a tourist route is not only painted between two possible destinations, but the possibilities inherent in the route are also taken into account. In fact, the appeal of the Rotary Trail lies solely in the latter, as it does not go anywhere, but simply bypasses the Tubes block, maintaining an altitude of 550 meters.
On the southern slope, we can walk through airy oak forests and mixed forests on the northern slope, often among old beech trees, while enjoying views of the landscape in places. There are benches and information boards along the trail, and it is recommended to combine the walk with a visit to the Tubes lookout tower and the Misina TV tower.
Dripping along the stream
Lóré, meaning horse railway – the Lóri Valley near Orfű preserves the memory of logging and wood production in its name, yet we can walk along the bottom of the ditch in a natural environment, in a romantic forest. The trail crosses the riverbed several times, where after rainy periods the water forms rapids in some places and small pools in others. Nearby are the Sárkány-szakadék (Dragon Gorge) and the mountain range’s highest-yielding spring, the Vízfő Spring, but you can also add a forest lodge and Baranya County’s highest (former) village, Vágotpuszta, to an easy circular tour.
Around the “Betyártanya” (‘Bandit Hideout’) on the Mecsek karst
The long and straight Szuadó Valley, which flows into the Orfű lake system, is one of the most romantic places in the Mecsek Mountains. At the bottom of the narrow ditch, several springs feed the stream that disappears into the depths. At its widest point, there is an exciting bivouac hut reminiscent of a bandit’s hideout, while the path sometimes winds around the boulders in the stream bed and sometimes cuts across the slope.
Exploring the naturally chaotic forest is an experience in itself, but it is also worth visiting the Balázs Hill Lookout Tower to look down on Lake Pécs, then walking along the shore of Lake Orfű, peeking into the Sárkány-szakadék (Dragon Gorge), and finally stopping off at the Büdös-kúti kulcsosház (Büdös-kút key house) on a dense beech trail. All this can be covered in the following medium-length hike.
Wildlife experience in Baranya
The Nagy-Mély-völgy (‘Big Deep Valley’) and its surroundings are the most scenic part of the Mecsek Mountains: waterfalls, rapids, huge springs, and caves dot the narrow and deep valley. The path running along the banks of the ever-lively stream not only contains stepping stones, but also merges with the riverbed in places, and at one point follows the watercourse on a bridge suspended over the bank.
When visiting the Nagy-Mély Valley, it is also worth exploring the coastal strip of the neighboring Petnyák Valley and the primeval forest-like wilderness of the dry ditch of the Zsidó-völgy (‘Jewish Valley’). The extensive limestone walls of the neighboring Meleg-Mányi Valley, the rock steps of Ágnes Waterfall, the dark mouth of Mánfai Cave, and the Árpád-era church in Mánfa ensure that we will not be bored for a moment during our journey.
Patrolling around a castle
Most people walk along the asphalt road that runs through the Vár-völgy (Castle Valley), which extends deep into the Eastern Mecsek Mountains, but there is a less comfortable yet much more spectacular alternative. The red-marked trail on the southern side of the valley cuts across the densely dissected slope with its ditches, barely undulating.
There is no view in the lush, natural beech forest, but the experience of nature is intense, and halfway there, we can take a break under (or between) the walls of Márévár. Those who walk along the trail will find it only a short detour to visit the pleasant resting places of Delelő-rét (‘Midday Meadow’) and Pásztor-forrás (‘Shepherd Spring’), and it is also recommended to climb the short but steep slope to the Cigány-hegyi (‘Gypsy-Hill’) lookout tower.
On the trails of gorges
Three narrow valleys cut into the western edge of the Eastern Mecsek, which in other mountain ranges would simply be called gorges. In some places, they narrow so much that the stream is followed only by a thin, muddy path, and in some places you even have to wade into the riverbed. The Hidasi Valley is the longest and most beautiful, and it is also home to the Csurgó limestone rock; the Takanyó Valley is shorter, but spectacularly deep and fissure-like in its middle section, while the Sín-gödör (‘Rail Pit’) – as its name suggests – is a ravine-like, true gorge with a series of small waterfalls and larger rock walls.
Walking along the latter path requires skill in some places. You can combine all three into one trip, but if you are wandering around this area, be sure to visit Márévár, the Cigány-hegyi lookout tower, the Pusztabánya meadow, or the arboretum in Püspökszentlászló.
In the most unknown gorge
Perhaps the least known gorge in the Mecsek Mountains, the Csepegő-árok (‘Dripping Ditch’), is revealed by a trail that crosses long stretches of beautiful, sometimes steep slopes rising to considerable heights. A large waterfall cascades down the narrow valley, and we cross the stream twice before the trail climbs straight up the valley side. The small gorge can be explored on a short circular walk, which turns around at the Vörösfenyő lodge and also includes the castle of Szászvár.
Explore the country with the Hungarian Hiking Association!
If you’d like to learn more about Hungary’s natural and cultural treasures, visit the Turista Magazin website published by the Hungarian Hiking Association for tips and ideas, or download the Természetjáró app, which recommends the best hiking, biking, and water tours across the country.
Photos: Hungarian Hiking Association (Turista Magazine) / Attila Német-Bucsi / MTSZ (Photos 1, 4, 5)
Photos: Hungarian Hiking Association (Turista Magazine) / Áron Dömsödi / MTSZ (Photos 2, 3)
Photos: Hungarian Hiking Association (Turista Magazine) / Nándor Müller (Photo 5)
Photos: Hungarian Hiking Association (Turista Magazine) / MTSZ (Photos 6 and 8)
