Hungary awaits: hike in Tokaj if you are also thirsty for knowledge!

The circular tour from Tokaj, bypassing Kopasz Hill, starts from the Szerelmi cellar row opposite the railway station and leads to the Lencsés Valley mine area. The climb between the loess walls is a real physical challenge, but the unparalleled view at the top, resting at the foot of the TV tower, makes up for it. From here you descend towards Tarcal, passing by the mine lake, and then, touching the monumental statue of the Blessed Christ, you return to Tokaj through vineyards. The tour is of medium difficulty, with a distance of 15 kilometres and an elevation gain of 742 metres.

Vineyard tours are the essence of the wine region. They are usually organized by larger wineries, often combined with gastronomic experiences. You can learn about the history, geology, cultivation and microclimate of the vineyard areas up close, while the walk often ends with a wine tasting. In Tokaj, for example, the Hétszőlő nature trail offers three trails of varying difficulty: the green circle leads on flat terrain, the yellow one is steep, while the red-marked tour climbs all the way to the top of the Kusajd vineyard.

Those looking for an urban experience can also explore the historic centre of Tokaj: a short walking tour will take you to the Dessewffy Castle, the 11th-century Church of the Heart of Jesus, the Cannonball House of György Klapka, and the synagogue. The promenade along the Bodrog River is a particularly family-friendly walking route: the two-kilometre promenade, stretching to the right of the Queen Elizabeth Bridge, provides refreshment with a playground, a fitness park, and relaxation terraces.

In Tarcal, a nature trail leads to the Baroque chapel above the Count Degenfeld Vineyard, flanked by a retaining wall displaying volcanic rocks. The chapel becomes a place of pilgrimage every year on 15 October, when the people of Tarcal traditionally begin the harvest here on St. Teresa's Day.

A five-kilometre, ten-station nature trail built at the Béres Vineyard in Erdőbénye presents the relationship between winegrowers and nature, from the development of grapes to winemaking. The educational walking trail leads through the Lőcse vineyard, with a picturesque panorama and informative signs.

1. Szerelmi cellar row (Tokaj)
Romantic wine press houses, legendary Tokaj wines and the gateway to the Kopasz Hill tour.

2. Finánc Hill Lookout (Tokaj)
The meeting of the two rivers, the Bodrog and the Tisza, from a bird's eye view.

3. Downtown Tokaj
Classicist and Baroque buildings, charming streets, historic walks and wine cellars.

4. Tarcal Mining Lake
The turquoise-coloured mine lake, located next to the Blessed Christ statue, was filled with precipitation and spring waters.

5. Festival Cauldron
A former open-pit mine, today it is the cultural centre of Tokaj with summer evening concerts and performances.

The article was originally published in the Hungarian Tourism Association Foundation's magazine "Hungary awaits".

Source: turizmus.com