We should all go to Dörgicse

The village is easily accessible by car, so you can start your sightseeing from the church ruins on Gernye-hegy (Gernye Hill) in Alsódörgicse. It is worth leaving your vehicle in the car park at the foot of the hill, as there is no really well-structured, spacious parking space elsewhere. The church from the Árpád era — between 1000 to 1301 — also includes a monastery, but only the foundations are still there, though, the windows of the still standing, about 20-metre-high tower, offer a wonderful panorama of Lake Balaton.

The “Levendula Major” (Lavender Farm), located next to the church ruins in Alsódörgicse, is perhaps one of the most famous peculiarities of the village: nature lovers should definitely take a walk in the show garden of the farm, then start the tour of the Kű-völgy (Kű Valley), refreshed and tasting the special refreshments of the teahouse. For those who wish to spend more time here, it is possible to book a place and a guided walk tour for some programmes (crafts, lectures) in advance. Furthermore, the small souvenir shop of the farm offers everything that can be made from lavender.

Heading towards the ruins in Kisfalud-Dörgicse, the road leads through the aforementioned Kű-völgy (Kű Valley), named after the scattered limestone boulders. One of the most spectacular parts of the valley is the long continuous wall of rock. The hiking trail runs along it, with a smooth, uneven surface, so it is easy to hike there, even with small children. One of the interesting locations of the valley is the “Kűvölgyi Tanya” (Kűvölgyi Farm), a goat cheese factory, which also offers a petting zoo that can be a fun activity for children, but every generation can find something interesting here. Besides being close to the nature and the animals, you can also taste and buy real homemade goat cheese, yoghurt and other products made from goat milk. Unfortunately, apart from the side wall of the church in Kisdörgicse, which is decorated with arched windows, there is nothing else left, but the beautiful surroundings, the vast fields and the knowledge that this is one of the oldest churches in the area make up for it. Last but not least, it is worth visiting the architecturally unique ruins of the church in Felsődörgicse, which once stood as a twin church.

Whether before exploring the village or at the end of the tour, it is worth going to the Producers' ABC in the centre, where you can choose from the special foods, jams, syrups and delicacies produced in the Dörgicsei-medence (Dörgicse Basin), to your journey home or grab some pastries for the day's hike. Walking along the main street you will find several quality small producer shops, such as the unique and special “Kalapos Gombapincészet” (Hat Mushroom Cellar), where you can try and buy several types of local mushrooms or even shiitake-mushroom. You can also find fresh mushrooms from Dörgicse on the local market and in the local restaurants. If you want to explore Dörgicse with small children or spend more time in one place, you can visit the attractions during two days. The “Portus Home Vendégház” (Portus Home Guest House) is an excellent place to stay for shorter, long weekend trips: the seventy-square-metre, newly built cottage with two bedrooms, equipped for all weathers, and a covered terrace awaits families and groups of friends. If you have a free weekend, grab your hiking boots and visit Dörgicse.