You won’t swim it dry – meaning that you won’t get away with it! Three lookouts on Lake Tisza, accessible only from the water

Lake Tisza, in the northern part of the Great Plain, has many attractions and active recreational opportunities, of which the most unique are probably the lookouts of the lake, which can only be reached from the water. Three of these can be found there.

The first candidate, the Bölömbika Lookout, was built by the Békatutaj Association on the site of the former Ravasz-háti Lookout, between Sarud and Poroszló – the lookout was inaugurated in 2021 and won the prestigious Lookout Tower of the Year award in the same year. The tower is made of wood, has four storeys and can only be accessed by watercraft, more specifically by kayak, canoe or SUP. These can be moored at the bottom of the building, from where you can head straight to the top of the four-storey Bölömbika. Upon reaching the top level, the visitor’s fatigue is of course immediately compensated, we believe, by the panorama that opens up before his or her eyes: from the Bölömbika Lookout, you can admire the Poroszló and Sarudi basins, all made even more romantic by the view of the reed beds below. As for the less romantic, more technical details of the lookout tower, it can be reached from Poroszló and Sarud, but the closest settlement is Újlőrincfalva. Even those who don’t have their own water equipment don’t have to miss out on the experience – sports equipment can be hired in the surrounding villages at several points (such as Poroszló, Sarud and Tiszafüred), and you can also join organised water tours (mostly in the summer season).

Next in line is the building at Ravasz-hát, which can also be approached from Újlőrincfalva. This tower stands in a slightly more unspoilt location and, like the Bölömbika, you can step straight from a watercraft onto its first step. The Ravasz-hát lookout tower was designed by architect Tas Komáromi, and is nine metres high, with the top level six metres above the water. The wooden structure of the lookout tower, made of larch, blends in well with the natural, poetic surroundings. The maintenance of this lookout tower is also the responsibility of the Békatutaj (‘Frog Raft’) Association, which has signed a cooperation agreement with local tourism service providers to take care of the structure.

The third lookout tower, like the second one, was designed by Tas Komáromi and is also nine metres high. This structure is located on the Holt-Tisza (‘Dead Tisza branch’) in Csapó, and in the case of the watercraft, it can be moored next to a pier – where a birdwatching lookout has previously stood, so it should not be difficult for the experienced visitor to find the structure, which can also be accessed by water-navigable vehicles.

The construction of the three lookout towers filled a gap in that Lake Tisza, with its otherwise beautiful natural surroundings, could hardly ever be observed from bird’s eye view, as the older structures had to be demolished due to their poor condition. The special accessibility of the lookout towers from the water makes the lake even more exciting and inviting for many people, and it is not negligible either that these lookouts also serve as a resting place for sportsmen and women using some form of watercraft on the lake. The location is perfect for those who want to get away from the city bustle, for those who love the water or stunning panoramas, and for anyone who wants to discover Hungary’s hidden treasures.