Come stargazing with me! Three Starry Sky Parks in the country where it is guaranteed that you will be enchanted by the sights

The starry sky, better known as dark sky, is such a protected area which owns dark sky and environment of excellent quality, and where we can discover thousands of stars by the naked eye. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) decides according to a predefined conditionality whether a given area fulfils the requirements and can gain the title of Dark Sky Park. The association was established in 1988 and pays full attention to solving the increasing problem of light pollution. In 2001, the association launched a series of international programmes, with which it encourages social communities to support the preservation of dark sky. Light pollution does not only lessen the joy of the dark sky, but it also has a serious effect on nature and species living there. Artificial light sources have endangered some of the species, which can indirectly damage the food chain and even the ecosystem.  To stop the harmful process, the international programme series was organized, which counts today 180 dark sky parks around the world, 3 of them Hungarian areas, which enchant the fans of stars with breathtaking sights.

The first Dark Sky Park was established in 2006, in the United States, and in 2009 Zselic Landscape Protection Area was one of the first areas in Europe that won this title. The beauty of the starry night, the sight of the Milky Way and the Pleiades is our cultural and environmental heritage, which must be protected for future generations as well, so we can share the beauty and mystery with our children and grandchildren when they gaze at the dark sky in the future. In European areas with the least light pollution impact, after sunset we can go hiking accompanied by astronomers to discover the rhythm of the night and the secrets of the stars. We can observe celestial phenomena by naked eye or with a telescope, while we learn exciting stories and interesting information about the eternal sky spreading above us.

The shepherds’ life and knowledge of the constellations bound together during history. In summer, the dark sky is divided by the Milky Way, which was also called the Road of the Army or Straw Spread. In the grassland of Hortobágy, the Milky Way is a truly staggering spectacle, as in the pasture nothing bothers the encounter of the earth and sky, artificial light sources don not take away the awe-inspiring sight of the starry sky. In 2011, the area was designated on the international list of Dark Sky Places. Celestial bodies always had an important role in local shepherds’ life. The Sun, the Moon and the stars helped the man who was looking after his herd to navigate in time and space. The science of the sky with constellations was not only a substantial part of herdsman knowledge, but also an important motif in folk tales.

The Mother Nature rules everything in the area abounding in rocky slopes and giant beeches. It is not a coincidence that it was able to protect its intactness and wilderness until now, so in 2017 – as third one Hungary – it won the grand title of Starry Sky, which at present is owned by only 180 areas around the world. The dark sky is full of wonder, so the park regularly offers nighttime walks and camps for stargazing lovers. Besides wide-ranging programmes, the protected area directs the attention to the beauty of the landscape in exceptional condition and highlights the importance of protection by educational activities. In 2020, the construction of the most modern observatory in Eastern Europe was started in Répáshuta, in Bükk, which is going to welcome visitors with interactive experiences and virtual space travels.