6 destinations in Hungary for an Autumn trip

Summer waved its last goodbye a couple days ago, but the gloomy, rainy weather of autumn has not yet set in, so why not make the best of it? If you’re looking for a short trip, or a place for a romantic date, and want to enjoy this chilly, but still nice weather, then we have six suggestions for you, based on a list compiled by femcafe.hu.

The Brunszvik Castle, Martonvásár

The castle was Maria Theresa’s gift to Count Antal Brunszvik, along with the Martonvásár estate. It underwent reconstruction and the form we see today was finished in 1870. The castle’s enormous windows, slim towers and battlements will surely catch your attention, and inside you will find the Beethoven Museum. Why exactly Beethoven? Well, the German composer was the piano teacher of the count’s daughters once, so it makes sense. Let’s not forget about the estate’s wonderful park (inhabited by numerous tree species), and neither the lake, where you can go boating. Inside the castle garden there is a small island where Beethoven symphonies are performed thrice, each summer. The castle today is the home of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences’ Centre for Agricultural Research.

Photo: wikipedia / Szvitek Péter

The Királyrét Forest Railway, Börzsöny

Börzsöny’s oldest forest railway serves locals and tourists since 1893. Originally, it was meant to be used for forest-related matters, not for passenger transport. The railway is almost 10 kilometres long, and along the route you can admire the different faces of the scenery. The train passes by streams, crossing woods and valleys. Another interesting fact about this railway is that it passes Szokolya by the main street, right in front of the houses, like a regular tram. Kids adore this train trip, so most of the holidayers here are families. Some of the wagons are open, while the rest are equipped with huge windows so that everyone can enjoy the view.

Photo: kiralyret.bloglap.hu

The Fátyol cascade, Szilvásvárad

The flowing diamond of Szilvásvárad is among the most popular trip destinations in Hungary. The water flows down 17 metres long on 18 limestone steps, which is mesmerising to look at. ‘Fátyol’ in Hungarian means ‘veil’ which makes one wonder where the cascade got its name? Some say that the water flow looks like a thin veil, others argue that the name derives from the tufaceous limestone’s white, lace-like pattern. It is very easy to get to the cascade, it’s only a few minutes walk from the terminal of the Szilvásvárad railway.

The Lake Cave of Tapolca, Tapolca

There is a magical lake cave right in the heart of the Balaton Uplands, which is adored by many. The Lake Cave of Tapolca was discovered in 1903 and ten years later it was open to visitors. The ducts and caves are the result of hundreds of thousands of years scooping done by the cold and warm karst waters. Boating was made possible with the re-banking-up of the Malom Lake. The Lake Cave is under general protection since 1942, and in 1982 it was placed under special protection. There is also a protected type of carp here, the common minnow.

photo: www.facebook.com/tavasbarlang.latogatokozpont

The Megyer Mountain Tarn, Sárospatak

It would never occur to us that this breathtaking view is actually man’s work of art. The Tarn of Megyer Mountain used to be a stone pit in the Middle Ages, but as production rate fell in the 20^th century, the valley slowly filled with water. After this, it became a tarn, and one of the most beautiful wonders of nature in Hungary. The lake is deepest at 6.5 metres, and the rock walls are 70 metres high. You can access the lake via the Malomkő trail.

photo: YouTube / nagygudi

The Elizabeth Lookout at János Hill, Budapest

Taking a hike on János Hill is a perfect weekend activity if you live in Budapest and want to connect with nature. The hill is 528 metres high, making it the highest place in Budapest. At its peak stands the lookout since 1910. The hill is named after János Hunyadi (a very famous Hungarian general and politician, who was an important figure of the Hungarian-Ottoman fights during the 1440’s), as legend says he liked to hunt here. The lookout was named after Elisabeth, Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. According to urban legend, when the sky is clear, you can see the peaks of the High Tatras. You can access the lookout either by hiking or by the Zugliget chair-lift.