7 most beautiful arboretums in Hungary – PHOTOS

An arboretum is a kind of botanical garden, which usually presents trees and shrubs. Its stand is usually varied: a number of species can grow even on a very small place. Arboretums may have various aims: to show rare species not native in Hungary, to save endangered species or to carry out scientific experiments. They are also useful in education but have aesthetic purposes as well. Despite its relatively small territory, Hungary is rich in arboretums. Let’s see some of them in detail!

Arboretum of Alcsút

The arboretum of Alcsút is located in Alcsútdoboz. Its building started in 1825 and it was founded by Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary. The garden got renewed after 1870 when loads of pine trees and shrubs were planted there. Its current territory is 40 hectares and its main attraction is Hungary’s biggest snow-drop field, which is about 2 hectares large. It is suitable for a lazy walk in the weekend, but weddings can also be held there as it even has a chapel.

Arboretum of Jel

This arboretum is frequently called Magic Garden. It is not surprising, as nature there is simply magical. It was founded by István Ambrózy-Migazzi in 1922, its territory is nearly 100 hectares. Its main attraction is the largest rhododendron stand in Europe. According to their website, you have a number of options on how to spend your time there: walking, biking or horse riding in the beautiful nature, hunting, fishing, rafting on River Rába or swimming in the lakes nearby. Its open hours are longer when rhododendrons are blooming.

Arboretum of Budafa

It is located in the Southern part of Zala county. The forests were owned by the Zichy family up until 1945. This is the year when the arboretum’s construction began. It had partly scientific, partly practical purpose – to show and examine plants not native in Hungary. Its current territory is 48 hectares. Zalaerdo.hu reports that the arboretum got renewed a few years ago: the hunting lodge was renovated, a new playground and a look-out tower were built. It is a perfect place to go on a trip with the whole family.

Folly Arboretum

It can be found in the Badacsony. It was founded by Dr. Gyula Folly, a doctor from Pécs in the 1900s. His aim was to collect all the species that can bear the climate and drought of that territory. It has been highly protected and part of Balaton Uplands National Park since 1997. The arboretum’s territory is around 5 hectares together with the forests nearby. It was bought back by the Folly family after the democratic transformation, and currently the Folly Winery operates there.

Arboretum of Nyírség

It is Hungary’s youngest arboretum, it was founded in 1995. It is close to Nyíregyháza, and its main purpose is to collect all the woody plants native in Hungary and also to protect them. It has a unique history: it was founded by painter Ibolya Molnár, who fell in love with the place during her trips there. She frequently painted the wonderful panorama and in 1994 she managed to buy the territory. Instead of making a ploughland out of it, she created a beautiful garden that collects a number of species.

Arboretum and Herbal Garden of the Archabbey of Pannonhalma

It was created by Fábián Szeder in the 1840s. Hundreds of trees and shrubs can be found there, most of them are very rare in Hungary. The garden is mainly for recreation and relaxation, but educational and research work is also frequently carried out there. The monks used to plant and collect those plants which are useful in healing, but the first data of researches is dating back to the beginning of the 19th century.

Arboretum of Zirc

It is the highest arboretum in Hungary, as its elevation is 400m. Its stand contains mainly deciduous trees native in the Bakony. It has been considered a protected area since 1951 and its main attraction is the Cuha stream that crosses the park. Its oldest trees are 400 years old, but most of the plants are from after the big deforestation of 1753.

Featured image: facebook / Folly Arborétum és Borászat

ce: ZsK

Source: alcsuti-arboretum.hu, jelivarazskert.hu, zalaerdo.hu, arboretum.hu