Why is it worth visiting Bugac puszta in Hungary? – photos, videos
It is like travelling back in time if somebody visits Bugac, a small Hungarian village not far from Budapest, which is also the name of the surrounding region. There, you can see unique Hungarian animal breeds and have an impression of how the life of the shepherds was long ago, but you can also visit a traditional Hungarian csárda (a kind of restaurant) and learn what ‘betyár’ instead of simple bandit means.
According to Szeretlek Magyarorszag, it is worth visiting Bugac not only with family but also with friends. Instead of just spending time on a plain, there are many programs offering not only a lot to learn about how shepherds lived but also a taste of fabulous foods and having unforgettable experiences.
Bugac is 40 kilometres away from Kecskemét and 125 kilometres from Budapest.
Locals say that its name derived from the Cuman ‘Buga’ word meaning bull. Therefore, ‘Bugac’ stands for the people who take care of the bulls. Bugac’s popularity has been unbroken since the 1930s when Hungarians first discovered it as a place that is worth visiting. It is also a centre of traditional Hungarian animal husbandry.
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Furthermore, there are a lot of still untouched forests, swamps, and dunes where many protected animals and plants live.
The museum exhibits the tools people used before in the region while Bugac’s stud is so famous that even the American troops took 80 horses with them in WWII as a prize of war. The horses here are calmer and, as a result, much more hardworking than other ones.
The shadoof, a device used to gather water in the Great Hungarian Plains, was very important because, for example, horses drink small portions 11 times a day, but even oxen do so 4-5 times, so it was imperative to provide them with fresh supplies. However, this was a very difficult job since those responsible for the work had to pull up the bucket from the well hundreds of times a day.
Shepherds not only took care of the animals, but they could also cure simple diseases, and they were able to do “smaller” surgeries. They were honest people; for example, none of them stole sheep from the flock they were entrusted with.
One of the main attractions in Bugac is the stud where horses are as obedient as well-trained dogs.
If you get tired, you can have a meal in the Karikás Csárda prepared from the best local ingredients and served with the delicacies of the traditional Hungarian kitchen. One of those is the world-famous goulash.
Source: szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu