Irottko Nature Park, Hungary
| country: | Hungary |
| location: | Irottko Nature Park |
introduction to Irottko Nature Park, Hungary
Why should you visit?
Situated in the West Transdanubian region of Hungary rests the Irottko Nature Park. The area was declared a national park in 1997, the first of its kind to be given this status in all of Hungary. Since the Irottko sits on the foothills of the Alps, the region is known for its varied landscapes and rich, fertile soil. The highest peak in the park, Irottko Mountain, rises 882 meters above sea level and overlooks quaint villages, historical landmarks and spectacular hillside vegetation. The almost therapeutic mountain air combined with the calming sounds of nature truly makes a visit to the Irottko necessary.
What can you do here?
With its many hiking, walking and biking trails, the Irottko offers visitors unsurpassed contact with nature. The Blue Tour, Hungary's most important and oldest hiker's movement dating back almost 120 years ago, starts on the top of Irottko Mountain and winds its way through some of the most breath-taking sceneries in the park. For less extreme alpine lovers, there are many study trails offering shorter hikes through detailed rock formation and flower zones. The Stichwort study trail, which curves its way through some amazing floral areas on Koszeg Mountain, is a popular choice amongst nature lovers. For those wishing to see the region by bicycle, there is a regional cycling center at Rowling Lake that rents bikes daily.
What makes the Irottko Nature Park Special?
The sense of inner peace that Irottko inflicts on its visitors is memorable. The Seven Springs located close to the Austrian border provide a relaxation experience like no other. The hot springs were named after the seven tribes that founded Hungary in the 9th century. The structure that houses the springs was built in 1896 to commemorate Hungary's millennium. A new program called the Wine Route of Koszeg was formed in 2004 to give tourists an understanding of the time and energy dedicated to producing some of the country's unique wines. Other products such as honey cakes, goat cheese and apple products are produced in the region and are tasty delights loved by visitors. The newly-built Herb and Spice Garden opened its doors in 2005 and it focuses on all-natural products.
What makes it sustainable?
With many links to the past, the Irottko Nature Park's secured place in Hungary's rich history is a priority. Eco-friendly practices in agriculture, construction and forestry have been at the forefront of local municipalities for some time now. Measures to renovate the springs in environmentally friendly manners have been implemented with help coming from volunteers. There are also yearly cleaning movements that rid the park of waste deposits and other undesirables.
What to look for in:
Spring: The Book of New Wines Festival on St. Georg's Day Summer: Alpine hikers making their way to the top of Irottko Mountain Fall: Magnificent fall foliage on the mountain sides Winter: Ski jumpers soaring countless meters in the air
Highlights of the Irottko Nature Park:
Spend a day relishing at the Gastronomic Festival Unleash your stress while relaxing at a hot spring resort Go horseback riding on long, quiet trails
Hortobágy is home to the largest uninterrupted natural grassland in Europe with its national park encircling 80 000 hectares and inhabited by locals who live the traditional way of life of herdsmen. The Hortobágy international equestrian days are also a notable attraction.
Orseg (2007)
Pure air and lush green meadows provide a relaxing environment for visitors and also offer exciting outdoor activities such as horseback riding, fishing, guided tours, and trips to one of the educational centres for protection of the environment.
Situated in the West Transdanubian region of Hungary rests the Irottko Nature Park. The area was declared a national park in 1997, the first of its kind to be given this status in all of Hungary. Since the Irottko sits on the foothills of the Alps, the region is known for its varied landscapes and rich, fertile soil. The highest peak in the park, Irottko Mountain, rises 882 meters above sea level and overlooks quaint villages, historical landmarks and spectacular hillside vegetation. The almost therapeutic mountain air combined with the calming sounds of nature truly makes a visit to the Irottko necessary.
What can you do here? With its many hiking, walking and biking trails, the Irottko offers visitors unsurpassed contact with nature. The Blue Tour, Hungary's most important and oldest hiker's movement dating back almost 120 years ago, starts on the top of Irottko Mountain and winds its way through some of the most breath-taking sceneries in the park. For less extreme alpine lovers, there are many study trails offering shorter hikes through detailed rock formation and flower zones. The Stichwort study trail, which curves its way through some amazing floral areas on Koszeg Mountain, is a popular choice amongst nature lovers. For those wishing to see the region by bicycle, there is a regional cycling center at Rowling Lake that rents bikes daily.
What makes the Irottko Nature Park Special?
The sense of inner peace that Irottko inflicts on its visitors is memorable. The Seven Springs located close to the Austrian border provide a relaxation experience like no other. The hot springs were named after the seven tribes that founded Hungary in the 9th century. The structure that houses the springs was built in 1896 to commemorate Hungary's millennium. A new program called the Wine Route of Koszeg was formed in 2004 to give tourists an understanding of the time and energy dedicated to producing some of the country's unique wines. Other products such as honey cakes, goat cheese and apple products are produced in the region and are tasty delights loved by visitors. The newly-built Herb and Spice Garden opened its doors in 2005 and it focuses on all-natural products.
What makes it sustainable?
With many links to the past, the Irottko Nature Park's secured place in Hungary's rich history is a priority. Eco-friendly practices in agriculture, construction and forestry have been at the forefront of local municipalities for some time now. Measures to renovate the springs in environmentally friendly manners have been implemented with help coming from volunteers. There are also yearly cleaning movements that rid the park of waste deposits and other undesirables.
What to look for in:
Highlights of the Irottko Nature Park: other EDEN destinations in Hungary
Hortobágy (2008) Hortobágy is home to the largest uninterrupted natural grassland in Europe with its national park encircling 80 000 hectares and inhabited by locals who live the traditional way of life of herdsmen. The Hortobágy international equestrian days are also a notable attraction.
Orseg (2007)
Pure air and lush green meadows provide a relaxing environment for visitors and also offer exciting outdoor activities such as horseback riding, fishing, guided tours, and trips to one of the educational centres for protection of the environment.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Have you ever sat at your desk during a busy work day and felt your mind drift off to another place? That special spot on Monday was a beach some-where in the Mediterranean. A few days later your mind ventured to a castle on top of a hillside. The experience was so vivid that you could almost smell the fresh mountain air.
Each day the clock ticks and you yearn for a holiday free of the hustle and bustle of city life. You want a destination that is known for its local charm, its beautiful landscapes and fascinating history. A place where the locals respect their land and will do anything to protect it from harm. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, in Europe, the possibilities are endless. The European Commission launched the European Destinations of Excel-lence (EDEN) a few years back with the aim of selecting special places "off the beaten path" that value economic, environmental and social sustainabil-ity. The 52 places chosen so far all represent Europe in a fitting manner. Europe is a continent of great history and lands. The continent's mystique draws tourists from around the world in search of adventure, paradise and culture. While there are many wonderful destinations in Europe, the truth is, many of them have lost their allure due to expansive tourism and a lack of regard for the environment. No longer can a region's name alone be enough to draw visitors to their majestic mountains or pristine beaches. There must be more and the European Commission has devoted numerous resources to instill the mind-set of sustainable tourism in its regions. Sustainable tourism is a practice that must run deep in the values of the local people. Whenever new accommodation is built and man-made changes are made to the landscape, eco-friendly and environmental measures must be followed. A constant respect for nature is needed to ensure that today's crea-tures and eco-systems are still around in the distant future. Sustainable tourism also plays a major role in a region's local economy. The growth of an area leads to more jobs and helps raise the quality of living in a region. The local people also take advantage of visitors eating at their restaurants, shopping at their markets and staying at their hotels. It is essential that proper investment in tourism growth has the people's best interests in mind.  The next time you go on a memorable holiday to the countryside and enjoy a bottle of the Earth's precious wine, take notice of the land and its people. These 52 selected EDEN "hidden gems" all have done their part in making their region a wonderful and memorable place to visit. Now it's up to you to decide which adventure you want to seek! |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |