Our second overnight excursion will take us to north-east of Budapest, to Hungary's northern mountain range. We will travel by rented bus, will have one overnight stay, and be back in Budapest on Saturday evening.
The northern mountain range (Börzsöny, Cserhát, Mátra, Bükk, Zemplén) is Hungary's highland terrritory, a picturesque part of the country. The highest peak of Hungary is Mount Kékestetö (1015 meters - ~3000 feet) in the Mátra range. We will travel around the Mátra and the Bükk mountains.
DEPARTURE: 6:45 a.m., Heroes’ Square (south of Műcsarnok, in the parking lot).
As we will have a long ride to our first destination, we need to leave early. Please be on time so that we can beat the morning traffic in Budapest.
Friday, October 5
AGGTELEK: Situated right at the border with Slovakia, Aggtelek is famous for its
caves caused by a mixture of water and carbon dioxide dissolving the limestone. No
description can do justice to the variety of stalagmites and stalactites glittering with
calcite crystals or stained by iron oxides. The caves of Aggtelek are Europe’s longest
underground networks which continue under Slovakia as well. In 1995, Aggtelek
was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Site. We will have a guided tour of the
caves.
SZILVÁSVÁRAD: We will stop to see the famous Lippizaner horsefarm and museum. These beautiful white or grey horses are descendants of Spanish, Arabian or Berber stocks. They are also bred for riding and show at Lipica, Slovenia, at Piber, Austria, and in the State of Illinois. At the Szilvásvárad stud farms they are also raised as carriage horses. The original stud farm was founded in Trieste in 1580 by the Habsburg Archduke Karl, but was moved to southern Hungary for safekeeping when Napoleon’s troops invaded. Like their counterparts at the famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna, the Lippizaners in Szilvásvárad are also trained to perform and compete in dressage competition.
EGER: Located between the Mátra and the Bükk, Eger is known for its wine, its castle and its heroic defenders, and its Baroque glory.
Overnight stay in Eger
Our overnight lodging will be in a small hotel in the middle of Eger (3-4 persons/room). Bring your personal care package. Breakfast will be served in the hotel.
Bring your lunch for Friday.
On Friday evening we will visit the wine cellars of Eger in the Szépasszony völgye (Valley of Beautiful Women), home of the famous red wine, Bull’s Blood. Group dinner in a local restaurant.
Saturday, October 6
EGER: More sightseeing in Eger, trying to see as much as possible from the following:
Eger Castle, the neo-Classical Cathedral (1831-1836, József Hild), since 1970 a Basilica, the Lyceum (1765-85, József Gerl and Jakab Fellner), the observatory and the camera obscura, the main square, the Minorites Church, and the minaret, a standing relic from the Turkish occupation.
RECSK: The site of the infamous death camp during the communist regime. Since 1991 a monument stands there symbolizing repression and tyranny.
KÉKESTETÖ (time permitting)
This is the highest peak of Hungary. We literarily will stand on the top of Hungary.
Returning to Budapest around 7 p.m.
Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes.
Please prepare a small presentation:
Cathedral of Eger - Adrienne Burk
Gyula Illyés: “A Sentence for Tyranny” – Christopher Viemeister
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