Culture

The left bank of the Danube in the Central Danube Circle introduces itself

Unmissable sights on the left bank are the row of cellars in Solt and the Danube island at Harta. Lake Szelidi, which belongs to Dunapataj, is today one of the most popular lakes in the Great Plain region, with an excellent beach. In addition to its folk art and paprika, Kalocsa boasts a great history. In the archiepiscopal town, the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary with its Italian Baroque splendour, the Archiepiscopal Museum with art treasures on display and the Archiepiscopal Library in the still inhabited Archiepiscopal Palace, elected as one of the ten most beautiful libraries in the world, are impressive. The town is a 1,000-year old archiepiscopal seat and is best known for its Hungarian specialities: seasoning paprika, folk art and the triad of writing, embroidery and artistic painting. You can explore its sights during a walk in the town centre: the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, the Astriceum Archiepiscopal Museum and the Archbishop’s Palace, including the Cathedral Library. Next to the Cathedral are the Visitor Centre and the Paprika Museum, and not far away there is the Károly Viski Museum with its significant ethnographic collection. The permanent exhibition of painter Imre Vinczellér can be seen in the Kalocsa Gallery, the former synagogue, and in front of the bus terminal there stands the modern Chronos 8 light tower, the work of cybernetician sculptor Nicholas Schöffer. It is also worth paying a visit to the museum established in the house where Schöffer was born. At the Kalocsa Porcelain Manufactory, visitors can observe all production processes, from porcelain casting to painting and firing in the kiln. You can take a walk in the Archbishop’s Garden and have some refreshment at the Platán Event Centre. The House of Tradition Preservers has been established in the entrance building of the garden. Fans of creative recreation can try their hand at pottery in the Pottery Creative House. The most noted local events are the International Danube Folklore Festival, the Kalocsa Paprika Festival and the Blue Bird Festival. Kalocsa’s established network of bicycle paths awaits those wishing to cycle, and a section of the Hungarian Pilgrimage Route also leads through the town.

The archbishops’ summer palace in the town of Hajós has also been beautifully renovated and opened to visitors. From here it is just a few steps to the cellar village belonging to the town, which is the largest in Central Europe with its 1,200 wine press houses. You can taste excellent red wines here, though you would not even think that this region is not related to the sand wines of Kunság, but to the loess soil of the Szekszárd Hills.

Enjoy the wonders offered by the river when you reach Transdanubia!

The right bank of the Danube in the Central Danube Circle introduces itself

The beauties on the right bank of the Danube, placed in historical perspective and admired for its natural beauties, offer real gems of discovery in the Central Danube Circle. Crossing the Szent László bridge, at the southern border of the Danube Central Danube Circle, you reach Szekszárd along the Sió Canal.

Szekszárd is thus found at the southern boundary of the right-hand arc of the Central Danube Circle. The town is connected to the Danube via the Sió Canal. Mihály Babits’s hometown of Szekszárd is the county seat with the smallest population in Hungary. Its deservedly famous wine culture praises the wisdom and competence of those who live with the opportunities offered by nature. In the Garay Adventure Cellar, you can get a taste of the pride of the wineries around the town, the full-bodied red wines with mostly intense flavours. Szekszárd is the seat of Tolna County and a town of county rank. Its geographical location, rich cultural traditions, natural beauties, excellent wines and wineries impress not only the locals, but also visitors. One of the oldest wine regions in Hungary can be found here. The sights of the town can be reached on foot – there are no long distances. The heart of Szekszárd is Béla Square. The square is guarded by the Catholic church, Central Europe’s largest single-nave church. Here you will find a statue of the Holy Trinity, the City Hall building and the old county hall. The classicist block was designed by Mihály Pollack. The ornate Wine Fountain is located in the outside courtyard of the building. Within a few minutes’ walk, you reach the birthplace of the great Hungarian poet Mihály Babits, which today is a memorial museum. Garay Square is just minutes away from Béla Square. One of the defining buildings in the former is the German Theatre, where the country’s only German-language theatre operates. Other interesting sights include the following: the characteristic Augusz Building; the House of Arts, home to exhibitions of contemporary and classical artists and high-quality concerts; the Mór Wosinsky County Museum, which houses a number of permanent and temporary exhibitions; and the famous Grapes Lookout Tower (also known as Calvary Lookout), where you have a  bird’s eye view of the town. The most famous events are the Szekszárd Grape Harvest Days, the Wine Region Half Marathon and the Gemenc Grand Prix International Bicycle Race.

The simplest way to access Szekszárd by bicycle is from the Danube Bridge via Keselyűsi út, and you can explore a significant part of the historical wine region and the villages of Sárköz. The Gemenc Forest is 10 km from Szekszárd and is a popular destination for hikers and hunters. This floodplain forest, which runs along the Danube, offers plenty of opportunities for active recreation.

During your trip, you can admire the natural values of Tolna County and its rich cultural heritage or can enjoy the tranquillity of the Danube oxbow lake. A true fishing paradise is the quietly hidden Bogyiszló, deservedly famous not only for its folklore, but also its seasoning paprika.

Setting out to the north, be sure to take a detour, even for several days, to the resort area by the Danube oxbow lake at Fadd for a pleasant time on the beach or to explore a hidden treasure, the impressively beautiful and quiet fishing paradise of Volent Bay. In no case should you go any further until you have visited the resort village of Fadd-Dombori, which enjoys similar conditions. Continuing to the north, you go by Dunaszentgyörgy, where you will be fascinated by the swamp forest of Brinyó, a nature conservation area with unparalleled flora and fauna.

From here, you can reach the central town on the right bank of the Central Danube Central Danube Circle, Paks. The history of Paks spans from prehistoric civilization to the most modern era: the military road along the Danube, which once ran here, made it significant for centuries. Roman monuments can still be viewed today in Dunakömlőd’s Roman age Garden of Ruins, known as Lussonium. Paks is legendary for its Swabian folk customs and excellent fish soup. For its size, it hosts many events, such as the International Gastroblues Festival, the Coffee, Wine and Pálinka Festival, the Grape Hod Festival and the Atomic Run. Its national fame is mainly due to its nuclear power plant, which is the only one in Hungary. A second nuclear power plant will be built here, which will ensure Hungary’s safe and climate-friendly supply of electricity. Thus we can feel free to call Paks the city of the future. It is worth taking a detour to the press houses of the Györköny Cellar Hill and, of course, for fine wines. And if you are already on a detour, do not miss Tengelic, where a Green Road will guide you along the old mansions and there are special plants and animals waiting to be discovered along many hiking trails.

When you get to Dunaföldvár, you close the Danube Central Danube Circle, reaching also to the waterfront of Madocsa, where a guest house suitable for relaxing, and cycling and kayaking opportunities await adventurers. The cellars in Bölcske will quench the thirst of parched and curious wanderers with fine wines.