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Flora
· Eperjes-Tokaji-hegyvidék
· 517 m
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Birchwoods of István-kútPhoto: Farkas Péter, Hungarian Hiking Association
The birchwoods at István-kút present an unusual landscape for hikers in Hungary. Deep inside the woods at István-kút you can find a cozy hikers’ lodge near a pond creating an atmosphere that makes visitors stay long. The little pond is fed by the spring of István-kút nearby and the meadow is maintained by volunteers to preserve the ambient landscape.
The birchwoods of István-kúti commemorate the last ice age. Scandinavian ice cover stretched to the northern slopes of the Carpathians, which indicates that the climate of Zemplén Mountains was also much colder at the time. This climate brought forth this birch forest, which is normally typical of North Europe today. This isolated spot remained in a bowl-like depression where chilly air gets trapped making a special micro-climate together with abundant precipitation of the mountains.
The birchwoods have had a highly protected status since 1953, being one of the first of this kind in the country due to unmatched flora and fauna. It is a habitat even for some insect species native to Syberia that do not occur anywhere else in Hungary.
The white stone building serves as a hikers’ lodge (stamping location) and it is an ideal location to make day hikes from into central Zemplén Mountains.
Opening times
Price:
Free of charge
Public transport
- Get off at bus stop “Háromhuta (Középhuta), templom”.
- Get off at Rostalló train stop (terminus of Pálházi Erdei Vasút).
- Get off at “Regéc, autóbusz-forduló”.
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
- From Háromhuta, follow the Yellow (S) markers to Mlaka-rét. Change to the Blue (K) Trail to reach the hikers’ lodge (Total distance: 4.1 km, elevation gain: 282 m).
- From Rostalló, follow the Yellow (S) markers to Mlaka-rét. Change to the Blue (K) Trail to reach the hikers’ lodge (Total distance: 4.3 km, elevation gain: 280 m).
- From Regéc, follow the Blue (K) Trail to reach the birchwoods and the hikers’ lodge (Total distance: 8.3 km, elevation gain: 328 m).
Parking
- In Háromhuta, park your car on the roadside at the junction where the trail leaves the paved road.
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Free parking near Rostalló at Kőkapu hotel or at the forest train station in the woods.
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Park your car in the main street of Regéc.
Coordinates
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