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Lookout Tower Lookout Tower · Bükkvidék · 956 m open today

Petőfi lookout tower (Bálvány)

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Hungarian Hiking Association Verified partner 
  • A Petőfi-kilátó a levegőből
    A Petőfi-kilátó a levegőből
    Photo: Farkas Péter, Hungarian Hiking Association
The tower sitting at 956 meters near Bánkút is the highest lookout point in Bükk Mountains. The observation deck offers a stunning view to the north both in Hungary and Slovakia. In clear weather each mountain of northern Hungary from east to west is visible.

Petőfi tower is the highest lookout point in Bükk adding 18 meters to the height of the peak (956 m). Its side decks are appropriate for staying there overnight and spacious enough for more people.

The observation deck offers one of the most beautiful views. The tower sits on one of the highest peaks of northwestern Bükk, which allows for a 360 degree panorama. These peaks, anyway, include Istállós-kő, which was believed to be the highest in Bükk until the late 2000s (958 m) and Szilvási-kő, “the successor on the throne” with a height of 961 meters.

You can see the rim of Bükk Plateau and forested slopes of Ablakos-kő in the west with peaks of Mátra in the background. In clear weather even Börzsöny and Visegrád Mountains are visible. You can see Karancs on the right. Turning to north hills of Heves-Borsod are rolling and hills of Aggteleki-karszt appear beyond the valley of Sajó River. In the east Zemplén Mountains punctuate the horizon. Looking towards the plateau low hills are rising covered with planted pine forests and meadows. You can spot the reservoir of Lázbérc surrounded by Upponyi Mountains with the vast basin in the background separating Bükk from the main range of northwestern Carpathians.

Dry and clear weather make the view even more special, especially in winter during anticyclones when subsiding cool air pushes clouds down below the height of the plateau making distant peaks of High and Low Tatras as well as Great Fatra visible. In summer this may occur at dawn before mist elevates.

The tower was built in 1948 and named after Sándor Petőfi, the renowned poet and hero of the revolution of 1848. It was renovated a few years ago.

Opening times

open today
Open all year round.

Price:

Free of charge.

Public transport

  • Get off at bus stop “Ómassa” (bus 15 fron Miskolc).
  • Get off at bus stop “Nagyvisnyó, Felszabadulás út 26.”.

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Petőfi lookout tower (Bálvány)

Directions

  • From Bánkút, follow the Blue ▲ (K▲) and Green + (Z+) markers to the peak (Total distance: 900 m, elevation gain: 65 m).
  • From Ómassa, follow the Yellow + (S+) markers to Bánkút and continue as described above (Total distance: 5.5 km, elevation gain: 474 m).
  • From the center of Nagyvisnyó, set off along the Yellow (S) Trail and still in the village turn right and change to the Green + (Z+) Trail to reach the peak of Bálvány (Total distance: 7.3 km, elevation gain: 669 m).

Parking

  • Free parking in Bánkút accessible from Mályinka and Miskolc.

Coordinates

DD
48.099672, 20.472075
DMS
48°05'58.8"N 20°28'19.5"E
UTM
34U 460695 5327513
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Petőfi lookout tower (Bálvány)

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 Bánkút
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