alpannonia® Hard - In the footsteps of the mouflons

Our route follows the alpannonia® red and yellow markings in Hungarian territory, but in Austria it mostly leads on unmarked hiking trails, so it is highly recommended to take the tour map and/or a GPS device with you on the hike; in many sections there will be no mobile signal, and carefully studying the current description will also help us complete the hike.

• Our starting point is the Main Square of Kőszeg, which we leave towards the Heroes' Tower and Jurisics Square. Turning onto Rajnis Street on the left side of Jurisics Square, we pass in front of Jurisics Castle, then reach Várkör, the parking lot next to Jurisics Castle, Károly Róbert Square.
• From the parking lot, there is a one-way street to the right, Pék Street, which we follow to Árpád Square, where you can also find a grocery store. From the square, we continue straight on Sziget Street until we reach an intersection, where behind a ruined building that looks like a chapel, we continue our hike on Kálvária Street following the alpannonia® yellow marking and the blue trail marking. We pass in front of the Koronaőrző bunker, but do not go up to Kálvária Church; instead, we continue straight on Kálvária Street towards Andalgó.
• Before the end of Kálvária Street, veer diagonally right down, then a few steps later diagonally up to the left leads the alpannonia® yellow marking; here we are already on the Andalgó educational path, not leaving the road, going straight to the border. The Gyöngyös stream flows below us, essentially within sight the whole time, its bed unregulated, and it runs closest to our path at the border crossing point.
• Upon reaching Rőtfalva (Rattersdorf), on Schulgasse Street we see the cemetery, neat farms, and the school, then following the alpannonia® yellow marking we arrive at the Catholic church. It is worth visiting as the church holds many Hungarian memorials. At the intersection below the church, we turn right, pass the alpannonia® information board of Rattersdorf and the football field on Siebenbründlgasse Street, cross the Gyöngyös bridge, and reach the main road.
• We cross to the other side of the main road, turn left, and continue our hike in Rendek (Liebing). We choose the middle street, Hauptstraße, and on the second opportunity turn right onto Feldgasse Street, which slopes gently upwards. The street bends left and leads out to the fields, and later all the way to the energy park created among the Giant Chestnut Trees.
• Leaving Liebing, we follow this asphalt road for a long stretch without deviation. Approaching the forest, a left arrow marked Kastanienbäume points to the chestnut trees. From here it’s about a 5-minute walk to the park, but our path primarily continues into the forest. It is worth taking out the map or GPS device here.
• At the edge of the forest there is a barrier and sign reading Forststraße, meaning forestry area; riding horses, cycling, and driving cars are prohibited, but walking is allowed, and moreover, we can collect gifts of the forest, such as mushrooms in the amounts indicated on the sign. We basically follow the straight road here, though in some places it’s hard to decide where the trail turns; then our map and GPS device can help, as well as the hint that we exit this forest section on the other side at a barrier also turning left. On this part of the hike, we find the first insect hotel checkpoint.
• After we pass the barrier, continue to follow the map; on a steady descent we reach Hámortó (Hammerteich) in Günstalstraße Street. The crossing with the road towards Léka (Lockenhaus) follows; we turn left, cross to the other side of the road, then turn right at the church, cross the Gyöngyös bridge, and turn right to head for the picturesque lake below the Léka castle.
• We walk on Hammerschmiedgasse Street, which is also a bike path; after a short forested section we are again in Hámortó, first on Hanggasse Street, then continuing along the bike path on Fabriksgasse Street, until after a climb we spot the castle and lake.
• Turning left on this side of the lake, we walk until we reach a wooden bridge on the left side, crossing the stream again, then turning left and up in the forest back toward the settlement. Soon we reach the houses, walking on Grüner Weg Street, then at the first intersection turn left, continue briefly on Höhenstraße Street, then turn right and walk back on familiar terrain on Hanggasse Street, followed by a short forest section and then Hammerschmiedgasse Street.
• We now leave the bridge from which we earlier crossed from the main road, continue on Hammerschmiedgasse Street toward the center of the settlement. We pass the Volksschule school and then the St. Oswald church, meet the stream coming down from the mountain, cross it to the right, and head toward Waldgasse Street; from here the smell of goats is noticeable as goats are kept nearby among others.
• On Waldgasse Street, go straight-left; to our left in the forest only a few meters away runs the border line; soon we reach a Hungarian sign indicating on the left toward the forest the direction of Pap Meadow. It is worth taking a detour here; a small path leads us to the paved road already running on Hungarian territory in the forest. Turning left on this road, we reach a U-turn; from here the meadow begins, going straight off the road. It is worth wandering quietly because there is a good chance to spot chamois here. After discovering Pap Meadow, return to our original route.
• Standing at the Pap Meadow sign, turning right we notice in a garden that the owners have collected the water of the creek in small ponds where they breed trout.
• Continuing on Waldgasse Street, we reach a small bridge but do not leave the road; about 200 meters from here, on the left, we see a large water reservoir-dam. Passing this, we meet another Forststraße sign, at this sign we turn left, reach the creek, and cross it; under normal weather conditions the water volume of the creek allows crossing even without a built bridge.
• After crossing the creek, we walk briefly on a path likely made by forestry vehicles during last work; the terrain is wet but passable. Soon we shift directly to the creek bank, which is also navigable, and here we find the second insect hotel checkpoint. It is interesting to observe the water’s path, small waterfalls and trickles, how the creek washes out the roots of trees, some of which have fallen creating interesting tent-like formations. The border line still runs to our left as we go. Along the creek, we reach the boundary stone B. 116; from here turning left, we climb about 120 meters on a game trail up the hill until we reach the forest asphalt road on the Hungarian side.
• After catching our breath following the climb, we turn right and quietly start on the asphalt; here we are already close to mouflons. We walk about 300 meters on the road, then following the map, turn left and quietly climb the so-called "Mouflon Valley". We have seen mouflons 4 out of 5 times here, so even if we don’t succeed going up, it is worth resting for a few minutes in the hunting lookout built above the steep climb at the top of the valley, hoping for good luck.
• Leaving the "Mouflon Valley" and the hunting lookout, we proceed on a forestry dirt road; at a three-way intersection we turn left, climb further, then at the next intersection turn right uphill, still climbing as our goal is the Zeiger saddle. After a few minutes we reach a noticeably better quality forest dirt road, turn right, and after a short easy walk along this road, we reach Zeiger saddle. Here is a small wooden house and benches for resting.
• After resting, we take one last look at the map/GPS, then start following the alpannonia® red marking leaving Zeiger saddle on the Iron Curtain hiking trail towards Óház. We do not leave this path because the 3rd checkpoint/insect hotel is nearby. Meanwhile, we pass a metal hunting lookout. On clear days, you can see all the way to Sopron and Lake Fertő from here; it is worth stopping for a moment.
• After a few minutes of walking and a downhill section, the alpannonia® red marking turns right onto a small steep path. Here we climb up, meanwhile admiring one of the well-carved deer images on a tree. After reaching the top of the climb, the alpannonia® red marking continues left on a straight section, which we follow, then again turns right and up; this is the "final assault", and we will soon reach the Óház lookout.
• At the lookout we take another rest and enjoy the beautiful panorama. When we are satisfied, we leave the lookout following the information boards at its base and the alpannonia® red marking, then at the next intersection turn left and "descend" to the forest asphalt road.
• We cross the road and continue downhill again in the forest following the alpannonia® red marking until we reach the forest asphalt road called Terv Road. We cross it as well, continue to follow the alpannonia® red marking, pass by the Forest Gym Course, later by the Szabóhegyi barbecue area, and reach the intersection of Tölgyes Street and Felsőerdő Street. Following the alpannonia® red marking, we step onto Tölgyes Street.
• At the end of Tölgyes Street, we turn left following the alpannonia® red marking; this is Cyclamen Square, which leads us to the intersection below the former Panorama Hotel, where following the alpannonia® red marking, we turn left and walk to Forrás Street. Here the marking directs us right to a staircase; the route continues on a path and, turning left again past a building, we are already on Köböl Street.
• Following the alpannonia® red marking, we enter Hermina Street, initially climbing a little, then descending continuously to Szénsavas Well. Within sight of the well is a bus stop; next to it we turn left following the alpannonia® red marking and walk up Park Street to alpannonia® Park, where we can also inquire about the plants and animals we saw at the Bechtold István Nature Conservation Visitor Center.
• From the Visitor Center, following the alpannonia® red marking, we pass by Chernel Garden, walk along Hunyadi Street to Várkör, then after the pedestrian crossing turn left, then right, and down Diáksétány to the main entrance of Jurisics Castle. Turning right, on familiar ground we reach Jurisics Square, then under the Heroes' Tower to the Main Square.