alpannonia® light 1. circular route: Essence of Kőszeg, or panoramic circular route with the most beautiful sights

Itinerary:

• We start from the Nature Conservation Visitor Center following the yellow alpannonia sign, which leads all the way to the foot of Calvary Hill. Here, turn left to the wooden stairs a few meters away, which take us to the Boating Lake. We circle the lake, then return on the stairs to the foot of Calvary Hill.
• From the foot of Calvary Hill, the K sign leads right all the way to the Main Square.
• From the Main Square, we go around the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the right (from the post office side), then staying on Várkör Street, we reach Hunyadi Street coming from the left. From here, the red alpannonia sign on Hunyadi Street leads back to the Visitor Center.

Details about the route:

Kőszeg, a historic small town, lies by the border surrounded by forests. It is almost unique in the country for such proximity of nature, as from the town’s historic center, within a half-hour walk, we find ourselves in a protected natural environment. Kőszeg is one of the country’s towns richest in monuments. Walking the human-scale, atmospheric streets, we recall memories of bygone eras, while from the viewpoints at the town’s edge, our gaze can wander far across the surrounding region. The motto of the cross-border Írottkő-Geschriebenstein Nature Park truly reflects the essence of the town: "Boundless nature, millennia-old culture."

Our circular route starts from the Őrség National Park Nature Conservation Visitor Center, where an interactive exhibition introduces us to the natural values of the Kőszeg Mountains. The yellow alpannonia sign leads past the entrance of the Chernel Garden arboretum. It is worth returning here at the end of the route to glimpse both the many beautiful plants and the devoted work of the national park staff, who care for and release injured birds back into the wild.

Our path leads to the Suleiman Lookout standing on Calvary Hill, where we can locate and identify notable buildings of Kőszeg with the help of a panorama guide. Passing among vineyards and orchards, we continue to enjoy the view. From here, a comfortable walk takes us to the Calvary Church, where hermits once lived. We descend a steep sloping path past the Stations of the Cross. After turning left, we can smell the scent of water. Along a path paved with concrete blocks, we follow the yellow alpannonia sign for a few more meters, then leave it to descend wooden stairs to the Malomárok branch of the Gyöngyös Creek. Crossing a wooden bridge, we find ourselves on the bank of the Boating Lake. Circling the water surface, we learn from the fish knowledge nature trail boards before returning by the stairs to the path. A few meters on, we reach the crown-guard bunker; from here, we proceed on the K sign. Walking further along Calvary, Sziget, and Pék Streets, we reach the heart of the town.

We approach the Jurisics Castle on Rajnis Street, where among other things, we can peek into 12th-16th century cooking and dining customs, the armory, the knight's hall, the western tower with a wonderful panorama, or the 3D film presenting Hungarian history; passing through the castle’s herbal and spice garden, we find the Natúrbolt, which welcomes visitors with local products of the Írottkő Nature Park. Staying on the K sign along Rajnis Street, we can admire countless monuments. Among these, we highlight the St. James Church, the Town Hall, the Golden Unicorn Pharmacy Museum, and the Heroes’ Tower. It is worth climbing the last, as from the top, besides seeing former workshop furnishings of the city’s characteristic craftsmen, you can enjoy the panorama of the downtown and the beautiful rooftops. Passing under the Heroes’ Tower, we reach the Main Square, dominated by the magnificent Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Next to the church, we continue for a short stretch without signs, then follow the line of the castle walls, from where we can see the Old Tower (Zwinger), the castle, and the swamp cypress. On Hunyadi Street, we follow the red alpannonia sign further. Passing by the Jurisic High School, we return to the arboretum – where we can visit the birds for a rest – and then reach the visitor center, the starting point of the tour.