alpannonia® light 3rd circular tour: Across borders in space and time... (Kőszeg-Rattersdorf)

Itinerary:

• Whether you arrive by public transport from the city center or by car, in the introductory section of the route you need to follow the National Blue Trail K markers northwards.
• After the crown bunker, at the first station of the Calvary, turn right onto the yellow alpannonia® sign, which together with the purple ᵯ marker of the Maria Trail will lead you across the border all the way to Rattersdorf.
• In the center of the Austrian village, turn left, then continue along the yellow alpannonia® markers back into Hungary, where the Sᵯ and K+ markers also join us.
• At the intersection where several tourist signs meet, turn left, heading north following the K markers! Soon you will reach the Seven Springs.
• You reach the Saint Germain cross by an unmarked path turning left from the K marker (GPS track helps!).
• Returning to the previous route, just before the first houses of Kőszeg, the K+ marker branches left towards the Trianon cross.
• Turning back to the K marker, heading southeast, you return to the starting point of the route.

Detailed route description:

The main route is marked by the yellow alpannonia® and the National Blue Trail K markers, but there is an unmarked and a K+ marked detour as well.

In the town, the K markers lead us, then we leave Kőszeg via the Andalgó walking path following the yellow alpannonia® sign. Reading the boards of the "Andalgó walking path nature trail" we learn a lot of interesting information about the historical and cultural events and values of the region. The name is no coincidence: on this comfortable, nearly flat section, there is no point in hurrying. Parallel with us, the unregulated Gyöngyös stream meanders – wading barefoot in its stony bed is a real refreshment in warm weather. If you want to get down to its bank, the easiest way is to turn right at the 9th board (Customs at the border) onto the unmarked path.

The 10th and last stop reveals the boundaries of Kőszeg, after leaving which you cross the border to continue in Austria – still following the yellow alpannonia® sign, which goes together with the purple ᵯ marker.

Arriving in Rattersdorf, a bench awaits the tired traveler beside the chapel. It is worth visiting the church in the center before continuing left. At a fork inside the village, where the forest is visible to the left and a path leads in that direction, keep right towards the houses! Soon the familiar yellow alpannonia® signs appear again. At the edge of the village, another streambed joins our path.

After leaving the inhabited area, we need to keep left at the edge of the forest. Here signs help orientation - the Seven Springs is also indicated. The yellow alpannonia® signs still guide the way. Before crossing back into Hungary, marked by the border stone near the gate of the Maria Trail, you can try the reclining bench while getting to know the chestnut trees.

On the Hungarian section, the K+ marker joins us, soon leading to a forestry service road. Turning left here, unfortunately, a few kilometers must be covered along the asphalt road. (Fortunately, the road is not busy and is only accessible by car with special permission.) At the crossroads richly covered with markers, turn left onto the National Blue Trail K marker, which leads to the Seven Springs, then to the center of Kőszeg, thus almost guiding us back to the starting point. At the Seven Springs, you can try the legend: rest, drink from the water of all seven springs, then make a wish! Will Álmos, Előd, Ond, Kond, Tas, Huba, and Töhötöm fulfill our dream?

On the next section of the K marker, the former, already ruined border guard barracks hide on your right, and on the left the forest, where at the end of September or beginning of October it is worth collecting the gift of roadside trees, the sweet chestnut. You can find some exquisite mushroom specimens as well - for example, porcini mushrooms.

You can reach the Saint Germain cross by an unmarked path, which after a few meters crosses the Z marker. It is important not to turn onto it but continue along the unmarked path! After a few meters, you are back on the territory of the neighboring country to see the "Austrian Trianon" memorial.

After the short detour, return to the K marker on the same path! You pass the asphalt road but do not walk on it, immediately turning left onto a wide dirt road. Be careful not to miss it: soon the marker leads on a forest path turning right towards Pintér Hill, where a beautiful panorama invites you to stop.

From here the path almost only leads downwards. Reaching Calvary Hill, we walk among orchards. To the domestic Trianon memorial cross turn left along the K+ marker. Returning to the blue trail at the top of Calvary Hill, we can admire the Calvary Church, then going down by the stations, soon we reach the starting point where we set off on the yellow alpannonia® sign on the Andalgó. Upon descending the calvary, it is worth glancing at the old and attractive style warning board, which positively asks everyone to protect the values.