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· Szársomlyói természetvédelmi terület
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Climbing Szársomlyó (guided tour)
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Szársomlyó bathing in the rays of the setting sunPhoto: Farkas Péter
The Villány Mountains have an almost sub-Mediterranean climate - the number of sunny hours is double the Hungarian average. This is particularly noticeable on the southern side of Szársomlyó, at the barren "devil's plough", where Balkan steppe drought-resistant plants and animals also live. The southern slopes are characterized by rocky grasslands and downy oak karst shrub forests, while the cooler northern side is the habitat of mixed linden trees. As far as the eye can see, vineyards and small wine cellars nestle into the hillsides; humans have lived in and cultivated this landscape for millennia.
The Danube-Dráva National Park organizes guided tours to Szársomlyó from the Nagyharsány Sculpture Park, which is strictly protected due to its extremely rare and diverse wildlife. The climb along the rocky ridge is about a one to one and a half hour one-way hike, but in this case, it is a very relaxed walk with many stops, so older people or families with small children can also boldly set out. Thanks to professional and detailed explanations, during the three-hour trip, you can learn a lot about Szársomlyó and the Villány Mountains, its geological formation, flora and fauna, legends, history, and the centuries-old history of viticulture and wine culture in the area. You can also "taste the mountain's juice" by visiting the famous cellar rows of the surrounding villages: Villány, Villánykövesd, or Palkonya.
The devil's plough
On the barren southern side of the mountain stretches the so-called "devil's plough", which has an interesting legend: it is said that the devil ploughed up this area by harnessing thirteen cats to win a beautiful girl. Whatever the case, it is certain that in the stony, hot, difficult-to-cultivate slope of Kopár, the most expensive grapes of the Villány wine region are now grown.
The Nagyharsány quarry and exhibition site
The disused open-pit limestone and bauxite quarry has been functioning as an artist colony since the 1970s. More than two hundred creators have worked here over the past decades, including numerous foreign internationally recognized sculptors. The only expectation was that every year one of the completed works had to be offered to the sculpture park. More and more sculptures have found their home in the quarry clearing; over time, the works came together into a fantastic land art exhibition in front of the monumental rock wall backdrop. Some were made from limestone quarried on site, others from “nobler” materials brought in from elsewhere (marble, granite). Most of the works are non-figurative.
On the western side of the mountain, there is an active limestone quarry that has left a huge, visible scar in the landscape.
The Nagyharsány battle monument
At the foot of the mountain stands a monumental memorial consisting of a metal cross and human figures, honoring the battle of Nagyharsány. This battle, also called the second battle of Mohács, was fought in 1687 on the southern slopes of Szársomlyó. The united Christian armies led by Charles of Lorraine defeated the numerically superior Turkish army, thus ending Hungary's 150 years of Turkish occupation.
Author’s recommendation
- Climbing Szársomlyó takes about 3-4 hours. It is worth spending several days here to discover other parts of the Villány Mountains, the surrounding cultural landscape, and the sights of the settlements.
- Walk among the works of the sculpture park, circle them, look at them, touch the stones! Study how many types of stone and what craftsmanship were used!
- Make sure to take time to learn about the vineyard culture and wines of the Villány wine region!
- Visit the tourist-filled Villány and the famous, less touristy, three-street cellar row of Villánykövesd!
- Participate in a wine tasting dinner in one of the cellars in Palkonya! It is worth tasting all the grape varieties grown in this region.
- Discover the Siklós castle and the spa!
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Safety information
- The quarry cliff edge is only marked by a stretched cord; be careful with your children and your steps here!
- Attention! Due to construction work, the sculpture park is not accessible from February to December 2019! Nevertheless, guided tours are held on modified routes that do not affect the construction sites.
Tips and suggestions
- Szársomlyó is a strictly protected area; it can only be visited with a guide as part of an organized tour. You can get information and register via the contact details provided on the Danube-Dráva National Park website.
- The Nagyharsány Sculpture Park website
Roadbook
Itinerary
There is no tourist trail leading to Szársomlyó. The strictly protected area can only be visited with guides from the Danube-Dráva National Park.
The animal and plant species living here are rare and very vulnerable, so never leave the beaten path!
Detailed description of the route
During the route, you must follow the guide on the established path all the time. We start from the ticket office of the Nagyharsány Sculpture Park, then climb the upper edge on the right side of the quarry clearing. If hiking with small children, be careful; the edge of the cliff is marked with only a rope! The climb is steep and slippery throughout, and you have to walk among rocks that challenge your ankle. The limestone rocks are full of deepened hollows called birdbaths in popular language. These pits are dissolved from the calcareous rock by rainwater containing carbonic acid.
We cross through thickets, shrub forests, and among stunted flowering ashes and downy oak woods where there is no soil. The route leads almost entirely through sunny areas, so expect intense heat in summer! The Mediterranean atmosphere is strengthened by the scent of thyme and the incessant chattering of cicadas, originally native only further south but now also found in Hungary due to climate change. The stony, barren slopes serve as excellent hunting grounds for the Hungarian racer snake. If we wait quietly and do not make noise, we may see green lizards and Pannonian lizards as well.
After two kilometers, we reach the top of the mountain. A few barely noticeable wall remains testify to a small fortress once standing there, destroyed by the Turks in 1543. Today the barren peak is occupied by paragliders. While resting, we can watch as they take a few steps to run towards nothing and then float for a long time between earth and sky. If they find thermals, they can rise up to a thousand meters and often glide all the way to Lake Balaton.
The rocky top of the mountain offers a fantastic panorama. To the northeast, we can see the Mecsek mountain range, below us the vineyards and cellars of Gere, a bit further away the forest of Fekete-hegy and the church tower of Villánykövesd. Looking southwest, Siklós and Harkány come into view, and on a clear day, the distant Banat region can also be seen.
On the way back, we follow the same path. After a few hundred meters, we turn north into the forest, then descend to the Gyimóthy villa, which operates as a guesthouse for the artist colony. Finally, we return to the sculpture park parking lot.
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
- We reach the starting point of the hike on the Siklós-Villány line; you must get off the long-distance bus at the Nagyharsány, Kőbánya stop.
Directions
- From the bus stop, walk southwest following the K sign, which leads with a 250-meter walk to the meeting point of the sculpture park.
- The route starts from the parking lot next to the sculpture park.
Parking
- You can turn off the road connecting Villány and Nagyharsány towards the sculpture park; the exact location is indicated by a sign.
- You can leave your car in a parking lot created 150 meters on the access road.
Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Author’s map recommendations
Equipment
- No shade can be found, so make sure to protect yourself from the sun during summer!
- Although the route is not long, you can easily slip on the polished stones, so it is advisable to climb Szársomlyó in stiff, lug-soled, ankle-supporting boots.
- Use the Természetjáró app for navigation!
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions