From Csattogó Valley to Katalinpuszta

Itinerary

• Set out eastwards from Csattogó Valley
• Turning left northwards, follow the P marks which lead us along the Les Valley all the way to Magyarkút.
• At the K ◼ sign, turn right and take the asphalt road leaving Magyarkút towards the forest.
• After leaving Irma Spring, we follow the signs of the National Blue Trail K on our continuing northbound route. The wide dirt road in the valley passes by the Aranyos Spring and the Holy Trinity chapel before we reach the houses of Szendehely. Crossing the settlement, we continue following the K signs all the way to Katalinpuszta, the hiking center.

Detailed Description

We start the not too difficult 10 km hike from the Csattogó Valley nestled at the foot of Börzsöny. We leave the recreational area heading east, then soon turn north (left) on the tourist trail marked P. We leave a weekend cottage area heading north and after two kilometers turn right at the K ◼ mark. We cross a stone bridge over the Gimpli brook, then shortly afterwards – and still along houses – we reach the famous cooling Irma Spring, also known as Magyar Spring. The spring shelter was built in 1889, and its water is still drinkable. Its quality is indicated by the fact that many owners of the surrounding holiday properties source their drinking water from here, not only during summer heatwaves. Refreshment can be gained not only from the spring water. Right next to it, at the inn called "Pub at the Pipe," we find all earthly goods whether we are hungry or thirsty.

Leaving Irma Spring behind, we continue north following the signs of the National Blue Trail K. We walk more or less straight through the shady valley, reaching the equally refreshing Aranyos Spring on the wide forestry road. From the pleasant forest rest, we still need to cover more than 3 km to Szendehely, crossing its orderly streets. We approach the settlement from the west along a panoramic meadow, passing a small chapel on its edge.

Szendehely and its surroundings

The area was originally named Szenthely – probably after the landowner bishopric – but over time it changed to Szendehely. The Germans who settled here arrived in 1717 from the Franconia region of Bavaria, and initially founded a village in nearby Berkenye, but due to overpopulation in 1753 a part of the population moved here, alongside the road leading to Vác and the Nagymaros ferry. The locals traditionally engaged mainly in forestry and viticulture. The surrounding slopes still have extensive vineyards today, maintaining the local tradition of winemaking.

The village once belonged to the estate of the bishop of Vác, likely donated by King Saint Stephen to the church. During the 1848 revolution, a fire destroyed nearly half the houses in the village. Fortunately, many old residential houses survived and many still preserve the characteristic folk furniture painted red. These furnishings made from pine wood were decorated with "fláderos" painting. At the buttress of the vaulted bridge of the old village stands a stone statue of Saint John of Nepomuk carved in 1830, beside which our hike also passes, following the K signs.

Just after leaving Szendehely through the forest, after a few hundred meters we reach Katalinpuszta belonging to the settlement, also often called the gateway to Börzsöny. The hiking center here serves both as a forest resting place and as a program point for hiking families and groups of friends. From the forest school and the modern accommodation starts the spectacular Gyadai nature trail, children’s favorite: the Ant Railway, but among other things, there is also a picturesque pond and a buffet. Hikers of the National Blue Trail start or finish the Börzsöny section here after stamping their hiking booklets.