From Óbuda to Solymár Szarkavár

Itinerary

• We walk from the bus turning point following the K+ mark to the Virágos Saddle.
• From Virágos Saddle we follow the S mark to the K and Z crossing.
• We turn right onto the Z mark and follow it to the Solymár castle.
• We climb up to the castle on the ZL mark.
• After leaving the castle, we continue on the Z mark, from which we turn right onto the Z◼ mark.
• We reach the Solymár railway station on the Z◼ mark.

About the route in detail

To the Virágos Saddle

We leave the garden city street settled on the lower, gentle slope of Hármashatár Hill to the northwest, walking on the K+ mark. At the end of the asphalt strip, two paths lead into the forest, choose the left branch to reach Virágos Saddle. The hiking trail soon leaves behind the gravel wheel track and turns right onto a parallel path. We approach the saddle with a gentle ascent, which separates Vihar Hill and Csúcs Hill.

From the junction of hiking trails converging below Virágos Saddle, it is worth climbing up to the clearing, from the edge of which the southward rising ridges of the Buda Hills can be narrowly seen as well. Returning into the forest, we start our forest hike to the left on the S mark. At a fork, the K mark goes left, we stay on the S mark turning right. Opposite, along the Blue Trail, a military grave commemorating a World War II breakout stands by the roadside.

Green refuge on the side of Csúcs Hill

Our narrow, bushy path is surrounded by robust, diverse age and species mixed forest; in patches, typically higher altitude beech trees feel at home on the shady, cool northern slope of Csúcs Hill. Looking at the map, we can see that the steep hillside is covered by trees only in a very narrow band; the edge of the town has significantly (and mostly illegally) extended up the hill. This is no wonder: the gentle slope offers a great view of the distinctive, sharp peaks of Pilis. This narrow forest strip, at one point shrinking to barely 100 meters, plays a significant ecological role, creating a connection for wildlife between the protected, forested Hármashatár Hill penetrating deeply into the capital and the narrow heights rising in its extension, belonging to the outer Buda Hills. Its disappearance would lead to the shrinkage and vulnerability of Hármashatár Hill’s wildlife.

The hiking trail cuts a path through a mixed forest with deadwood shelters, showing no recent signs of human intervention. Considering the rapid deforestation of the Buda Hills' forests in the past, which probably greeted wanderers with a barren, heavily exploited hillside stripped almost down to the last tree, we can really feel satisfied with this view. Occasionally a few pine trees mix with the deciduous trees, recalling the beginnings of reforestation on the slopes. A 20-30 minute walk is needed on the S mark from Virágos Saddle to reach the National Blue Trail intersection, from where we follow the accompanying Z mark right, downhill. We closely approach the edge of the neighborhood built on Csúcs-hegyi-dűlő. Not far from here, at the end of the street, a lodge with a restaurant operated until the early 1990s - reportedly the coziest in the hills. According to surviving postcards, a tourist house with a panoramic terrace and mansard roof welcomed travelers, who could enjoy picturesque views of the Kevély peaks during their rest.

Below Szarvas Hill

We turn left, now treading the Z marked trail. We walk on the skirts of Tök Hill and Szarvas Hill; many traces of ice damage caused by the freezing rain of 2014 are visible in the forest, with many fallen branches luckily left on the ground. The forest thus feels sheltered and dense; you don’t even notice the entire green belt barely exceeds one kilometer in width. During our long walk, we cross beneath a high-voltage power line, then half a kilometer later reach a fork. We follow the Z mark to the right, and with a short ascent reach the forest edge and the hilltop. A memorable view unfolds: behind us rise the hills we have passed; in the other direction, the entire Pilisvörösvár basin gradually appears. Pilis ridges line its edge, among them Pilis-tető stands out, and the two Kevély peaks are recognizable by their rocky summits. To the left, the sharp, pine-covered edges of the Zsíros Hill group provide a deep green backdrop to Solymár.

In a questionable castle

The path bends right, and standing out in the middle of the field is the top of the Solymár Szarkavár tower. Not much farther to the panorama: on a wooded stretch, a gravel-covered ZL mark leads right up to the castle. Passing through the reconstructed castle wall gate - upon paying the entrance fee - we arrive amid a multitude of question marks. Even researchers know little for certain about the history of the “Szarkavár”: in the 14th century, the Lackfis bought the area, but it is possible there was something here before their construction. What the Lackfis built is also unclear: functionally, it might have been only a residential building that appeared like a small castle for demonstration purposes. Other theories suggest that there was no castle but a monastery building on the Solymár Matthias Hill. One thing is certain: the tower offers a great panoramic view, as the hill is low compared to the surrounding mountains but occupies a prominent position relative to its immediate neighbors. We can sweep our gaze over Pilis, parts of the Buda Hills, and a small cluster of suburban settlements. It is worth knowing that the reconstruction aimed primarily not at restoring the original state but at creating an attractive tourist sight.

After descending from the castle, we turn right, then take another right bend on the far side of the hill: the Z◼ mark leads to the railway station about 5-15 minutes away depending on pace, from where we can end our route and head home.