From Pécsvárad to Kárász via Zengő

Itinerary

• On the route crossing the Eastern Mecsek, we follow the S trail sign all the way.

Detailed Description of the Route

After getting off the bus, we spot today's guide for our route, the S trail sign. We walk along Pécsvárad's main street heading west, then pass the mayor's office through the beautiful park of Trinity Square. Shortly, in the small town's lanes, we arrive at the ancient walls of the monastery castle of Pécsvárad, which has a thousand years of history. Visiting the castle museum and courtyard is almost mandatory! From the castle, we continue past the Church of the Assumption of Mary, then our trail guides us into Zengő Street. Here our path crosses the Z+ and P+ trail signs; slowly we leave the houses of the small town behind. The hiking trail winds alongside the wild valley of Csíger-pit. The sometimes zigzagging path soon leads onto a straight "linea," which emerges onto a rocky, stony, water-eroded road. Here we meet again – and turning left travel together for a few hundred meters – the P+ trail sign, leading from Pécsvárad toward the Réka Valley.

The steep, ascending, rocky road is not easy to walk, but soon we reach a saddle where a shelter from the rain offers a pleasant resting spot. Here we can rest before starting the last steep section toward Zengő. Climbing the highest peak of Mecsek (682 m), a further challenge awaits the braver hikers: climbing up the geodetic measuring tower's concrete lookout. If we "take it on," our reward will be a beautiful panorama. Next to the lookout, we also spot the insignificant ruins of Zengő Castle.

Continuing onwards, our trail splits left from the S sign to the K▲ and S▲ trails, which head towards Püspökszentlászló and Hosszúhetény respectively. Our S trail goes very steeply down through the shade and roots of huge beech trees. Near the end of the almost eight-hundred-meter descent, we turn left on a narrow cart track. Shortly we reach a forestry road, where we meet the K◼ trail coming from Réka Hut, descending with it through a steep gorge to Püspökszentlászló. Although our trail only touches this small holiday village, be sure to visit its beautiful arboretum and the bishop's castle!

Our path goes right alongside the fence of the arboretum, turning north into the forest. Leaving a small clearing, we start a steep ascent up the hillside, emerging from the deep valley and crossing the forestry road. Then we refresh ourselves at the flowing spring of Diós Well. From here, we climb further on a very steep but short path. Upon reaching the top, we turn right, then follow our trail along the ridge. Soon our way is crossed by the Z trail leading from Pusztabánya to Réka Castle. Shortly after this junction, we reach a vast meadow above Kisújbánya, offering a pleasant resting place and view. Crossing the Miske Hill meadow, we reach the paved road leading to Kisújbánya, where the K trail crosses. We climb a rocky, steep road on the S trail to the Cigány Hill lookout, from where the fantastic panorama of the Mecsek mountain range unfolds before us. Continuing, many hiking trails join us and cross our path. We climb very steeply up the cart track until at the saddle we spot the S▲ trail sign, which invites us to Tolna County’s highest point, Dobogó. At the 594-meter-high peak, we find a memorial post.

Returning to our trail, we head down from the watershed, then shortly after, the Z▲ trail going towards Szászvár branches off to the right. After a 20-minute descent, we arrive at the Vörösfenyő lodge. The nice environment, rain shelter, benches, and grill await the weary traveler. At the junction of hiking trails, we continue following the S trail along with P+, which after a kilometer turns left toward Magyaregregy. Two hundred meters from the junction, we turn onto a forestry road, then our trail leads us back into the forest on the left. After a big loop, we come out again onto the asphalt road, and soon arrive at Kárász with its very nice location. We pass the former beach, youth camp, then next to the church, arriving at the small village’s main street, and after turning left, we reach the bus stop in a few minutes.