In the footsteps of legends, among ruins

Itinerary

• We start from the bus stop heading southeast on the P trail.
• We climb a short ascent, then make a small detour to the right on the PL trail to the Pusztatorony (Bibervár).
• We return from the ruins to the P trail.
• After the forest patch and then the road cut, we turn southeast on the P+ trail.
• At the gate of the high game fence, we turn southwest on the Z trail.
• At Szent Gál field we follow the P trail winding alongside the Kis-Hanta stream northeast to the PL trail leading to the ruins of the Toronyalja Pauline monastery.
• Returning from the ruins, continuing on the P trail, we soon return to the bus stop.

About the route in detail

From the spring to the legendary Pusztatorony

We start from the bus stop heading southeast on the P trail. A few meters behind the ribbon railing, the Torony spring emerges, creating a small wet habitat around it. From here, we climb a short ascent, then make a small detour right on the PL trail to Pusztatorony.

The construction date and circumstances of Pusztatorony (or Bibervár), which is not mentioned in charters, are unknown. It is marked as Biber castle on a 1757 manuscript map, but the origin of the name is also unclear. The ruins were likely a fortified watchtower built based on pottery fragments found here, probably at the end of the 12th century. Its decay dates back to the 13th-14th century period, during the fights of Máté Csák and Charles Robert.

The castle has also survived in a local legend. According to the story, giants with huge appetites lived in the tower who could eat an ox at once. One day, the old giant named Mnyi’s daughter spotted a ploughman. Since she had never met a mortal before, she joyfully took him home in her apron to eat him. When her father saw this, he became furiously angry and immediately took the peasant back to the field with his daughter, on horseback and carriage, because the work of the people sustained them.

Through forest and meadow to the ruins of the Toronyalja Pauline monastery

From the ruins, we return to the P trail. After the forest patch and the road cut, we turn southeast onto the P+ trail. We walk beside a high game fence until we reach an oak tree without a stalk in front of the gate, where we already see the Z trail to follow next. Ipoly Erdő Zrt. has also placed a board here showing the renewal of the forests. It is worth reading about how former tree groups develop over 50-150 years into stable forest structures, transforming into habitats of various ages and levels with mixed species.

Heading southeast, we reach Szent Gál field, which hides a Celtic settlement trace, from where on a clear day we get a nice view of the mountains around Márianosztra. From here we follow northeast the P trail winding briefly along the Kis-Hanta stream to the PL trail leading to the ruins of the Toronyalja Pauline monastery, where we turn right.

The monastery is first mentioned in official documents in 1437. A small quarry was opened for its construction, also using stones from Bibervár (Pusztatorony). The medium-sized monastery, far from inhabited areas, included a mill, fishpond, and a well hiding many artifacts. Almost nothing remains of it today except the well. The last data referring to a still standing building is from 1538.

According to legend, the monastery was connected by a tunnel to the monastery in Nosztra. During the Turkish times, monks lowered their treasured valuables into the deep well of the monastery, and the four wagonloads of gold they owned were hidden in the secret passage. When a reckless man tried to claim the treasures, something strange happened: while digging, a huge dog appeared, which frightened him so much that he died on the spot. The hidden treasures remain deep underground to this day.

Since there are no plans to reconstruct the monastery, in 2019 a memorial was erected on the site of the former church sanctuary that matches the original in size and shape. This open wooden structure houses the altar on the eastern-southeastern side of the original octagonal sanctuary, opposite which six wooden benches are placed for believers and commemorators.

Returning from the ruins, continuing on the P trail, we soon return to the bus stop.