In the footsteps of Zselic rock formations

Itinerary

• We start from the bus stop heading northeast on the K trail.
• After the Kistótváros lookout, we continue our route 1 km on the K● trail.
• Upon reaching the hill ridge, turn left following the Z◼ trail.
• After Hajmás, we turn left on the Z● trail towards the Kaposgyarmati tufa gorge.
• After the gorge, upon reaching the dirt road, turn right on the Z trail, which leads to Kaposgyarmat.

Detailed description of the route

Departure from Gálosfa

The village's name first appeared in a document in 1425 as Galusfalva when the sons of János Csepel from Szerdahely, and Márton Dersfi from Szerdahely claimed the settlement against the Zselicszentjakab Abbey. From the 18th century to the early 20th century, it was owned by the Festetics family, who built a manor house in the village awarded nationwide fair rights in 1804. The municipality included Szentluka-puszta, located on the site of medieval Szent-Lukácsfalva, Kistótváros-puszta and Nagytótváros-major on the places of Kistótváros and Nagytótváros, as well as Törjék-puszta west of Gálosfa. We start from the bus stop heading northeast on the K trail, crossing the Csurgó-ditch bridge, shortly leaving the asphalt on the right, and continuing by crossing the embankment of the Kaposvár-Szigetvár railway line opened in 1900. The line, closed in 1972, was important for freight traffic during World War I and later played a significant role in transporting Zselic wheat.

At the next bridge, there is a modest view towards Gálosfa and the surrounding hills. Following the trail, we approach the forest-covered paths on a wide dirt road. In the road's deep ruts, we find aquatic and riverside communities, featuring species like the aquatic warbler and occasionally small patches of water crowfoot under the water surface. After crossing the bridge of the Surján stream, which flows from the southwest boundary of Bőszénfa to the Kapos, we reach the forest edge. Turning left at the right curve of the road, we begin a steady climb. We ascend to Szamár hill through the shaded forest at the foot of Bükk, from where our trail leads towards Bükk-tető. We approach the private Kistótváros lookout, which is inaccessible for climbing as it is privately owned. From the wooden tower, we continue on level ground.

Kistótváros

In 1335, Miklós, son of Ders, founded a Pauline monastery dedicated to Saint Ladislaus here, gifting part of the Surk forest and two mills on the Kapos river in Bát village, as well as vineyards in the borders of Kökényesfő and Thormoch villages, neighboring Szerenketeleke village, to the community. Later, Miklós forcefully reclaimed his former estates, leading to legal disputes with the Paulines, ultimately resolved in favor of the church by King Louis I. In the early 16th century, the estate belonged to the Imreffy family, who, when building their castle surrounded by trenches for defense, cut down a large part of the extensive forest around the settlement known as Tótvár(os). Significant deforestation only occurred again between 1722 and 1802. Around 1520, Gregory Gyöngyösi described the monastery as one of the richest Pauline orders. It likely perished during the 1543 Ottoman invasion.

About 1 km later, we reach the K● trail, where we start a steep descent along the Kistótváros game fence. We descend into the valley, cross the meadow and Kistótváros stream, and return to the forest, where the Csepegő-kő becomes visible from the rest area.

Csepegő-kő

The main attraction of the Sárközi forest is the locally protected Csepegő-kő and the spring at its base, Csepegő-kút. The area was shaped by a temporary branch of the Kistótváros stream during the Quaternary uplift of Zselic, cutting into the loose sedimentary layers covering the area. Below, it reached the sediment of the Pannon lake shoreline zone (which forms the main mass of the Zselic). Water penetrated the more cemented Pannon sandstone layers less, resulting in a small gorge with a minor waterfall where the stream disappears underground. The small dripstone-like coatings form as mildly acidic precipitation water slowly dissolves carbonate minerals in the sandstone while seeping down. The dissolved calcium carbonates then precipitate on the surface of strata and along cracks in the rock. At the foot of the cliff, the spring of Csepegő-kút is found, whose surroundings host moisture- and cool climate-indicating species like the gill-shaped cold-water minnow and liverworts, which remove carbon dioxide from the water during their life activities, assisting the precipitation of freshwater limestone. This process is slow, so special care is taken to protect these small formations.

Panoramic walk on the hilltop

Following the trail, we climb up a wooden staircase through the steep hillside of an silver linden and beech forest. Our path gradually levels, and at the edge of the hilltop meadows, we reach a wide dirt road emerging from an acacia grove. Here we turn left following the Z◼ trail, soon passing multiple viewpoints opening towards the Mecsek. We start a barely noticeable descent, and the panorama slowly closes, bidding farewell to the imposing block of Zengő. We soon walk under some old oak pollards, then arrive at the forest edge after the forester’s hut, offering a nice view to Kistótváros. After a comfortable 1.5 km walk, our trail sharply turns left, taking us along a slowly growing forest path towards Hajmás. At a game fence, we leave the forest; here the bushes have overgrown the path, so prepare for about a 20-meter bush battle. Between fences, we reach the country road and turn right towards Hajmás.

We enter Hajmás at Ivánkapuszta, located on the site of the medieval Ivánkafalva, owned by the Győr family, with only 3 houses recorded in 1571. Hajmás was first mentioned in 1346 in a charter when it came under the ownership of Péter Dersfi from Szerdahely. The settlement, recorded in 1425 as Haghmas, later fell victim to the Ottoman invasion. Germans settled the village only in the 18th century, shaping the modern village structure. The northern part was called Magyarfalu, the southern part Németfalu; the population grew until the end of the 19th century. Following the country road, we cross Hajmás and shortly after the former railway station, take a detour on the Z● trail to the Kaposgyarmati tufa gorge.

The Kaposgyarmati tufa gorge

We cross the Surján stream, whose name means bushy stream. Entering the forest, we soon start ascending and cross a side stream of the Surján. Near the end of the steep section, there are benches. On the right, we find the tufa gorge. One of the Surján’s temporary side flows carved the gorge and the rock inside similarly to Csepegő-kő, but the freshwater limestone precipitation happens faster here. Besides the small waterfall, the other characteristic formation of the gorge is a dark-hued travertine rock named Buffalo Head.

Afterwards, we continue nearly on level ground, then upon reaching the dirt road, turn right on the Z trail, cross the grass, and return to the forest. Passing among the houses of Kaposgyarmat, we pass a small chapel not far from the bus stop, the end point of our tour. Next to it on the left is a fish pond created in 1992, a Székely gate, an old fire truck, and the sports field. On the right, there are three early 20th-century crosses. The Triple Cross commemorates heroes fallen in World War I.