Márévár walk

Itinerary

• Start from the parking lot on the asphalt road of Vár-völgy, following the Szent Márton yellow marked hiking trail (StM).
• At the Máré spring, turn right onto the shared section of the StM and S+ signs, then continue on the StM signpath down toward the castle.
• Follow the PL sign and the asphalt road up to Márévár.
• From the castle, take the P marked hiking trail heading southwest and follow it all the way back to the parking lot.

Detailed description of the route

We start our hike from the developed parking lot at the entrance of Vár-völgy. There is a campsite, an inn, and a buffet here where you can eat well after hiking. On the asphalt road, start on the shared section of the P sign and the Szent Márton pilgrimage path, but the P sign soon diverges. This is where we will return later from Márévár.

Along the asphalt road, several geological information boards are placed, mainly about the sedimentary rocks composing the Mecsek and the findings from them. We travel 1.1 km on the paved road, then reach the Kadarka lodge and the very rare Máré spring located in the creek bed. Here the Szent Márton path turns right and joins with the S+ marked trail. There is a short rest possible at the junction; unfortunately, the spring does not always provide water, so it’s better not to count on it! At the beginning of the 20th century, a log-built refuge hut stood near the dripping spring, erected by the then bishop. Along the way, several mills were turning on the creek.

Head to the castle!

Continue on the shared section of the Szent Márton path and S+ toward Máré castle. Over the next half kilometer, we overcome nearly 100 meters of elevation and upon reaching the hairpin bend, there are two choices: either stay on the developed path or shortcut the bend via a forest trail – the latter is very steep and the dry, crumbly soil can be quite slippery! Just before the hairpin, next to the path, the Vár-kút spring flows, which has a consistently good water yield, so it’s worth refreshing here!

There is only a short climb left to arrive at Márévár. Rest areas have been created in front of the castle where you can catch your breath. A path runs along the castle wall, allowing a walk around the well-preserved ruin, and then look inside the walls! An interesting installation guards the steps leading to the gate: a three-headed dragon made from used tires was created here. Inside the castle, there are further sights: both the interior and the castle wall offer interesting features and views.

The castle was built by an unknown founder after the Tatar invasion, first mentioned in 1316. The fortress, which never had significant military importance, was destroyed by fire in the 16th century, but the surviving inner castle is in excellent condition and awaits visitors. (Interestingly, the 20th century also held a smaller 'siege' for it: in late autumn 1956, a Soviet tank fired at freedom fighters hiding within its walls, targeting the "Invisible People of Mecsek," killing two of them.) Entering the castle, you see not only walls: there are interactive games that engage visiting school groups for a while, a cinema room shows a film about the castle’s history, alongside information displays. On the upper floor of a small building, there is an interesting exhibition and a spooky kobold den arranged by the castle renovators for children.

But it’s worth exploring outside as well. A boardwalk is built along a few meters of the castle wall’s top, offering pleasant views of Mecsek’s hills. Márévár was not built on the peaks of the highest mountains but on a hillside; the nearby Zengő, for example, is hidden from sight.

Back on the atmospheric red trail

Nearby stood Miklós’s castle. According to legend, the king summoned the young knight of Máré castle to war, who fulfilled his duty, leaving behind his beautiful wife. Years passed, and the knight did not return from the war; no one knew what happened to him. The lord of Miklósvár took advantage and courted the wife so successfully that they had a daughter together. Years later, Máré’s knight returned, furious at this betrayal, and destroyed both castles by fire. His wife perished in the ruins, cursing her daughter with Miklós in her last words; the daughter is said to live deep within the mountain to this day. If visiting on Whit Monday, look in the creek for a girl bathing and combing her hair, as she appears there every 77 years. According to the legend’s recipe for breaking the curse, one must kiss a toad, a snake, and a bear (some sources say a stag). There is no chance of seeing a bear in Mecsek today, but the area is fortunately rich in reptiles and amphibians. The fabulous treasures require effort to obtain!

When finished visiting the castle, on the return path take the P marked trail crossing the meadow in front of the castle and head west on it. Since the path follows the terrain, the return route is a bit more winding and therefore longer, but well worth it for the atmospheric trail! We walk under giant trees in a dark forest where even in summer the sun doesn’t shine. The path sometimes crosses narrow curves to the next slope; the trail’s much farther sections can be seen from afar. The winding path can be slippery in places, and the hillside is steep, so move carefully! After covering 1.7 km, we return to the asphalt road; to the right before it is the Textile spring bursting from a small natural stone bastion (named after textile factory workers from Szeged who camped nearby). This is actually an artificial water source overflow from a genuine spring about 100 meters away, which emerges from crack networks in sedimentary rocks – its flow is enough to supply a nearby wooden hut and since the 1980s also the pools of the valley-end beach. During rainy periods, some temporary springs in the area also become active. Returning to the asphalt road, the parking lot is now visible.