MTSZ
MTSZ térképportál
Turista Magazin
TuristaShop
Kéktúra
Gerecse50
A kéktúrázás napja
recommended route
Hiking Trail
· Dunazug-hegyvidék
Open
Mimó and Csipek story trails on Budapest’s Ferenc Hill
-
The first explanatory sign of the Path of the Senses is from Zuhany StreetPhoto: Szigeti Ferenc, MTSZ - együttműködő szervezetek
Hiking with children, especially the youngest, can be a challenge, yet every moment spent in nature is priceless. The Mimó and Csipek story trails promote conscious nature walking in a novel and playful way, with many drawings and story characters, thus truly presenting wildlife and the importance of nature protection in the language of children.
The only 400 m long, stroller-accessible “Trail of the Senses” introduces the wildlife of Ferenc Hill through the sense of perception (suitable for nursery and kindergarten children alike), while the 300 m long “Life in the Mirror” trail starting from the parking lot in the other direction focuses on environmental protection and is more recommended from kindergarten age.
The trails can be reached by bus 11, getting off at Móricz Zsigmond Gymnasium. The Trail of the Senses begins at a forest path opening from Zuhany Street and ends at the parking lot at the end of Ferenchegyi Road (but is accessible from both directions). From here, we can continue the walk by completing the “Life in the Mirror” trail starting here.
Author’s recommendation
- First, download the story from the association's website, read it to the children, and print the map!
- Be sure to bring paper and crayons, as simple interactive games await children at every stop of the walk (e.g., binoculars to spot hidden animals on the trees), and they can find answers to questions posed in the story on-site by tracing and shading the patterns placed there with paper and crayons.
- You can supplement the on-site information with further curiosities via QR codes found on boards at the stations.
- Mimó and Csipek appear in more and more places in Budapest: on Sas Hill, a 150 m long story trail at the visitor center features many playful objects to help learn conscious nature walking. In 2017, the exact copy of the Trail of the Senses was built on Little Sváb Hill under the title “Experience in Nature,” although it is harder to follow (and more difficult with a stroller).
- At the beginning of Ferenchegyi Road, in afternoons and weekends, we have a good chance to meet cavers heading to or returning from the Ferenc Hill Cave. Politely addressing them can bring exciting moments to children.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Tips and suggestions
Roadbook
Ferenc Hill is one of the scenic green enclaves of the Buda Hills, surrounded by the city. The 6.5-hectare protected ridge is home to Budapest's most natural state karst scrub forest, where we can find protected plants and, alongside urbanized animals, some smaller true forest dwellers, such as the legless lizard. Not far from the junction of Törökvész Road and Ferenchegyi Road is the entrance to Hungary's eighth longest cave, the approximately 6 km long Ferenc Hill Cave, which is accessible only to researchers. The cave was discovered in 1933 during sewer laying. If we're lucky, we might catch sight of cavers changing clothes at the foot of the neighboring Buda cube houses.
- Starting from Zuhany Street on the Trail of the Senses, the 1st stop is about the scent of the forest, where we can get to know the native plants through a matching game.
- Our 2nd stop is about touch: the animals placed alongside the trail can be touched, walked around, and even climbed on.
- At the 3rd stop, we need to spot the animal replicas placed on the surrounding trees.
- At the 4th and final stop, we can listen to the sounds of the forest and try knocking on wood ourselves. In addition, we can learn about the Ferenc Hill Cave hiding beneath our feet.
Next to the parking lot, there is a climbing frame themed around the cave and benches inviting for picnics.
In the other direction, the story trail entitled “Life in the Mirror” also consists of four stations but is more of a one-way path due to its theme (although it can be interpreted starting from the other side too).
- At the 1st stop, Kupacs the hedgehog explains the structure of the soil and the protection of its life with the help of his new friend, the earthworm, and in a cross-section, we can distinguish between clean and polluted soil.
- At the 2nd stop, Potyka the frog vividly presents the earthly water cycle and the protection of aquatic life on a large vertical terrain model, while on the other side of the trail, there's a cool matching game.
- At the 3rd stop, Berka the owl "hoots" to the children about the secrets and protection of the air.
- At the 4th and final stop, Cserke the fox tells the children about the functioning of the ecosystem and, together with the friends we've met before, teaches the forest walkers' song to the little ones.
From some points along the second story trail, there are beautiful views around Mátyás Hill.
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
- Buses 11 and 111 departing from Batthyány Square take us to the Móricz Zsigmond Gymnasium stop.
Directions
- From the Móricz Zsigmond Gymnasium stop of buses 11/111, we head up Törökvész Road. The second street to the right is Zuhany Street; walking in a few meters later on the right appears a wide forest road running across the ridge, marked with Z▲ and the first board of the educational trail.
- Following the wide forest trail and the sign, as well as the Trail of the Senses, we reach the parking lot at the end of Ferenchegyi Road, the end point of the story trail. From the parking lot, continuing on the forest road we've been following so far, the “Life in the Mirror” story trail starts (also marked Z▲).
- From the end point of “Life in the Mirror,” you can either walk back to the parking lot or the already known bus stop or descend the Ferenchegyi stairs to Felső Zöldmáli Road and turn right to reach bus stops 29 and 111.
Parking
- If you arrive by car, park in the lot at the end of Ferenchegyi Road! From here, you can explore the story trails in two directions.
Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
- The tourist atlas of the Buda Hills (Cartographia)
Author’s map recommendations
- The tourist atlas of the Buda Hills (Cartographia)
Equipment
The walk does not require special equipment. For navigation, we can use the Nature Walker app.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions