Oak Tree Trail - red route (long)

Itinerary

• Along the route, follow the red Oak Tree Trail signs.

Detailed description of the route

Far from the town, beyond forests and fields, in the corners of Göcsej

We start from the Alsóerdei Sports and Leisure Center, at the beginning of Azáleás Street, from the information board presenting the three Oak Tree Trails. On the longest thematic routes weaving through the forests near the town, we make a large descriptive loop on the hills bordering the town, from the beginning of the Azáleás Valley to the border of Babosdöbréte. At the initial climb of the route, we can shorten it if we start on the blue trail and climb the most scenic valley in the area, resembling an arboretum, somewhat reducing the length but enriching our otherwise varied route with a more picturesque location.

Our path follows the Red Trail signs on a red background throughout, setting off from Azáleás Street, and at the end, we turn towards the TV tower into the dense mixed forest. Here once stood the Maria-icon tree, a 160 cm diameter old oak, known by locals as the millennium tree. A Maria-icon hung on it, surrounded by benches, as the information board shows, but the tree itself no longer exists. Descriptions say that the local guards here near the former tree defeated a raiding Turkish troop, suggesting the tree might indeed have been ancient. Its name is now preserved by the Képes-clearing that leads from the parking lot to the TV tower.

Initially, the climb is steep but in the Zala Hills, the climbs do not last long. We need to overcome about 100 meters of elevation on a well-walked path, which accounts for almost half of the route’s total ascent. The forest is rich in pines, especially fresh natural regrowth, as thanks to the cool and moist climate around the Azáleás Valley and careful planting, several species of pine are present. In the pine forest mixed with oak, beech, and hornbeam, during wetter weather, various mushroom species can also be found, and at the leaf-litter level we can spot some of the more striking forest flowers: for example, the wood anemone, appearing as a fresh spot of color with its drooping pink flowers.

After just a few hundred meters, we join the gravel road leading to the TV tower where the green trail splits off. From the comfortably but steadily climbing road we can occasionally see Zalaegerszeg’s symbol, the TV tower built in the early 1970s. From the lookout at 53 meters height, we can see a large part of Göcsej, the Zala river and the Upper Vállica valley, but mainly Zalaegerszeg from a bird’s eye view, and on lucky days, on the western horizon even the Alps or the approximately 1000-meter-high Croatian mountains to the southwest can be glimpsed.

Leaving the tower, we cross the asphalt strip following the Bazitai road ridge, and join the P sign at Kilátó Street for a few kilometers. We pass a row of houses on the outskirts of town, then on Kisbükki street the population thins and orchards typical of the area dominate. With every meter, we get farther from the town and its effects, and soon our path leads again through natural environments, crossing forest patches, groves, and meadows. At the border of Babosdöbréte, we say goodbye to the P tourist mark and the ridge, at the edge of a valley bowl adorned with beautiful willow groves, then turn north on a forest-crossing path. At a meadow surrounded by woods, we reach one branch of the Szentmihályfa Brook, then cross on a winding path to the opposite shore lined with willow groves. Here, beneath the hillside houses of the Ebergény district, we reach Nagy Csarit Street and begin a slow climb again between sparsely arranged houses and gardens along Major Street, gradually returning to the garden city residential area characteristic of the town edge. Still, in the following kilometers, the alternating meadows, groves, and forest patches dominate, but turning towards the town, the built environment, the orderly gardens, orchards, weekend houses, and residences return in an increasingly dense mosaic.

Wandering in the Suburbs of Zalaegerszeg, in the Vineyards’ Villages

In the flat valley bowl between Kápolna and Újhegy hills, we touch a charming dammed pond, whose romantic island and willow-lined shore were unfortunately bypassed, so we can only admire the aquatic world from behind the hedge. Later we enter a shaded section densely overgrown with trees, reaching the brook's source area, then at the intersection of Dombos and Szélhordta streets, we return to the houses. Under a huge oak tree on Ebergényi Street — its lush, globe-shaped crown dominates the intersection. An information board explains the roles and characteristics of the various oak species. The massive tree has stood on the hilltop for many decades, its sprawling crown showing it has been solitary for a long time. In Göcsej, many similar old shade-giving trees are found along the roads leading to the vineyards, typically oak or sweet chestnut.

From the old oak, we turn southeast on the narrow, winding Dalos Street, then meander through the labyrinth of Egerszeghegy, Kishegy, Kápolna-hegy, and Cserhegy roads through the city's vineyards. En route, on Kápolna-hegy road, we also visit the namesake Holy Trinity Chapel. This simple Reformed church with a ceiling decorated with coffered panels has stood here since the mid-1700s, and with its whitewashed walls and small bell tower, it perfectly fits into the garden suburban landscape. If we want to see more of the ceiling paintings of the Holy Trinity or are curious about the works of the local-born, Kossuth Prize-winning ceramist János Német, we need to visit during the few annual worship services. The current chapel’s predecessor was a smaller building, while the 18th-century house of worship was beautifully renovated in 2018. Under the pines of the cemetery surrounding the chapel, we find several centuries-old graves, and from beside it, there is a fine view of downtown Zalaegerszeg.

We leave the garden city behind by crossing Bazitai road, and enter a dense oak forest along the path previously crossed at the start of the route — drawing a frame structure for the elongated circular route. In the last kilometer, we descend back to Alsóerdei road, while looking back to the TV tower and the surrounding forest wreath. At the foot of the hill, an information board tells us that once a skillfully built 1.5-kilometer toboggan - i.e., sled track operated here near the current tower, starting from the once-standing Bódy lookout. The sled track, put into use in winter 1935, also featured a lift system and could be used by sports enthusiasts for 10 fillér on weekdays and 20 fillér on Sundays. At that time, only Miskolc-Lillafüred and Pécs had similar facilities, but unfortunately, during the first season, the lift’s machine house burned down — though the track remained in use for several more years.

Passing a meadow next to the forester's house, parallel to Alsóerdei road, we return through a park forest to our starting point. At the restaurant Erdőgyöngye standing on the other side of the road, we can eat and drink, but if we want to spend time actively, the adventure park and forest playground of Alsóerdei Sports and Experience Park offer a great opportunity for an adventurous finish.