On Mediterranean heights and fairy-tale forests: the Haraszt-hegy nature trail

Itinerary

•  During the route, we must follow the thematic signs shaped like a green leaf. 

About the route in detail

From the trail's parking lot, we can essentially walk the 3.5 km long trail with 7 stations from either direction (130 m elevation). The official path starts to the left (if we stand facing the mountain, with the main road behind us), and it is worth following this direction.

In the footsteps of the magical smoke tree

After leaving the information board marked with a green leaf, the well-followed path climbs up the Balog valley to the fantastic dolomite cliffs, the most spectacular part of the whole Vértes on the trail. Along the way, information is provided about the smoke tree karst scrub forest (board 1) and the eastern hornbeam karst scrub forest (board 2).

One thing is certain: in autumn we find a true fairy-tale forest here, which even those less interested in biology will surely be touched by. The autumn leaf coloring of the smoke tree, especially in the knobbly, older tree-dotted, groved karst scrub forests, is a wonderful natural phenomenon. From green through crimson, golden yellow to the most spectacular burning red, thousands of shades can be seen on the specimens of the smoke tree, for which the Haraszt-hegy trail is one of the best observation spots. Some theories suggest that the Turks introduced the plant to our country; others believe that the smoke tree entered the Carpathian Basin from the south during a warming period after the Ice Age – when cold-loving northern plants perished en masse. It is certain that in Europe the smoke tree reaches the northern border of its range here: it is a characteristic shrub of warm, dry, calcareous, rocky karst scrub forests, mainly appearing on the southern dolomite slopes of the Transdanubian Mountains, and in the calcareous bedrock regions of the Mecsek and Villány Hills. It is especially common on the southern slopes of the Vértes but can also be found in gardens.

On top of the dolomite cliffs

Approaching the third information board presenting the clearance, the landscape turns into a true fairy-tale forest: here the smoke tree grows around the old trees of the groved forest. The high ground behind the board is Lóállás Hill, named after the animals kept here in the past, and the dolomite grassland visible today probably formed through the eternally burning shepherd fires.

The place could be called the “Dolomites of Hungary.” Although no breathtaking rock towers have formed here, the view is definitely special. Below us stretches a series of steep, bare mountain ridges, while in the distance we see the forested ranges of the Vértes. The explanation lies in the so-called dolomite phenomenon: this rock, unlike the more crumbly limestone, strongly disintegrates, thus forming the spectacular terrain with steep rock breaks, deep valleys, and barren dolomite slopes observable along the trail and on the southern side of the Vértes. The very diverse morphology is the reason that the rare, southern plants find a home here under the Mediterranean-type rocky grasslands, while just a few meters below, on the steep northern slopes, there is already cool beech forest, which on the contrary shelters cold-loving relict species left from the Ice Age.

The landscape here certainly invites contemplation and picnics, though it is important to know that the next mountain will also reward us with a similarly spectacular panorama. Knowing this, let's manage our time and energy wisely!

Up the mountain, down the valley

We walk again on a winding, scenic path, passing the oak-hornbeam forest shown on board 4 and the rocky vegetation on board 5, then suddenly we step out from the groved forest onto the southeastern ridge of Kerek Hill overlooking Csákvár. The barren lookout covered with dolomite grass offers breathtaking views of Csákvár below and the Zámoly basin, as well as the southeastern slope of the Vértes.

From here, the path cuts sharply down into the Kőlik valley known for its rock crevices (board 6) on a steep, slippery track towards the uppermost houses of Csákvár. Exiting the valley, we turn right and then take a long but pleasant forest road back to the parking lot, and finally, in the last meters, we can say farewell to the trail, the beauties of the Vértes, and the sight of Csákvár from the side of a striking dolomite slope (board 7: view of vineyards).