Road of Horns - Blue Tour (medium)

Itiner

Follow the red signs for the Road of the Horseshoes all the way.

Detailed description of the hike

From the edge of the town to the chapel on Csácsi Hill

The starting point of our tour is in the Csácsbozsok district of Zalaegerszeg, in Szivárvány Square. At the corner of the parking lot, at the corner of the square, there is a sign with a map and information about the sights.and trails, is worth studying before setting off on your journey.

The building behind the car park is named after Imre Izsák, a local-born mathematician, physicist and astronomer. The scientist made astonishing breakthroughs in differential geometry, celestial mechanics and the mechanics of the universe.and the precise determination of the Earth's shape - the latter making him world famous. The institution named after him houses a primary school, a community centre and a community square.

We soon leave the urban environment and the crowded rows of houses behind us and enter a new building.We enter a world of meadows and woods, orchards and cellars, dimply and hilly, colourful and varied. Crossing a meadow, we come to a charming group of trees. On one side of the cart track, a pine forest with a resin-scented, ivy-covered ground rises above us behind a corral-like fenceon the other, a loose clump of pollard trees - as if shepherds guarding 'pine-barns' had gathered here to chat.

There are several types of pine trees in the area covered by the trail. The Scots pine prefers chalky, dry soils, so it is at home in the chalky, sandy, chalky-sandy soils of the Zala hills. The small stands of this relict species are a lush, fragrant, deep green feature of the Zala landscape. The spruce, which was introduced in the 1960s, has had a hard time with the drought that comes with warming temperatures. Its immune system is weakened as its resin-producing capacity declines, so it is easily attacked by subterranean beetles. First the trunks of the trees show resin oozing, then the bark and needles drop off - another example we see on our trip. The species, which prefers cool, humid climates, is found in the north of the continent and in theIt is at home in the north of the country and in our region at altitudes of over 1000 metres and is gradually being driven out of this area. In addition, there are numerous 'Christmas tree plantations', mainly in enclosed gardens where silver fir and nordmann fir are found alongside the classic spruces.

After passing a few cottages (right), the path narrows into a thin trail and the trees become aalong the path, both sides rising higher and higher with each step. We arrive at the first notch on our way, its V-shaped walls made unique by a carpet of poison-green ivy. Climbing the short ascent, we reach the asphalt strip of the Petelihegyi road, where we can look out between the houses and take in the dimly hilly landscape of Zala.

At the crossroads of the Csácsihegyi road, the signpost of the educational trail draws your attention to the trail.baroque chapel, which can be reached by a short detour and has been renovated with the help of the community. It is worth visiting the 19th century. The statue of the Virgin Mary on the side of the building, which dates from the 19th century, and the chapel on the corner of the siteand the wooden statue of Saint Orban in the courtyard. The presence of the patron saint of vine-growers shows that vines have been cultivated in this area for centuries. If you have the chance to go inside, take a look inside the chapel to see the mid-1800s.which depicts the changing colour of our Lord.

The spacious, open building next to the chapel hosts a wide range of community events, from village fairs to harvest fairs and art camps. Mass is occasionally celebrated on the premises.

It's worth walking around the otherwise fenced area and admiring the newthe now protected tree on the other side. The small-leaved linden, marked with a sign, has a trunk diameter of 108 cm and is estimated to be about 180 years old.

From wine and fallow deer to (almost) two chapels

We continue on an asphalt track through the gardens and cottages of Csácsi Hill. It's worth taking a look at the well-kept courtyards, where trees in blossom in spring and fruit trees in autumn are The variety ranges from apples, pears and peaches to blackberries and figs.

Our path turns into a dirt road as we leave the houses. We find the best possible place to find a sign showing local wildlife and their footprints. It's worth taking a photo to see which footprints belong to which animal - the soft soil of the sandy, loose stretches of our path is a good indication of the kind of game that has recently been in the area. In some places, there is a surprisingly high density of tracks.

When we reach the Cserlap section of Zalaegerszeg, we switch back to asphalt. You won't need your tracking skills here: on the left side of the road, you'll see a large group of fallow deer in a fenced area of several hectares. The fallow deer garden is part of the modern László cellar a little further up the hill, where you can make an appointment to see it.wine tasting, a visit to the cellar and home-made oven-baked snacks. Started as a hobby and expanding, the artisanal winery currently harvests valentines, kékfrankos, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc from 4,000 vines.

Once again, the leveling cart track, lined with ivy, reaches the trees. Several patches of pine reappear among the foliage. Here we say a temporary farewell to the green and then the red trail, and head north towards PethőhenyePhethenyhe, along the gently sloping side of the valley between the two longitudinal ridges. The path returns to the forest, where the high canopy casts a mysterious semi-darkness over the landscape. Occasionally we pass patches of beech trees, beneath which, in spring, the bear's onion grows vigorously.

On the edge of a meadow framed by pine trees, you will notice strange longitudinal ditches and the pine trees that run alongside them.These are the trenches of archaeological excavations. Geophysical measurements have helped to show that the area has been inhabited by different groups of people for thousands of years and in different eras. The archaeologists working here date from the Middle Bronze Age, ca. from about six thousand years ago to the Middle Ages, up to the 14th century. The objects recovered (pottery, pottery fragments, bone tools, bones, keys) includeThe finds, including pottery, pottery, bones and keys, have also provided clues to ancient burial practices and the storage of waste from three thousand years ago. The biggest discovery was the remains of a Roman settlement, in which two houses were identified, buried in the ground.

We continue on loose sandy soil. Along the way we see crucifixes in several places; some made of wood, others of stone. Most of them were erected in the 1800s on the orders of local residents and farmers, and are the work of local master masons. Many crosses are associated with family memories, festive customs and some with legends. Most of them have been bitten into by the iron teeth of time, but there are also a good number of well-preserved and even restored crucifixes on the tour.

The soft ground turns to asphalt as we reach the border of Pethőhenye. Although the blue arrows pointing to the left immediately take you out of the village, the opposite direction is notIn the opposite direction, you can take a short detour through the centre to the church of St. Stephen, designed by Imre Makovecz. The Calvary is accessible between the staircases and has a special formThe building, which is accessible via the staircase of the chapel, was built between 1999 and 2001. The architect, an honorary citizen of the village, himself chose the hilltop site, where a number of archaeological finds were discovered at the beginning of the works, during the excavation of the foundations. The bones and other artefacts found at the site indicate that it was once a cemetery and another church. The wooden panelling on the upper part of the present building, which is oval in plan with niches that let in natural light through several windows, is reminiscent of the rural churches of the old days. The church, with its late organic design, is protected as a historic monument.

Continuing along the blue trail, you soon turn south again and head for the ridge of Long Mountain. Before heading into the trees, it's worth looking back towards Pethőhenye - You can also get a bird's eye view of the archaeological research trenches next to the settlement. A stubbornly persistent climb begins, clambering up the longest notch of the route. At the end of the climb, you're back among orchards and cellars. In the autumn, pears, apples and grapes are joined by the chestnut trees typical of the landscape. A panoramic bench on the right of the road invites you to rest.

At the triple fork, where the route joins the green signposted trail, it is worth looking up at the It's worth the short detour along the red signs to the chapel on Mount Henye, high above our head. Climbing up to the 288-metre summit of the Chapel Hill invites you to enjoy a magnificent panorama, especially outside the growing season. The hillside is dotted with rows of vines, with press houses dotting the landscape. To the west, the county seat of Zalaegerszeg colours the landscape, to the north the Zala valley, and further away the Kőszeg Hills and the witness hills of Ság and Somló. Towards the Keszthely plateau we can see the white, pointed form of the Buddhist stupa of Zalaszántó, and theand if you're lucky and the weather is clear enough, the peaks of the Vienna Alps, including the Rax and Schneeberg, can be seen on the horizon. The arrow-shaped arrows attached to the wooden pillars help you identify the elements of the panoramaFor the full experience, it's a good idea to take your binoculars out of your rucksack.

The chapel, named after St Stephen, was renovated in 2019 and hosts a farewell mass on 20 August each year. According to legend, this is the place where the king rested during his travels, and the predecessor of the current building was erected in his honour. The exact date of the original wooden chapel on the present site is not known. What is certain is that the area was deserted during the Turkish invasion and only repopulated from the early 1700s. Presumably, the predecessor of the present building, also dedicated to St Stephen, was erected at this time, and was built of wood. One of the images on the new stone chapel commemorates this event is of a king offering his crown to the Virgin Mary.who placed the fate of the whole country in the hands of the Lady of the Hungarians, so called for this reason.

The wooden chapel was rebuilt in stone in 1886. The chapel was built in 1886, and it was restored in 1886. After the Second World War, however, the tradition of coming to the mountain only once a year, on the feast of St. Stephen, is still kept today. The brief history and legends of the place, as well as the panoramic features, are described on a sign erected by local vine-growers. Next to the chapel there is a table and benches perfect for a short rest.

Sunken castle, walkway and roaring lions

Returning to the blue path, we begin a comfortable descent. Soon you come to the Vari well, whose reservoir was supplemented with a concrete building in 1935; next to it is a covered resting castle with tables and benches and the 10th tower of the castle. There is also a story about an earth castle dating back to the 10th century, with a curious legend attached to it. According to the story, a poor old man once arrived at the castle gate, hungry and tired, begging for admission. The miserly lord refused his request, so the old man moved away. After a while he came again to ask to be let in, but again the lord refused to help. When the old man returned a third time, and waited in vain for the gate to open, he made a grim prediction: the next morning, when the cock crowed, the castle would sink with its master. And so it was, the fortress was swallowed up by the earth, and has not been found since, and has been searched for in vain. The curse can only be lifted by finding the snake that has taken up residence above the sunken castle and taking the tiny key on its back. His reward is not lost: the castle rises from the depths and is returned to its new owner.

The path that climbs upwards invites you into another grotto, which has the peculiarity of being the most beautiful of all.Even in the wettest of seasons, some water trickles down to the bottom, and in rainy weather it is a real puddle. To make the terrain more accessible, a floor walkway has been installed on this section to allow the tide to rise and fall.and sliding, to enjoy the unique groove with dry feet. The increasing steepness of the single-track path through the dense canopy is softened by wooden steps as you approach the saddle.

Soon you'll come to an artificial path that leads to the local petting zoo and animal shelter, and in one of the kennels you'll find a real "king of the animals".

With children, it's definitely worth a visit to the zoo and petting zooa petting zoo, petting zoo and animal shelter since 2012. Otherwise the animals would die - many are rescued from the circus world. There are currently around 140 animals living in the home. The biggest sensation are two Bengal tiger cubs (they will be born in 2022. They were born on 16 July 2022), but there are also ostriches, kangaroos, emus, lions, alpacas, bull deer, llamas, monkeys, horses, kangaroos, orangutans, wolves, peacocks and countless other species. Visitors can also enjoy a playground, trampoline, carousel and barbecue facilities.

Blue signs with a sharp left turn invite you back into the forest. A few metres away, there are cellars and weekend cottagespeering through them, you can see details of the dimbe-hilly mosaic of the Zala landscape. Below our feet, on our left, a single-track path covered with ivy balances on the edge of a slope that drops into the valley. We pass a stone cross and descend along the increasingly steep path to the bottom of the notch. You can observe the rock layers in the sides of the sandy ditch. One of the deeper holes shows that the inhabitants of the area were fond of carrying sand home as building material.

As you emerge from the deciduous tunnel, the character of the landscape changes: the forest is replaced by a watery landscape. Patches of grass and reeds and moisture-loving alder trees dominate the skyline. If you could look up a little higher, you would see the Zala meandering nearby, and the area next to it the floodplain of the river. At a sharp turn, the sign on the Horhosok road shows the local wildlife and the values of the Zala floodplain.

From here, the blue and green trails continue together through the pastures. On the neighbouring hillside, the pine-clad Roman Catholic church of St Sebestyén is a striking sightThe original church was built in the 1330s, but was not spared by the fires of 1532 and the Turkish destruction. It was restored to its present Baroque form in the mid-1700s. If you arrive around sunset, you can enjoy the fabulous sky in fabulous colours.

Soon you reach the residential area of Csácsbozsok, and walk back to the starting point with a leisurely descent between houses.