Scenic circular route on Badacsony (PICK Maroon circular route)

Itinerary

• After the Kisfaludy House, we start from the Rózsakő parking lot on the K▲ trail heading up to the Rózsa-kő.
• From the Rózsa-kő we continue on the K▲ trail all the way to the Kisfaludy lookout.
• From the lookout we walk back on the same path, following the K▲ trail to the stone hut.
• From the stone hut we continue straight ahead on the K+ trail, which soon merges into the National Blue Trail.
• At the junction we continue straight on the K trail, which we follow up to the Bujdosók stairs.
• From the top of the Bujdosók stairs, at the Czinka Panna resting place, we take a short detour on the K▲ trail to the Tördemici lookout, then return to the Bujdosók stairs.
• Following the K trail we descend the Bujdosók stairs.
• At the bottom of the stairs we turn left onto the P trail, which leads back to the Rózsa-kő.
• From the Rózsa-kő we return to the parking lot on the already known K▲ trail (right).

Detailed description of the route

From Pályoly to Balaton

The route starts at the Rózsakő parking lot above the Kisfaludy House, from where we reach the legendary basalt rock within a few minutes on the K▲ trail, offering a great view of Lake Balaton and the mountains near Fonyód. The Rózsa-kő broke off from a larger rock mass and was named after Róza Szegedy, who supposedly spent much time here with her lover, Sándor Kisfaludy. This famous 19th-century Badacsony love couple inspired a legend stating that lovers who sit on the rock holding hands, back to Balaton, will marry within a year. Around the Rózsa-kő you can find benches and a fireplace, not to mention the wonderful panorama you can enjoy at length.

We continue on the K▲ trail, where steep inclines are aided by rocky stairs in places. Soon we reach the Hertelendy memorial stone standing at the edge of the plateau. Ferenc Hertelendy (1859-1919) was the county lord of Zala and the president of the Balaton Association, who did much to develop the railway line along the northern shore of the lake, which was very important for the region's tourism development. Next to the memorial stone is the Pályoly lookout, a natural rock terrace from where it really feels like we admire the view of Balaton and its northern shore from a box seat.

Panorama from above

From the memorial stone, we climb further onto the Badacsony plateau. We reach a stone shelter with resting places including benches, tables, and a fireplace. From here, we reach the 438-meter-high peak barely rising from the plateau within a few minutes on the K▲ trail, to the Kisfaludy lookout standing on its summit. The 18-meter-high observation tower built in 2011 offers almost a 360-degree panorama. We can see the lake from Tihany all the way to the Keszthely Bay, and enjoy the full beauty of the Káli Basin and Tapolca Basin witness hills – the Szent György mountain, the Csobánc, the Gulács, and the Tóti hill – all in view.

We return the same way to the stone hut, then continue on the K+ trail, which soon merges into the K trail, which we follow for a long stretch. Our next destination is the Egry József lookout. The small four-sided basalt tower built in 1908 offers magnificent panorama of Balaton and the Badacsony vineyards. József Egry was known as the painter of Balaton, with the lake, its lights, and natural beauty as the main theme of his works.

From the lookout, we soon reach another great panoramic spot, the Ranolder cross. The 12-meter-high stone cross was named after János Ranolder, bishop of Veszprém, who regarded Badacsony and its surroundings as one of the most beautiful regions in the world. The cross, visible from afar, was erected on September 14, 1857. The huge rocks were hauled here by 80 oxen. A few steps lead down from the cross to the Harangozó-börc rock outcrop, named for the bell-like sound it makes when hammered. Nearby, there are several benches, tables, and a fireplace – an ideal place for a longer break.

Descending among basalt organs

Continuing on the K trail, we come across two more panoramic rest points before reaching the Bujdosók stairs. Before descending, from the Czinka Panna resting place, we take a short detour on the K▲ trail to the Tördemici lookout barely a hundred meters away, from where we enjoy the panorama towards the neighboring Szent György mountain.

Returning to the Czinka Panna resting place, we now really set off down the steep Bujdosók stairs on the K trail. Along the way, look around as the Szent György mountain and the castle of Szigliget are visible ahead, and basalt towers and scree slopes flank the path on both sides. The stairway built from basalt in 1936 consists of 464 steps and is named after the 1935 Rákóczi memorial year. Those who do not like or cannot manage the stairs well can rest at resting places named after prominent personalities of the Kuruc era. At the bottom of the stairs stands the Rodostó tourist house from 1935, built also for the Rákóczi memorial year, but unfortunately it has been closed for a long time.

At the bottom of the stairs, we turn left and follow the P trail back to our starting point, the Rózsa-kő. From now on, we proceed mostly level, initially through sparse forest where we can also see basalt towers among the trees. Soon the forest is replaced by vineyards, wine cellars, and holiday homes, beyond which the endlessly charming view of Lake Balaton accompanies us back to our starting point.