Short circle with view around Mátraháza

Itinerary

• From Mátraháza follow the tourist trail marked with S to the Kecske-bérc junction.
• Turn left onto the S▲ sign and make a round trip detour to Kecske-bérc.
• Returning to the junction, head back (right) on the S sign, which we follow to the first junction.
• At the crossroads, turn left onto the S● signposted tourist trail, and follow it to the main road.
• Cross the road 24 and follow the unmarked path all the way to Tetves-rét.
• Leave Tetves-rét by turning right at the opposite side of the rain shelter on the unmarked road, which we follow to the marked tourist trail.
• Turn right onto the S+ marked road, which we follow to the first junction.
• At the crossroads, turn left onto the S▲ marked tourist trail and follow it to the first junction.
• At the crossroads, turn right onto the S◼ marked tourist trail, which leads back to Mátraháza.

Detailed description of the hike

The hike starts from the Mátraháza parking lot, or if arriving by bus, from the nearby bus stop. Cross the 24 main road at the zebra crossing by the parking lot, and continue southwards on the S sign. For a while, we walk on a paved road, which is replaced by a gravel road leading to the main entrance of the Mátrai Sanatorium. We continue past the gate of the venerable institution, following the S signs all along. We encounter two junctions, at both we turn left to remain on the S marked path.

The sanatorium

The Mátrai Sanatorium unit in Mátraháza opened its doors to patients in 1932 after five years of construction. Before Trianon, well-to-do lung patients mostly went to Ótátrafüred, but the new borders prevented this. Mátra is an excellent location for a lung sanatorium: it has a lot of sunshine hours, sufficiently humid air, but low air pressure. House dust mites cannot survive at this altitude, which is also favorable for allergy sufferers. Several sanatoriums have been built in Mátra; similar institutions can be found in Parádsasvár and Kékestető, with a total capacity of several hundred beds.

View from Kecske-bérc

Shortly after, we leave the S marked tourist trail by turning left onto the S▲ marked path. This leads through a more wild environment, circumventing a deep valley lined with rocks. Soon we arrive at one of the hike’s destinations, Kecske-bérc. We stand on the cliff above the Somor stream, fed by the László spring which also supplies the sanatorium, enjoying great views of Kékes and the massive sanatorium building at its foot.

An interesting note: some believe to discover traces of an earlier castle at the mountain top, but concrete evidence is lacking, and research materials do not list Kecske-bérc as a castle site. If you pause in the atmospheric, airy oak forest, it’s easy to imagine a fortress or rather a fairy-tale castle – we leave this to everyone’s imagination. This idea is further accentuated by the wooden bridge just before the bérc, crossing a rocky hollow.

What is certain is that the view eastwards is grandiose, and the depth below is clearly perceptible despite the dense forest cover.

Not a classic spring

From Kecske-bérc, walk back on the S▲ path the way you came, then continue about 250 meters back towards the junction on the S path, following the known route. Here, turn left onto the S● marked tourist trail. The dot sign generally leads to a spring and is no different here, although some of the humorous extra markings lead only to a blue push fountain. While here, refresh your supplies, then cross the main road 24 next to the fountain. Attention, traffic here is usually lively!

On unmarked paths

On the other side of the road, continue your hike on a unmarked, but clearly visible path, which starts paved. This path leads to Tetves-rét, a quiet, peaceful, and less visited place. Rest places have been arranged on both sides, with rain shelters, tables, and benches around a fireplace. From the meadow, continue on an unmarked path until joining the S+ marked tourist trail. Then briefly on the S▲ mark, walking through dense forest, and soon turn right to the S◼ marked path. Signs here are not always clearly visible, so it is recommended to rely on the Természetjáró app and the phone’s GPS.

In an atmospheric beech forest

On the last section of our hike, we walk back to Mátraháza through a beautiful beech forest. Just like the most beautiful, oldest forest, the only longer ascent is along the path leading to the parking lot, the final destination. Several buffets operate at the Mátraháza parking lot; some are open year-round, so you can almost certainly satisfy your appetite or thirst at the end of your hike.