Walk above Pécs: the Rotary circle

Itinerary

• We circle around the Misina TV tower and the TetőPont, joining the marked path on the far side.
• We follow the S sign after the Misina access road to the rest area, where the Rotary route begins.
• We turn right on the Rotary route S↺ sign, which we follow up to the fork after the Tubes trail.
• We turn left onto the P▲ sign, climbing up to Tubes.
• From Tubes we descend back to the Rotary route on the P+ sign.
• Again, we follow the S↺ sign (left) all along the Rotary route.
• Upon reaching the ridge, we turn right onto the S sign, which leads back to Misina.

Detailed description of the hike

On the shaded northern side

We start our hike from the base of the Misina TV tower, the highest building in the country (197 meters). Because of the panorama restaurant and the viewing platform, it's worth taking the elevator to see the full panorama of Southern Transdanubia. From the very early 20th century, the site of today's tower was home to the first significant building for Mecsek nature walkers, the Kiss József lookout named after the outgoing club president, with a restaurant next to it – these functions moved into the new TV tower from the 1970s (along with the old lookout's majolica). From the tower's entrance, walk through the newly renovated 2023 TetőPont visitor center and on the far side reach the S sign, which we follow straight ahead.

We descend on a trail to the paved road, then gently ascend on a promenade along the ridge leading to Tubes. The pleasant walking path becomes even more comfortable when we reach the Rotary route at a rest area. Built in 1930 at an elevation of 550 meters around Tubes, a memorial stone marks the starting and ending point of the path, erected for the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Rotary Club in Hungary in 1991 – as this American-origin international organization could not operate during the decades of socialism.

From here we begin our loop on the S↺ sign. In spring, we walk on a carpet of wild garlic, along slopes that range from steep to gently level, allowing us to focus all our attention on the forest. The path's layout helps with this, as the forest is sufficiently diverse and intricate, and signs assist in identifying tree species. Between the old, moss-covered oaks, beech, ash, hornbeam, and linden mix in, while deadwood adds color to the natural forest image. On the north-facing slope, beech trees increasingly appear, and from a clear-cut patch, a view opens towards the Eastern Mecsek.

On the sunny southern slope

We cross the wide, rocky road leading to Tubes at the turning point of the hike, and although it is worth "stalking" the peak, for now we keep to the S↺ sign. Soon we reach the fork of the P▲ sign which, if followed left, climbs on a beautiful forest path up to Tubes. Barriers have been placed between the hairpin bends to protect the vegetation and soil, preventing attempts to shorten the route.

The Tubes tower first appears among the trees but soon we arrive below the János lookout. The 661 meter summit was once called Mecsek Peak; its current name comes from the word tuba, meaning pigeon. The airy yet solid building of the lookout can be conquered by spiral staircase – the structure opened in 2001 resembles its predecessor from nearly a hundred years earlier. From the upper level, a panoramic view opens that shows much of southern Transdanubia from the Balaton witness hills to the Villány Hills, and the Croatian Papuk mountain range beyond the Drava plain often appears in the mist. The Pécs lake of Orfű, the forested block of Jakab Hill, the Misina TV tower, and the peaks of the Eastern Mecsek are also part of the view.

From the base of the tower, we descend on the P+ sign back to the Rotary route, which shows a different face this time. The southern slope’s atmosphere is distinct: a forest of crooked trees with a relatively loose texture and mixed species covers the hillside, and the ground is decorated with rock ledges. We walk through a sunny, bright grove on the S↺ sign. Along this very atmospheric level trail, benches stand, with occasional views towards Pécs. At the widest resting spot, a bench and terrace were built 70 years after the establishment of the Pécs Rotary Club, and opposite it, the path’s name has been carved into a sign on the rock steps. You can also see the Kis-Tubes viewing terrace (upper left), which can soon be visited as a detour when returning to the ridge-following trail junction.

From here, on the now familiar path, we follow the S sign to the right to return to Misina.