Pilis Bike Pilis wine tour (INFO Piliscsaba, Klotildliget railway station)

Itinerary:

• Follow the blue cycling pictogram to the Szántó saddle!
• From here turn left, the green cycling sign is the guideline.
• From the center of Kesztölc, the PB12 sign shows the way.

Description:

Klotildliget - Pilisszántó (PB7, PB6)

• Terrain: gravel road, asphalt

We start on a street parallel to the railway stop and then turn left at the first opportunity onto Szántói street, which leads into the forest. We proceed on a wide forest road among dense trees. An immediate climb ensures that we warm up thoroughly, but fortunately we soon reach the top of the ascent. Turning right onto a similar dirt road, we then glide alongside a fence almost without pedaling. At the bottom of the slope, we turn left. Near the Iluska spring, our path merges with a similar cycling-designated trail coming from Pilisvörösvár.

From here, we continue rolling towards Pilisszántó, where the only obstacles on the smooth dozer road are speed bumps. These serve a dual purpose: they play a key role in water drainage and prevent cyclists from speeding too much. Reaching the edge of the forest, our path continues alongside a field. This is where it’s worth taking out phones or cameras, as we enjoy a beautiful view thanks to the Pilis, Hosszú Hill, and the Kevély Hills. Continuing on a rough, rocky dirt road, we arrive at the center of Pilisszántó.

Pilisszántó - Klastrompuszta (PB12)

• Terrain: dirt road, partly rocky road

The settlement was heavily trafficked in ancient times as the Roman military road crossed here. A milestone, placed in 230 AD and still visible next to the Roman Catholic church, commemorates this. A short detour in the settlement is worthwhile to visit the Orosdy castle, built in 1895, along Kossuth and Orosdy streets. The frequently modified building now operates as a pilgrims' hostel. After reaching the main road, we turn left and start climbing towards the Szántó saddle. After a few minutes of ascent, our path continues in a large, rocky parking lot on the left; then we leave the asphalt for the direction of the green cycling sign. We bump along increasingly rough terrain on the side of the Pilis.

The mountain is mentioned not only for its numerous natural values but also for its sacred significance. Soon, next to Dobogókő, Pilisszántó has also become a pilgrimage site. To the right of our path hides the Rock Theatre among the trees. At its entrance stands a monument to Albert Wass and the Trianon memorial post. Above the hollow, on a ledge, you can see the Jesus statue dispensing blessing as of the 2016 winter solstice. A few steps away is the Blessed Virgin Chapel designed by Imre Makovecz. From its forecourt, you get a wonderful panorama over the village all the way to the Buda Hills. The Pilis Cross rises above the building. The Star Path, inaugurated in 2007, recalls the great figures of Hungarian history with carved columns.

This area also offers much to discover off the main route: you can visit the renovated Calvary with its chapel, climb to the Pilisszántó stone niche on the PΩ trail, and drink from the water of the Trézsi well located in the nature reserve on the Z● trail.

Continuing, we pass the lime burners' well, commemorating an extinct craft passed from father to son. We turn northwest, a direction we will follow for a good stretch. We cycle on the side of the Pilis where the mountain rises on our right and Piliscsév, Pilisjászfalú, and its surroundings unfold on our left. We mostly ride on limestone dirt road, but on a longer section, we cycle on a nicely smoothed road sprinkled with fine gravel. This section is a resting, peaceful part of our route as we move horizontally along the mountain side. A junction ends the comfortable ride, where the P sign crosses in front of us. However, keeping our direction, we arrive at Klastrompuszta with a steady descent. Rolling out onto asphalt, we find the settlement opposite and the monastery ruins to our left.

After the Tartar invasion, Canon Özséb of Esztergom renounced all his property. Retreating into nature, he gathered hermits in one of the caves of the Csévi cliffs, then in 1250 erected a church and monastery here, founding the Pauline order. The monastery and the Gothic church were burnt to ruins during the 16th-century Turkish wars; locals carried away the building remains. Archaeologists of the Hungarian National Museum excavated the area in 1960. Since 2006, Özséb’s final resting place is again owned by the Paulines.

Locking the bikes, a short hike can take us to the nearby Bachelor’s and Maiden’s caves on the KΩ and PΩ trails.

Klastrompuszta - Piliscsév (PB12)

Terrain: asphalt, gravel road

We leave the settlement on the moderately busy road connecting Klastrompuszta with Kesztölc. The quality varies greatly, from a mirror-smooth freshly laid section to cracked potholes. Entering the quiet, idyllic Kesztölc, we carefully turn left at the village center onto Szent István street. We cycle here all the way to the edge of the village, then immediately turn left again after the last house. We find ourselves on a straight gravel dozer road bordered by fields and meadows, with mountains surrounding us in all directions.

For a long time, we cycle straight along the field, with the only task being to avoid small and large potholes. After a few kilometers, the statue of Saint Vendel on the left signals the approaching border of Piliscsév. Interestingly, the area was already inhabited in Roman times; the base of the statue is a Roman milestone found during plowing.

As often in the area, we enter the settlement along a riding stable, then continue along the main street. At the far end, be careful: a “no entry for bicycles” sign blocks the way. Here, we turn off onto a bicycle path running parallel to the road, and after a few hundred meters we reach our final destination, the Piliscsév railway station.