Discover Villánykövesd: cellar village, church art and Easter tradition

Villánykövesd can be discovered through three distinct themes: the three-tiered cellar village, the Church of the Assumption of Mary and an Easter tradition that is still observed today. When planning your trip, you can consider the architectural history and local culture separately: the row of cellars tells a story of long development, while the church and the tradition reveal different facets of the area's cultural heritage.

The cellar village: architectural history and individual details

The three-tiered row of cellars consists of press houses, each one different from the next. Differences can be seen, among other things, in the painted façades and in the colours and patterns of the cellar doors. The ensemble developed over a long period: construction began in the second half of the 18th century, but the cellar village did not reach its final form until the mid-20th century. This time span helps show that the complex was not the work of a single building phase. The neighbouring Fekete-hegy nature reserve can also be seen from the cellar village. The distinctive architecture of the row of cellars and its connection to the surrounding landscape thus appear side by side in the local scenery.

Church and Easter tradition in Villánykövesd

The Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption of Mary is late Baroque; its Neoclassical high altar dates from the 19th century. The building and its furnishings can therefore be associated with different styles and periods. For travellers interested in sacred architecture, this distinction offers a specific point of entry: the high altar is not simply another description of the church's style, but a separate, later reference point.

Another cultural highlight is the Easter kerepelés. From Maundy Thursday until the Resurrection celebration on Holy Saturday, young people in Villánykövesd replace the pealing of the bells with wooden clappers. The tradition has been observed there for as long as anyone can remember. Its timing shows that it is a recurring part of the local Easter customs, distinct from the town's permanent buildings.

More to explore in the wider destination of Baranya

The wider destination of Baranya also offers distinctive cultural, nature and food-related themes. In Pécs, the early Christian necropolis of Sopianae combines archaeological evidence with Christian wall paintings: its decorated tombs date from the 4th century and were built as underground burial chambers with above-ground memorial chapels. The wall paintings are richly detailed. The Zsolnay Cultural Quarter in Pécs offers a different focus. Its exhibitions include “Golden Age of Zsolnay”, “Pink Exhibition” and an exhibition on the history of the family and factory.

The Zsolnay Cultural Quarter's offer for children includes outdoor playgrounds, an interactive lab, a planetarium, the Bóbita Puppet Theatre, a ceramics-painting workshop and classes at the Hercules Workshop. The freely accessible outdoor area can be entered and used free of charge during opening hours. Check the current opening hours before your visit.

Nature and agriculture take centre stage at the Ős-Dráva Visitor Centre near Szaporca. It offers an interactive exhibition, an agricultural demonstration area featuring practical farming, and three themed educational trails. These provide information about traditional agriculture, the Ős-Dráva Programme and the wildlife along the Drava. The agricultural area features native Hungarian domestic animals, including Hungarian Grey cattle, Mangalica pigs, Hucul horses, and old breeds of sheep and poultry. The wilderness trail along the Old Drava includes a birdwatching and bird-ringing station, a lookout point, a photo shelter, a covered activity area and several resting places.

Baranya also offers cultural and landscape experiences: Siklós Castle is one of Hungary's best-preserved military complexes and one of its most significant Renaissance buildings. Modernisation of the museum wing made the Gothic section, previously inaccessible to visitors, accessible. At the Nagyharsány Sculpture Park, the “Art in Nature” programme includes a guided tour. The Kikerics Panorama Trail allows visitors to move safely along the cliff edge while protecting the park's plant life from trampling. For a culinary highlight, head to the row of cellars in Villány, where you can go from cellar to cellar throughout the year to sample wines and food.

Discover more destinations: Beremend, Nagyharsány, Nagytótfalu, Magyarbóly, Gordisa, Palkonya, Kisjakabfalva, Harkány

View the wider travel overview: Siklós.