Békésszentandrás: Holt-Körös, Cycling Routes and Carpet Weaving

Békésszentandrás mainly appeals to travelers who want to include water, cycling and local craft history in their travel plans. The Szarvas-Békésszentandrási Holt-Körös, also known as Kákafoki-holtág, stretches across Békésszentandrás and Szarvas. It is 29.2 kilometers long and covers 207 hectares. The oxbow lake offers opportunities for fishing, relaxation, swimming and water sports. This range of activities makes the waterway a distinctive point of reference when choosing what to do. If you are planning a specific activity, check the rules in force locally.

Water and cycling

A clearly marked cycling route complements the waterway. The Körös-völgyi cycling route starts at the Székelykapu in Békésszentandrás and runs, with a few minor interruptions, as far as Kondoros. The route is protected from traffic on the main road. The flood protection embankment of the Hármas-Körös also offers enjoyable cycling tours. A nature reserve extends continuously along the embankment. The oxbow lake is most easily reached from the area around Békésszentandrás via Route 44 or the flood protection embankment of the Hármas-Körös. If you use the embankment to access the area, check the applicable access conditions in advance.

Floodplain landscape and carpet history

The section of the Hármas-Körös floodplain in the Körös-Maros National Park also includes the area around Békésszentandrás. The Körös floodplain is fully accessible to the public. Both the landscape and the floodplain’s accessibility are therefore useful points of reference for stays focused on nature.

The Bordűr Museum gives visitors an insight into the town’s historic carpet weaving. Its interactive exhibition shows how wool is made into a carpet, and several interactive games are tailored to different age groups. The museum therefore combines craft history with an engaging presentation of the production process. Anyone interested in the local textile tradition can include this cultural topic in their travel plans.

More nature experiences in Békés

In the wider Békés destination area, the Körösvölgyi Animal Park in Anna-liget, Szarvas, offers another perspective on nature. A walking trail about two kilometers long winds through a 26-hectare grove, passing bird aviaries, animal houses, wetlands and spacious enclosures. Also within the wider Békés destination area is the Sterbetz István Bustard Conservation Visitor Centre in Réhely, near Dévaványa. This is the only place in Hungary where visitors can see great bustards up close. Guided tours, birdwatching, nature photography, themed programs and astronomy demonstrations can be requested.

The Jégmadár Water Nature Trail is also part of the wider Békés destination area. It starts at the pier of the Körösvölgyi Animal Park and follows a one-kilometer stretch of the Szarvas–Békésszentandrás oxbow lake. Eight floating buoy stations provide information about the oxbow lake and its wildlife and plant life, especially for canoeists and rowboaters without an expert guide. The trail can only be reached by canoe or boat. This nature experience therefore differs from the freely accessible floodplain areas and the cycling opportunities along the embankment.

Discover more destinations: Kondoros, Szarvas, Gyomaendrőd.

Back to the wider travel overview: Szarvasi.