Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén: Caves, Nature and Cultural Heritage

Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén offers a wide range of attractions: the UNESCO cave heritage of the Aggtelek and Slovak Karst, mountain landscapes, historic places and the Tokaj wine region. Cave tours and nature trails, cultural attractions in Miskolc, and the cellars and cultural heritage of Sárospatak and Sátoraljaújhely offer different starting points for planning your trip.

Caves, Nature and Trails

The Baradla-Domica cave system is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed caves of the Aggtelek and Slovak Karst. The short Aggtelek cave tour is one kilometre long, takes 60 minutes and is rated easy. An educational trail connects the Aggtelek and Jósvafő entrances to Baradla Cave and introduces visitors to the area’s natural and cultural-historical values. The tour and trail offer different experiences: one is a short cave tour, while the other runs between two entrances and focuses on nature and history.

Around 1.5 kilometres north of Jósvafő, the Hucul herd can be viewed year-round in the pastures of Gergés-lápa. As animal-keeping conditions may change, check the latest visitor information before your visit. Horse riding is also available at the Kúria Lovasbázis grounds in Jósvafő. Booking arrangements may change, so check the current options in advance.

The Zemplén Landscape Protection Area is part of the Zemplén Mountains. The landscape conditions there influence the area’s plant and animal life. The mountains belong to the Eperjes-Tokaj mountain range, which connects to the Carpathians in Slovak territory to the north. The Lillafüred nature trail offers another way to explore the landscape, showcasing local historical sights and natural features. The forest railway runs from Diósgyőr through Lillafüred to Garadna; timetables may change, so check them when planning your trip. The Szinva Waterfall is considered Hungary’s highest waterfall.

The Majál tours also offer a range of durations and distances: they start at Majális Park and range from easy half-hour walks to half-marathon distances. This means the region offers both a short, clearly defined cave visit and tours covering considerably longer distances.

Cultural Attractions and Remarkable Buildings

In Miskolc, Diósgyőr Castle tells the story of several periods in its history. It flourished during the reign of King Louis the Great in the 14th century; later, it served as a residence and a wedding gift for six queens. The National Theatre of Miskolc is a performing arts complex with five stages. The historic castle and the performing arts thus appeal to different cultural interests.

A nature trail in Miskolc Zoo and Cultural Park includes a nine-metre-high lookout tower and a 32-metre-long suspension bridge. In the parkland of Miskolctapolca, numerous native species form an arboretum; there is also a boating lake with several small islands. These places complement the cultural attractions with nature and landscaped parks, without presuming any particular target audience.

Sárospatak offers further opportunities to explore the area’s cultural history: the Reformed College preserves treasures of Hungarian Protestant culture. The Basilica of St. Elizabeth and St. Elizabeth’s House bring the medieval world to life. Végardó Spa has thermal pools and a sauna area. As facilities may change, check the latest information before your visit.

The Tokaj Wine Region and Historic Cellars

The climate, soil quality and slope exposure of the Tokaj wine region are well suited to growing grapes. As a protected wine-growing region, it is legally protected. These landscape and legal characteristics give viticulture here a distinctive status; the wine region can therefore be considered a travel theme in its own right, independently of any particular wine-tasting offerings.

The historic cellars illustrate two different scales. The Ungvári cellar labyrinth in Sátoraljaújhely connects at least 27 cellars and covers an area of 50,000 square metres. Beneath the park of Rákóczi Castle in Sárospatak lies a cellar complex around 2,000 metres long, with two wine-tasting rooms. The measurements describe different features of the respective complexes—length and area—and should therefore not be directly compared. Along with the cultural sites in Sárospatak, these offer several specific themes to help you choose a hotel location for your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Bánhorváti, Berente, Mezőkövesd, Edelény, Berettyóújfalu, Mezőcsát, Szikszó, Abaúj–hegyköz, Miskolc, Szerencs, Tiszaújváros, Sárospatak, Tokaj, Ózd, Encs, Bodrogköz, Kazincbarcika, Sátoraljaújhely.

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