Szirmabesenyő: Szinyei Statue, Castle and Botanica Exotica

Szirmabesenyő brings together several distinct cultural themes: a public statue of Szinyei Merse Pál, Szirmay Castle and Botanica Exotica. If you’re looking for a hotel in Szirmabesenyő, these themes can help you decide what you’d like to focus on during your stay. Art in the townscape, architecture and a specific plant exhibition offer different points of interest.

Art, the Castle and the Exhibition

The full-length public statue of Szinyei Merse Pál stands in a park next to the Roman Catholic church and Hősök kertje. According to the municipality, Szirmabesenyő is the only place in Hungary with a statue of the painter of this kind. Its precise location gives the art theme a concrete place in the townscape.

Szirmay Castle is a detached building with a partial basement and four corner towers. These features describe both the building’s form and individual elements of its architecture. The exhibitions “A Red Crab on the Garden Bench – Szirmay Castle in Szirmabesenyő, where Szinyei Merse Pál also painted” and a Kastélytörténeti Élménytér point were inaugurated at the castle. The Greek Catholic church in Szirmabesenyő also celebrated its 25th anniversary.

The 14th Botanica Exotica lasted three days and was held at Szirmay Castle. It featured cacti, other exotic plants, succulents, striped grasses, living stones and Spanish mosses. As a specific three-day exhibition, it is distinct from permanent features of the locality, such as the castle and the statue.

Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén as a Wider Travel Destination

The wider travel destination of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén includes the Baradla-Domica cave system, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Caves of the Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst. The short Aggtelek Cave Tour is 1 kilometre long, takes 60 minutes and is rated easy. It differs from an educational trail that connects the Aggtelek and Jósvafő entrances to Baradla Cave and presents natural and cultural-historical values. The tour details specify its length, duration and difficulty rating; the educational trail connects two entrances and conveys the wider thematic context.

Another opportunity for nature observation is the Hucul herd on the pastures of Gergés-lápa, around 1.5 kilometres north of Jósvafő. It can be visited year-round. As animal care arrangements may change, it is advisable to check visitor information before planning your visit. The Zemplén Landscape Protection Area is part of the Zemplén Mountains, whose landscape conditions influence the local flora and fauna. Alongside a specifically named observation site, the wider regional view also takes in broader landscapes.

Viticulture and cultural heritage also shape the wider travel destination. The climate, soil quality and slope exposure of the Tokaj wine region are suited to growing grapes; the region is legally protected as a designated wine-growing area. In Sárospatak, the Reformed College preserves treasures of Hungarian Protestant culture. Beneath the park of Rákóczi Castle is also a cellar complex approximately 2,000 metres long, with two rooms for wine tasting.

Discover more destinations: Emőd, Arnót, Sajószentpéter, Répáshuta, Kisgyőr, Sajókeresztúr, Felsőzsolca, Kistokaj

Back to the wider travel overview: Miskolci.