Discover Egerszalók: Sódomb, local history and hiking trails

Egerszalók offers several distinct points of interest: the ongoing formation of the pale limestone formations at Sódomb, marked hikes, directions to beehive stones, and historical records. The town’s history ranges from a collection in cave dwellings to a Baroque church and a religious tradition. If you are planning a hotel stay in Egerszalók, you can focus on the landscape, outdoor activities and history in whatever proportions you prefer. These distinctions help convey the character of the destination.

Sódomb: Limestone and a walking trail

In the south of Egerszalók, the thermal spring and flowing water continue to form the white, jagged limestone formations at Sódomb. This ongoing process shapes the visible landscape. A purpose-built walking trail leads to the locally protected Sódomb; it was established after the spa was built.

Hikes and trail destinations

The blue-marked Sódomb hike is about five kilometres long, crosses easy terrain and can be done on foot or by bicycle. The red-marked Öreghegy hike is about 2.5 kilometres long, also crosses easy terrain and can be done on foot. In terms of length, the Öreghegy route is roughly half as long; for the Sódomb hike, cycling is also mentioned as an option. The walking trail to Sódomb and the blue-marked route provide different points of reference: one gives access to the protected destination, while the other specifies the distance and means of travel. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

From the recreation park at the Saliris Resort spa, signs and trail markers point to the beehive stones Kőbojtár and Kőasszony, as well as Menyecske-hegy. For the Betyárbújó beehive stone, however, the starting point is Ady E. út: from there, it can be reached via a footpath about 150 metres long. The destination names and starting points help distinguish these route directions.

Local history and waterways

The cave dwellings on Sáfrány utca house a collection on local history. The Baroque church visible today in Egerszalók was built in 1738 to plans by the Italian-born master Giovanni Battista Carlone. A single-arched stone bridge over the Laskó-patak dates from the 19th century; the Egerszalóki-tó was formed by damming the same stream. The Laskó-patak therefore features in two different contexts: as the waterway crossed by a historic bridge and as the stream whose damming created the lake. Pilgrimages in Egerszalók began after news spread of the miraculous healing of a blind girl. Thus, religious traditions, as well as the collection and buildings, are part of the town’s history.

Regional setting in Heves

In the wider travel destination of Heves, the Hevesi Füves Puszták Landscape Protection Area lies in the southern part of Heves County. It covers 16,114 hectares and was designated in 1993. Following expansions in 2005 and 2008, it reached its present size.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Demjén, Verpelét, Noszvaj, Szarvaskő, Eger, Kerecsend, Egerszólát and Felsőtárkány.

Go to the main travel overview: Eger.