Tormafölde: Vétyemi Forest and Hiking

With the Vétyemi primeval beech forest and the Vétyemi hike, Tormafölde is a destination for nature lovers and hikers. The Vétyemi forest area lies within the boundaries of the village, a few hundred metres from the MAORT road, and has been under strict protection since 1976. The hike leads to this forest. If you are looking for a hotel in Tormafölde, the forest and the hike provide specific starting points for planning your trip.

Vétyemi Forest: Old Beech Trees and Protection

The trees in the Vétyemi forest area are more than 190 years old. The Vétyemi primeval beech forest provides a habitat for birds, insects and rare fungi. In Zala County, it is one of three forest areas included in the national forest reserve programme. Its old trees, habitat and protected status shape the nature experience that sets Tormafölde apart.

Hiking and Cycling

The Vétyemi hike leads to the Vétyemi primeval beech forest within the boundaries of Tormafölde. The route runs mostly along forest roads and occasionally on marked hiking trails. A 2025 report describes the hike as an annual event held in October. Check specific upcoming dates and arrangements in advance.

For 2025, the report states that the event was organised privately on a non-profit basis and that participation was free. If you are planning to attend a later edition, check the specific dates and participation conditions again. Since summer 2024, cycling has been possible on the renovated MAORT road. The two activities therefore differ mainly in how you get around: the hike leads to the forest, while you can cycle on the road.

Weekend Access and Other Visitor Highlights

On Saturdays and Sundays, you can leave your car at Centrálé. From there, the rest area in Vétyemi Forest is a 4–5-kilometre walk away. As access details may change, please check local conditions before your visit.

In October 2025, a steel-framed observation tower just under ten metres high and a farmers’ market were built and opened in Tormafölde. The tower adds a different architectural feature alongside the old beech trees. If you plan to visit the tower or market, check the latest visiting and opening hours in advance.

More Landscape and Cultural Highlights in Zala

The wider destination of Zala offers other landscape and cultural highlights. Kis-Balaton is Zala’s largest body of water, is under strict protection and covers 14,745 hectares. It is also the setting for István Fekete’s classic novels Tüskevár and Téli berek. In Zala, a vast protected area thus meets a literary landscape.

The Zalai Borvidék wine region is also in the wider destination of Zala. It extends across the slopes and uplands of the Zalai-dombság and the northwestern slopes of the Keszthelyi-hegység. It comprises two wine-growing districts and 38 settlements. This wine-growing landscape offers another way to explore the region alongside Tormafölde’s focus on forests and hiking.

Discover more destinations: Kerkateskánd, Lenti, Gosztola, Nemesnép, Alsószenterzsébet, Bödeháza, Szentgyörgyvölgy, Felsőszenterzsébet

Back to the main travel overview: Lenti.