Discover Bagod: Cycling Route and Local History

Bagod offers two specific topics to consider when planning a trip: the cycling route in the Zala Valley and local history stretching from a Stone Age village to buildings from the Middle Ages and the 20th century. When choosing your destination, you can therefore decide whether the cycling route or the historical traces should take center stage.

Cycling in the Zala Valley

A cycling route just under 17 km long runs through the Zala Valley from Zalaegerszeg via Bagod to Zalalövő. Bagod is a stop along a route connecting the two places named. For your planning, the entire route matters, not just the section through Bagod. The cycling route is in place; check current conditions before setting off.

Archaeology and architectural history in Bagod

While searching for a grave in Bagod, the remains of 43 houses from a Stone Age village at least 6,000 years old were discovered. The find offers a glimpse into the town’s early settlement history, long before the buildings now associated with Bagod’s history.

The Szent Pál Church was built in the 13th century as a rare round church. During restoration work in the early 2000s, the original medieval walls came to light. Prior registration with the Bagod joint municipal office was required for interior visits; these were possible from spring through autumn. Check in advance for current visiting options.

Another chapter in the town’s history is told by the protected brick water tower, which is a prominent feature of the local skyline. It was built in 1954. For decades, it supplied water to the neighboring factory and its 300 employees. Its present-day significance for the townscape and its former role in water supply offer two different ways to understand the tower.

The Csertán estate is also among Bagod’s historic buildings. It retains its original form and garden and is now a private residence. A separate family history is linked to the crypt of the Boldogfai Farkas family, where nine family members are buried. They include Imre Farkas, organizer of the 1848 National Guard and a friend of Ferenc Deák, as well as his grandson Tibor. The remains of Csertán Sándor were moved from the family grave in Nemesapáti to a mausoleum near the Csertán estate in Bagod.

Zala as a regional setting

The wider destination of Zala includes the Zalai Borvidék, which comprises two wine districts and 38 settlements. It extends across the slopes and plateaus of the Zalai-dombság and the northwestern slopes of the Keszthelyi-hegység. This broad regional landscape description adds a distinct regional perspective to Bagod’s local history.

Another topic in Zala is the annual water buffalo festival at the Kápolnapuszta Bivalyrezervátum, held in May or June; the date may vary from year to year. The reserve can be explored via a 1.5-kilometer walking trail with rest areas and viewpoints. Guests of the Kápolnapuszta Bivalyrezervátum may pet the tame animals every day during opening hours.

Discover more destinations: Lakhegy, Kustánszeg, Becsvölgye, Egersee, Kiskutas, Nagykutas, Pusztaszentlászló, Iborfia.

For the wider travel overview: Zalaegerszegi.