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Cycling tours

 
BUDAPEST

Bicycling weekend in Budapest

Along the Danube from Budapest to Vienna

CENTRAL TRANSDANUBIA

Central Transdanubia from Danube Bend to Lake Balaton

NORTH-WESTERN PANNONIA

From Danube Bend to Lake Ferto (Budapest-Sopron)

LAKE BALATON

Cycling around Lake Balaton

Getting started with Balaton Uplands

4 Days cycling & Relaxation break in the Balaton Uplands National Park

5 Days cycling break in Keszthely

4 Days cycling break in Keszthely, the capital of Balaton

SOUTHERN TRANSDANUBIA

Along the Danube to Southern Hungary (Budapest-Pécs)

Southern TransDanubia from Pécs to Lake Balaton

WESTERN TRANSDANUBIA

Western TransDanubia from Sopron to Lake Balaton 

West-Hungarian Bicycle Tour

NORTHERN HUNGARY

Romantic castles and palaces of Northern Hungary

Cycling around Eger in hills of Mátra and Bükk

SOUTHERN GREAT-PLAIN

South-Great-Plain Bicycle Tour

 

World Heritage    Sites

Romantic Castles and Palaces of Northern Hungary

Type:

Self-Guided

Grade:

Moderately easy

Length:

12 nights

Distance:

507 km

Dates:

04/01/2009 - 10/31/2009

Cost:

 € 935

Starts:

Eger (Hungary)

Ends:

Eger (Hungary)

Description | Map | Itinerary | Services | Dates |  Price | Reservation 

Description

The Romantic Castles and Palaces are located in pristine natural environment of Northern Hungary . Our bicycle tour will guide you through remote hidden villages, forests of Bükk Mountains National Park, cave system of World Heritage Aggtelek,wine growing areas of famous Tokaj and Eger and picturesque castles of Zemplen. During your travel you can make excursion by light railway, relax in beautiful hotels, bath in unique environment, taste the specialties of local cuisine and wine.

 

Map



Itinerary

 

1st day:                                                                                                Arrival in Eger

Individual arriving in Eger, the first station of our tour, located at the foot of the Bükk mountains. Getting acquainted with the town rich in historical monuments..

The town was 1000 years long the seat of a bishop, and since 1804 is the seat of the archbishop. The Basilica is the third biggest temple of Hungary, and naturally there are a plenty other temples in the city. After more then one hundred years of Turkish reign several memories remain after the Turks. The most famous is the Minaret, which is the most northern appearance of such kind building.

The castle of Eger has several museums, and the tunnels under the castle are really fascinating. Dinner and accommodation in Eger.

2nd day:                                                                           Eger - Szilvásvárad (26 km)

The cycling tour leads into the Bükk National Park, through Bélapátfalva ,where a medieval church, a Cistercian monastery, built in Romanesque and Gothic style in the 14th century can be found. In Szilvásvárad make a trip up the four km long Szalajka valley and visit the famous Fátyol Waterfall. In summer there is a possibility travel up by the light railway also. Accommodation in Szilvásvárad.  

3rd day:                                                                      Szilvásvárad - Jósvafő (64 km)

The tour goes on through river valleys, small villages, then all the way to Aggtelek , the center of Aggtelek National Park and the popular entrance of Baradla Cave . The another man made entrance can be found in Jósvafő, surrounded by the hill of the National Park. From here you can reach more distant parts of cave system along concrete passages. You will overnight in Jósvafő.

4th day:                                                                                    Aggtelek and Jósvafő

The cave system of Aggtelek , with its unique natural treasures, has been a part of the World Heritage since 1995. You can make a long trip in the cave, in the mysterious world of Aggtelek that has been unchanged for thousands of years. Accommodation in Jósvafő.

5th day:                                                                     Jósvafő - Pusztaradvány (65km)

This day first you will ride through Bódva valley, then along the Lake Rakaca, the largest reservoir of Hungary become a popular tourist resort . Finally you will ride parallel the Hungarian-Slovakian border in countryside of the north-eastern part of Cserehát mountain situated between the Aggtelek Hills and Zemplén. Accommodation in Pusztaradvány.

6th day:                                                                       Pusztaradvány - Hejce (46 km)

Leaving the mountains, the tour goes down to the valley of the river Hernád, twisting between two mountains. You will visit the picturesque castle of Boldogkõ, known as the "reclining lion" and enjoy the untouched natural environment of the Zemplén mountains. Leaving Boldogkőváralja it is worth to stop at Vizsoly, a historical village, where the first Hungarian Bible were printed in 1590 and a surviving copy can be found in the church. Accommodation in Hejce, a little village in almost untouched natural environment preserving the folk architectural traditions.

7th day:                                                                                 Hejce - Pálháza (52 km)

Riding northward along the western slopes of Zemplen hills first you reach Gönz (was known throughout Europe from Gönz barrel, a measurement unit of wine storage), then Kéked , with the old Gothic Melczer Palace and finally the northernmost settlement of Hungary, the picturesque Hollóháza, became noted for porcelain and where you can visit the extraordinarily beautiful exhibition of Porcelain Museum. You will climb up to the ruins of Füzér castle near Füzér village standing alone on a remote cliff . The unique flora, fauna, geological and archaeological interest of Füzér Castle mound has been protected since 1941.Accommodation near Pálháza, in a romantic Hunting Mansion, accessible also by the narrow-gauge forest railway from Pálháza.

8th day:                                                                         Pálháza - Sárospatak (48 km)

Crossing Háromhuta you ride towards Regéc, where you will find the castle built after the Tartar devastation on the top of a steep hill. Return to Háromhuta and through Tolcsva to Sárospatak. The old town situated at the foot of the Zemplén mountains, beside the River Bodrog, famous for its college founded in the 16’th century and for its castle that has remained in its original Renaissance grandeur. Visit the great monuments and invaluable library of Sárospatak. Resting and bathing possibility.

9th day                                                                             Sárospatak - Tokaj (38 km)

Cycling across the historical wine region situated along the banks of the river to Tokaj, where the best natural dessert wine of the world is made. Wine-tasting in Rákóczi cellar.

10th day:                                              Miskolc - Lillafüred, Miskolctapolca (68 km)

One hour traveling by train from Tokaj to Miskolc (56 km / 35 miles). After arriving Miskolc you visit the Renaissance four-tower Diósgyőr castle. Accommodation in the beautifully situated palace hotel of Lillafüred, on the shore of a lake. There are many sights near the hotel: drip-stone caves, waterfalls, the light railway in the forest . Afternoon trip to Miskolctapolca (26km / 16 miles), where you can relax in the unique cave bath.

11th day:                                                                         Lillafüred , Bánkút (42 km )

You will bicycle on the Bukk plateau (900 m) in the heart of National Park Bukk, between steep slopes, magnificent cliffs, ravines and narrow canyons make this day unique and unforgettable. The landscape enjoys full protection, conservation areas under strict protection are also fully protected. You can ride along the “stones” on the edge of the plateau, meet with different kinds of karts forms and enjoy the excellent view to the southern valleys of Bukk hill and discover a “primeval” beech forest, which is probably untouched at least 100 years ago. Accommodation in Lillafüred.

12th day:                                                                             Lillafüred - Eger (58 km )

You cross the Bükk plateau and cycle down to our first station, Eger. And finally, in one of the cellars of Szépasszonyvölgy you can taste some of the famous wines of the Eger wine region, such as the “Bull’s Blood of Eger” and the “Girl from Eger”.

13th day:                                                                                                                             Eger

Traveling home individually or optional extension.


Dates
Available:
                                    from 1'st April till 31’th October 2009


Price
Participation fee:                         EUR 935 / persons sharing the double  room
Single Supplement:                     
EUR 195
Bike rental:                                  
EUR 120
Extra nights in  Budapest:         
EUR  55 / persons in double  room
                                                      EUR  85 / persons in single room 

Services
12 nights in 3-star hotels and guest-houses, in double bedrooms with a bathroom, half board, daily luggage transportation from hotel to hotel, detailed route description, maps, information materials. Those who arrive with their own cars can leave their cars in the guarded car park of the first hotel.
 

Tour Identifier: CYRC131
 


H-1031 Budapest Õrlõ u.26. Hungary Fax:+36-1-242-1981 mail@specialtours.hu