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Whenever people in other countries talk about Hungarian wine, they are most likely referring to ‘tokaji’. The former beer house is home to the museum of the World Heritage wine region, which you should visit before or after the unmissable visit to the wine cellars in Tokaj, combined with a tasting.
Grapes are sour in Bodrogkeresztúr. Joking aside, it is only the vinegar that is sour here, and it even has a museum. Before you visit it, you will find it hard to imagine what an interesting and healthy condiment vinegar can be and how many different varieties there are.
The memory of the Jewish community that once lived here is kept alive by the strikingly beautiful synagogue in Mád. The stones that were used to build it were extracted and transported to the construction site by members of the community. As you step into the building, you will see a space that combines Baroque and Zopfstil elements in spectacular harmony.
Once you get to know Mád Wine wines, you will believe that they are capable of creating something memorable, and not just in drinks. The building of the Első (first) Mádi Wine House is fascinating, while its menu includes both modern and traditional Hungarian dishes based on locally available resources.
The best known of the Rákóczi family estates, it is the most popular sight in Sárospatak. One of the most beautiful works of late Renaissance architecture in Hungary, and home to the relics of the famous family. You must have seen it on the 500 HUF banknote several times, so why not visit it in person?
Not far from Sárospatak, you will find one the most interesting and most photogenic natural wonders of Hungary. As you cross a land reminiscent of Tuscany, follow the sign to reach the former millstone quarry. Rainwater has turned its pit into a scenic lake. The workers of the quarry have carved resting places into the rhyolite rock, which is easy to cut.
One of the hidden treasures of the Zemplén Hills. The wine cellar system of the Swabian village is part of the Tokaj-Hegyalja World Heritage site. It consists of 195 cellars and is only a few kilometres from Sárospatak, bringing back the feeling of old country life and traditional cellar culture.
One of the surprises in the Zemplén Hills is the recently renovated Füzér Castle. It has been standing on the top of a volcanic hill since the Tatar invasion. A gift to a princess of the Árpád Dynasty, it was the hiding place of the Holy Crown and also the estate of the Báthory family. The view of the surrounding hills and the colourful glass windows of the castle chapel are not to be missed.
If a place is called ‘happy stone’, it cannot be anything but a happy place. Wherever you look in Boldogkőváralja, the castle will always be in view. Climb up the mountain to the gate and on your way up, take a good look at the peach orchards that are so typical of the region – and once you reach the top, look around and admire the panorama from the bastion. This is the home of the Gönci apricot variety, where it is grown in the largest volume and where its tradition was revived.
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