Tourist attractions – Solar United Natives

[separator style_type=”single|dashed” top_margin=”0px” bottom_margin=”25px” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””][title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”none” sep_color=”#29292a” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Tourist attractions[/title][fusion_text]There is a quite diverse range of attractions in the region, including natural sights, historic places, pretty villages, geological formations, Buddhist retreats and more. It’s worth to explore the area a bit, before or after the main festival, or at other times.[/fusion_text][separator style_type=”single|dashed” top_margin=”13″ bottom_margin=”20″ sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””][one_half last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Szanda Castle

The settlement of Szanda was mentioned in an official paper dated 1214, and the castle atop the 529-metre hill next to the village was already standing in the 14th century. Today it is ruined, but you still get wonderful views from the top. It is a short, but steep hike from Szanda or Szandaváralja. On your return you can reward yourself with and ice cream or a cold beer. The easly recognisable hill with the ruin is well visible from the S.U.N. land.

• See more castles in the area

[/fusion_text][/one_half][one_half last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]The Stupa of Enlightenment, Becske

On a little hill in the nearby village of Becske stands a Buddhist stupa. Known as the Stupa of Enlightenment, it is the 7th official Buddhist stupa in Hungary. It was inaugurated by Tibetan spiritual leaders Serab Gyalcen Rinpoche és Lama Ole Nydahl in 2008. Hungary has a special relation with Tibetan Buddhism, and there is a big community of Buddhists in the country. The site is open for the public, involving a little climb to the hill. It is an ideal place for meditating with far-reaching beautiful views. There is also a retreat run by the Buddhist community, offering an open event every third weekend of the month. More info (in Hungarian): buddhizmusma.hu

[/fusion_text][/one_half][one_half last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Sasbérc lookout, Buják

It was built around 1920 by Count Siegfried Poppenheim according to the plans of Munich based architect Franz Zell. It was used by hunting companies who stayed over night, but then the building got neglected. In 2002 the forestry company renovated it, and now the tower is open for visitors on the weekend. There are different hiking routes to the lookout, the most convenient is from the nearby village of Buják. More information (in Hungarian): bujak.hu

Near the village of by Bér, on the northern side of Nagy hegy, curved andesite columns can be seen. The curious concave volcanic rock formation is a popular picknick spot for tourists. It is especially convenient to visit if you’re staying in Bér, but it’s not that far from the S.U.N. land either. Photo: tourinform.hu

A Buddhist meditation centre and memorial park dedicated to Sándor Kőrösi Csoma, the Hungarian traveller who lived in Tibet and became a bodhisattva, The Peace Stupa was erected in 1992 and and subsequently consecrated by H.H. the Dalai Lama and blessed by representatives of other world religions. It was built to bring and stabilize peace, happiness, and wealth for all of the Earth’s inhabitants. It contains precious relic pills of the Buddha himself, relic pills of several Karmapas, and numerous precious relics of other enlightened masters. The Memorial Park and the Peace Stupa are open to visitors every day, free of charge. Information and photo: korosi-emlekpark.hu.

Little away from the Buddhist retreat, you find a spring belived to be a site of a miracle: its water, according to legend, cured a mute peasant boy. The spring is officially a holy place of pilgrimage since 1252. Hermits lived in the area in man-made caves, and a baroque church was built in 1763 followed by a monastery. Pilgrims still gather at the place at certain times, You can visit some of the sights and the area offers a few pleasant hiking trails. More info (in Hungarian) and photo source: geocaching.hu

The village of Hollókő is the best known tourist attraction in the area, famed for its Palóc-style country houses. The Palóc are an ethnic Hungarian group with distinctive traditions. A part of the village is a protected area – an open ethnographic museum – and you also find a Village Museum, Post Museum, the House Of The Countryside, Doll Museum, The House Of The Weavers and the exhibition of woodcarver Ferenc Kelemen. There is also a ruined castle near the village. Hollókő, the castle and surrounding area are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Many palaces and mansions are found in Nógrád county, even right around the festival land. Most of them are now in private ownership and unfortunately not open to the public. Some function as hotels, including the one in Bercel, the nearest village. A few palaces are still open for the public. Check here for a list of palaces and mansions in Nógrád: kastelyok.eu.

Balassagyarmat is the nearest big town (or small city) and is convenient for those who come/leave via Slovakia. It’s a laid back place with a few attractions, including historic buildings, the Palóc Museum, a botanical garden and Pannónia Motorcycle Museum. The Pannónia is a legendary Hungarian bike, not built anymore.

There is quite a lot to see in the historic city of Szécsény, including the Forgách palace, the Franciscan Convent, the Fire Tower, ruins of the old castle, museums.

Sometimes referred to as the “Prehistoric Pompeii”, Ipolytarnóc stores 23-17 million year old fossils. These include the teeth of 24 different species of sharks as well as the teeth of crocodiles and dolphins, an almost 100 m tall petrified pine, more than 15,000 subtropical, exotic leaves and 3,000 animal footprints of 11 species. This is one of the world’s richest complex fossil footprint find site. The fossils can be viewed thanks to a volcanic catastrophe which buried a whole subtropical jungle under volcanic ash, thus preserving them. Information and photo source: osmaradvanyok.hu.

A little bit further away, via a beautiful road leading through the Mátra mountain range, you can reach the little village of Mátraháza. Little beyond it is Hungary’s highest peak, Kékestető, located at 1014 metres above sea level. A TV antenna is found here (no access), a resort, a restaurant and a few tourist shops.

[/fusion_text][/one_half][title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”none” sep_color=”#29292a” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Tourist attractions on the map[/title][fusion_text][/fusion_text]