4. Red Wine and Minaret – Town of Eger, gateway to the Northern Mountains; full day
Once a heroic scene of medieval battles between Hungarians and Turks, Eger today is a charming small town attracting people to admire baroque buildings, to taste red wine or to stay overnight and explore the neighbouring National Parks.
From the top of the castle hill we look down to the major sights of this historic town : a Turkish minaret ( praying tower ), a Serbian orthodox church, a giant cathedral, an old university building and many others. Crossing the fort we have a pleasant walk to go down to the square by the cathedral and to see carefully designed urban spaces mingled with fragments from the Middle Ages. During our visit we shouldn’t miss to wonder at the frescoed ceiling of the old library hall,- in case of having young legs – to climb up the minaret or to enjoy lunch in the Valley of the Beautiful Lady accompanied by a good glass of ’’ Bull’s Blood”, a full-bodied red wine of the surrounding vineyards.
For the afternoon we can choose one of the following options:
- bathing at the brand-new thermal bath of Egerszalók
- wine-tasting at Noszvaj and a short visit to the De La Motte Chateau
- exploring folk arts and artisanship at Mezőkövesd
- visit to a communist detention camp at Recsk
- crossing the land of Károlyi Counts – stop at the stables and tea at the luxurious Kastélyhotel, Sasvár
Although there are no big distances at Eger, we go everywhere on foot.
On the way driving back to Budapest, instead of the afternoon options we can also visit the Royal Palace of Gödöllő or the village of Hollókő as well.
