The Őrség region is located in the most western corner of Hungary. As its name suggests, Őrség means ‘defence area’, the region originally played a frontier-guarding role at the time of the Hungarian conquest. Őrség is the only region in Hungary where inhabitants have continuously been living in the same place. Throughout the centuries, Őrség’s inhabitants have created its characteristic landscape in harmony with nature. This unique landscape is characterized by a variety of natural beauties: hills and valleys, deciduous and coniferous woodlands, green hayfields, moors, springs and streams. Besides these beauties, the unchanged folk traditions and customs, traditional crafts and the products of self-sufficient farming and lifestyle also attract visitors.
Some examples of unique attractions in the region are:
Rural accommodation facilities, pubs and restaurants with gastronomic specialties, a bright spectrum of services (e.g. journey on a cart, horseback riding, fishing and hunting, renting a bicycle, hot-air balloon riding, guided tours etc.), as well as the different museums and other exhibition facilities, are some of the elements that Őrség offers tourists.
The image of Őrség can be described as the place where you can perfectly enjoy tranquillity, fresh air, silence and calm, inspiring you to take a deep breath and relax. The centuries-old harmony between local people and nature are reflected in the unique landscape features, such as woods, fields, pastures and large forests. These features are only a portion of what attracts visitors to this region where they can discover thousands of small miracles.
I have many friends living in the villages of the Őrség area. They are the nicest people all over the world and I can assure you that you will get fadeless memories visiting those beautiful places, meeting those wonderful people.
I have many different programs both for shorter and longer visits.
Some examples of unique attractions in the region are:
- Flora: the whole area of the Őrség region is strictly protected. Guided tours, nature trails and educational centres for natural protection, all help visitors to acquire knowledge and a better understanding of the flora and habitat of this region. The number of species being protected here exceeds one hundred.
- Fauna: The richest butterfly population of Hungary lives in this region. An internationally protected rare dragonfly species can also be found here. The occurrence of brook lamprey is a real curiosity. There is also a substantial population of large wild game: wild pigs, deer and red deer are some examples. Őrség also has several indigenous types of farm animals, e.g. bovine animals (Hungarian Red and White Cattle, Hungarian Grey Cattle), Muraköz horse and cigája sheep
- Agriculture: Indigenous fruit plants can be visited in the orchard of the Őrség National Park, where one can participate in farm and garden demonstrations.
- Gastronomy: Visitors can taste local specialities of gastronomy (mushroom soup, strudel filled with pumpkin and poppy seed, game dishes, buckwheat porridge, dödölle [potato dumpling], salads with pumpkin seed oil,) and typical drinks of the region (schnapps with honey, local wines) in the restaurants, pubs and inns. Visitors can also participate in organized pig-killing dinners, harvest festivals and gastronomic competitions (e.g. competition of pumpkin dishes).
- Architecture: There is a typical settlement type in Őrség. This settlement structure is called “szeres” and means groups of houses, which were originally inhabited by members of an extended family. The traditional houses and farm buildings are exhibited in an open-air museum in Szalafő. Tourists can also visit Magyarszombatfa where the typical household and lifestyle of a peasant are presented.
- Handicraft: Local pottery products can be bought in the workshops of the craftsmen or in the chandler’s shop at Pityerszer or tourists can try to shape their own, self-made ceramic souvenirs.
- Traditions: During their stay in Őrség tourists can participate in horseback archery shows, traditional archery parades and training. There are also cultural programmes introducing the traditional music (performance of a traditional band playing the psaltery) and fairytale world (authentic fairy-tale evening) of Őrség.
Rural accommodation facilities, pubs and restaurants with gastronomic specialties, a bright spectrum of services (e.g. journey on a cart, horseback riding, fishing and hunting, renting a bicycle, hot-air balloon riding, guided tours etc.), as well as the different museums and other exhibition facilities, are some of the elements that Őrség offers tourists.
The image of Őrség can be described as the place where you can perfectly enjoy tranquillity, fresh air, silence and calm, inspiring you to take a deep breath and relax. The centuries-old harmony between local people and nature are reflected in the unique landscape features, such as woods, fields, pastures and large forests. These features are only a portion of what attracts visitors to this region where they can discover thousands of small miracles.
I have many friends living in the villages of the Őrség area. They are the nicest people all over the world and I can assure you that you will get fadeless memories visiting those beautiful places, meeting those wonderful people.
I have many different programs both for shorter and longer visits.