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Hungary is a country of plains and lowlands, there are no high mountains here in principle, but the topic is all the more interesting. Compared to others, mountains less than 1 km high seem like hills, but they have an enchanting beauty. On their slopes you can find unique caves, dense forests and rare plant species, and due to the relatively low popularity, there are not so many tourists here. This makes the highest mountains in Hungary a great place to spend your holidays if you like it.
10 Zengyo, 682 m
zengyo – the highest point in the Mecsek massif, which is located in southern Hungary. The mountain rises (if I may say so about such a “baby”) in the southeast of the country. The main attraction is located at the top – these are the ruins of a modest medieval castle, built on the site of an old watchtower that belonged to the Roman Empire.
The name of the mountain literally translates as “voiced“. According to local legend, the noise that is heard from time to time in the area is caused by treasure hunters who went into the mountains hundreds of years ago and never returned.
In 2005, the Hungarian government abandoned a plan to build a NATO radar on the peak of the mountain, after fierce opposition to the plan from local residents and “green” activists, who argued that the radar and the construction of an adjacent road would damage strictly protected plant species, including the medicinal peony, 90% which grows at the top.
Forcing the government to abandon the plan was the most successful action by environmentalists in Hungary in a decade. Zengyo’s defenders included the former head of the Constitutional Court, Laszlo Szolyom, who was elected President of the Republic in 2005 despite the discontent of the ruling Hungarian Socialist Party.
9. Dobogo-ke, 700 m
Dobogo-ke is the highest peak of the Visegrad Mountains in Hungary. The mountain range is the northern neighbor of the Pilis Mountains. The history of the entire region is disputed by the so-called Pilis researchers, who claim that the location of the three mountains – Arpadwara, Ram-Khegi and Magashej – is similar to the location of the three stars of Orion’s belt.
This peak is also a place of pilgrimage for Hungarian neo-pagans (followers of the revived faith of Talt, similar to shamanism), who believe that this place is the “heart chakra” of the Earth.
8. Köris-Hegy, 711 m
Mountain Kyorish-Hed in the Bakony massif it consists mainly of limestone and dolomite, and mineral springs are often found on it. Deciduous forests and landscape reserves are located on the slopes, so tourists regularly come here to appreciate the natural beauty that has not been spoiled by human influence.
7. Pilis-teto, 756 m
Pilis is a mountainous region in the Transdanubian mountains with the highest point Aunt Pilis – 756 meters. It is a popular tourist destination in Hungary and a direct southern neighbor of the Visegrad Mountains, which are based on volcanic rocks, unlike Pilis. The origin of the name is not known for certain: it may come from the Slavic word pleš, meaning “bald».
The region used to be a hunting ground for the Hungarian kings. Numerous hunting lodges have been preserved. The history of the area until today is disputed, as the researchers of Pilis claim that it was the center of medieval Hungary with some historical cities and hermits of the Order of Palos.
6. Nagi-Milich, 894 m
Peak Nagi-Milich – the highest point of the Zemplen mountain range, which is part of the Carpathians. The steep peaks of the mountains were often used as a site for the construction of medieval stone castles.
The highest point of the massif rises to 894 meters above sea level. It is located on the border of Hungary and Slovakia. The mountains are located near the northernmost point of the country.
5. Chovanios, 938 m
Chowanos – a mountain in the Börzshonsky ridge of the northern Hungarian mountains. It has a height of 938 meters and covers the borders of the county of Nograd and Pest. This area was geologically active during the Miocene epoch, 18-19 million years ago. In the Quaternary period, when volcanic activity began, Chovanhos arose. The eruptions also created water features high above forests of blue beech and Austrian pine.
The mountain lies in the basin of the Ipoli River, which is a transboundary river between Slovakia and Hungary, and the middle and lower basins are located on the territory of Hungary.
Chovanhos, as part of the Børzsson mountain ranges, is located in the Danube-Ipoli National Park in northern Hungary: the park is one of ten Hungarian parks created to “protect forested hills, as well as coastal and low-lying places.”
The nearby alder forest of Drhelipalanque and the red pine forest of Dioshenou have been described as “almost mystical” and worth a visit. In addition, over 100 protected species of birds, rabbits and deer live in the forests.
4. Ishtallosh-kyo, 959 m
The main attraction Do you want to work? is not the mountain itself, but the cave located in it, which was first studied in 1911 by Pal Roscoe. It serves as an archaeological site, and some objects found in its depths are 30-000 years old, including cave bear and bison bones, tools and things. The most interesting finds are now exhibited in the Hungarian National Museum.
Later, the cave was studied by Ottokar Kadic and Maria Mottle, and another excavation began in 1947 by Laszlo Vertes. The latest excavations to date began in 2000 under the leadership of Arpad Ringer, who once again proved that the value of the cave lies in the finds relating to almost 70 species of ice age animals.
Three new species of mammals and twenty new species of birds have been found thanks to a cave in Ishtallosh-kyo mountain. Now it has the status of a specially protected object.
3. Galya-teto, 964 m
Aunt Galya is the third largest mountain in Hungary and in the Matra mountain range (after Kekes and Hidas Berk, which we will talk about later). It is a major tourist attraction with an altitude of 964 meters.
The area officially belongs to Matraszentimra in the county of Heves, which is interesting because it is a “cottage village” and only about fifty people live in it. Do you want peace and quiet, to be away from the noise of megacities? Then you are right here.
2. Hidas Berk, 971 m
Hydas-Burke – the second highest peak in Hejvs, as well as the second highest mountain in Hungary. It is located near the Parade in the already mentioned county of Heves. Hydas Berk is a steep-sided volcanic mountain and one of the country’s top tourist attractions, loved by hikers and rock climbers.
1. Kekesh, 1014 m
Mountain Stuttering rises 12 kilometers northeast of Gyöngyös in the district of Heves and is part of the Matra massif. In terms of popularity among tourists visiting Hungary, it is second only to Lake Balaton and the Danube. There are several hotels and ski slopes, and at the top is the Kekes-teto TV tower.
The name Kékes comes from the often bluish color of the mountain. In Hungarian, the word “kek” means “blue“, and “kekes” indirectly means “bluish».