Nature
Aggtelek - Dripstone Cave
Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karts cave system, located 236 kilometres from Budapest, is a uniquely spectacular region of Northern Hungary that has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1995. Its most famous cave is the Baradla cave, aka Aggtelek Dripstone Cave which is the biggest and the most magnificent cave in Hungary. The cave was formed 230 million years ago in the Triassic Period, when this area was covered by water. Dripstones varied both in form and colour are the most spectacular elements of caves. Although most of the cave is in Hungary, the entire cave is almost 25 kilometres in lenght and extends 5.6 kilometres into Slovakia. Ordinary cave tours depart from three different cave entrances on the Hungarian side for seeing for example the spectacular Giants’ Hall, a 125 metres long cavern with a 30 metres high roof. In the cave the average temperature is 10 °C, while relative humidity is 95-100%.
Egerszalók - Salt Hills
Perhaps it is hard to believe, but just a ninety-minute drive from Budapest, you can witness a natural phenomenon in Egerszalók. The thermal water coming up here is a unique attraction in the whole of Europe, just like the salt hills created by the hydro carbonated water which is rich in calcium and magnesium. The water which has a temperature of about 65-68 °C and comes up from a depth of 410 metres has formed an amazing limestone deposit on an area of 1200 m² which can be admired by anyone, as there is a constructed walking path to the salt hill. Although due to the high temperature, it cannot be completely accessed, you can admire from a distance of a few hundred metres the exceptional attraction which has the colors of a rainbow in the evening hours. You can see similar phenomena only in two other places in the world, at Pamukkale in the Asian part of Turkey and in the Yosemite National Park in the United States. At the bottom of the hill slope, a modern bath was made with 17 outside and inside pools. Medicinal water seating pools, jacuzzis and adventure pools await guests, who can also participate in unforgettable, icy, beer and honey sauna seances as well.
Tapolca - Lake Cave
A tortuous cave system is hiding under the streets and houses of Tapolca, a little town not far from the Lake Balaton. The cave was formed in Sarmatian limestone of the mid-Miocene Subepoch 13.7 million years ago. In the strictly protected cave visitors can make a unique boat trip on the lit, bluish water of the underground lake. The visitable area of the Lake Cave covers a 250-meter long corridor: a 70-meter long section is dry and the remaining 180 metres are floated by water. The latter can only be visited by taking a boat (the conditions of the cave allow us the use of 8 boats altogether). After boating, an interactive exhibition can be seen about how the cave came into existence and how it was explored. In the cave, the temperature is 20 °C both in winter and summer.
