Outings in the Area

Cycle Tours

Sightseeing in Szombathely
An easy tour, on which we can cycle round the capital of Vas county and have some unique experiences. If you have a day or two, this is an alternative to get acquainted with the sights and attractions of the city. The pleasant tour leads us along the creek-side cycle path, quiet side streets and special cycle lanes. We start our journey in the Main Square because from here we can start a short tour in the city centre rich in sights and have a real bicycle sight-seeing experience.

Additional information:
Tourinform Szombathely (9700 Szombathely, Király utca 1/a)
tel. / fax: +36 94 317-269
e-mail: szombathely@tourinform.hu

Cycling in Parkerdő (Park Forest)
Parkerdő offers sports and excursion possibilities to locals and tourists alike. 500 hundred hectares were set aside for recreational purposes in the region bordering the outskirts of Szombathely and Sé by the legal predecessor of Szombathely Erdészeti Zrt. The forest is primarily made up of Turkey oak, oak, acacia and forest pine. Car parking places, catering facilities, football grounds, and barbecue areas have also been set up. The unique wooden games made by the Velem Wood Carving Studio and the playground are a source of great pleasure for children. The forest area has footpaths which are also suitable for cycling and a 20 station forest gym path has been set up. It is possible to cycle to Parkerdő on asphalt but once you are there the terrain is more suitable for mountain bikes.
The 8.6 kilometre long path network consists of three routes of different lengths and degrees of difficulty. There is the 2.3 km long basic circuit “A” with gentle slopes, route B which is 3.7km long with steeper slopes, and the 2.6km long route “C” with milder inclines. The different routes can be combined. At the entrance there are an enormous map and an information board, which help with orientation.

Additional information:
Parkerdei Zöld Utak Egyesület (Parkerdő Green Paths Association), István Kivés, president
tel.: +36 20 777-4294
e-mail: kiwi@bdtf.hu

On the Trail of the Avars
This is an easy grade route on asphalted bicycle-friendly side roads across a flat country, which is recommended to everyone. It starts from the Main Square in Szombathely going along Király Street as far as Gyula Éhen Square from where it proceeds to Semmelweis Street and then turns right and leaves the city on Söptei Road.
The first stop is settlement Vasasszonyfa, where we can see the Avar Era Museum, which displays burial items found in the early medieval cemetery excavated on pasture between the one-time Kisasszonyfa and Nagyasszonyfa villages. The exhibition shows burial customs from the Avar era, everyday items and weapons. Our next stop is Csepreg where we can see the Schöller Castle, the Rottermann Castle and the Promenade. From here we continue our tour in the direction of Acsád, where it is worth stopping to see the Ablánc mill house hidden away in the forest. The monumental water mill here was used for several hundred years.

Additional information:
Avarkori Múzeum (Avar Era Museum) (9744 Vasasszonyfa, Széchenyi utca 1.)
tel.: +36 30 348-9858, +36 94 355-146
Opening hours: Tuesday: 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. Sunday: 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and any time by prior arrangement.

Towards the Alps
A friendly and easy tour recommended to everyone. We leave Szombathely Main Square along the Kőszegi Street bicycle path, proceeding along Paragvári Street and the continuation of this, Szent Imre Herceg Street, to leave the city through Herény. In Gencsapáti we can explore the Szentkút Chapel and the Széchenyi Castle, whilst in Gyöngyösfalu the Holdfényliget (Moonlight Grove) provides the opportunity for big adventures on the forest zip wire, quad course, during Nordic walking, rafting or riding in a horse-drawn carriage. The Finnish sauna, the squirrel garden, the football ground, table tennis, the barbecue, beach volleyball and the model railway, all provide a pleasant way of passing the time.
In Kőszegszerdahely, a minor diversion allows us to see the still-functioning water mill, and we can then move on to Cák where we pass the historical row of wine cellars and can stop to rest and taste some delicious wine. In Kőszeg we have to see the Miklós Jurisics Castle, the Old Tower, the Pharmacy Museum and the Town Hall. On the edge of the town the boating lake in its idyllic surroundings is a most pleasant place for us to relax.

Additional information:
Írottkő Nature Park Association (9730 Kőszeg, Rajnis utca 7.)
tel.: +36 94 563-121
e-mail: ine@t-online.hu

Holdfény Liget (9723 Gyöngyösfalu)
tel.: +36 30 396-9338, fax: +36 94 368-073

Wine Tour by Bicycle
This a short and undemanding circuit, most of which is along the asphalted bicycle-friendly border roads that lead across the plateau, from which there are impressive views of the mountains beyond the border. We leave the Main Square along Kőszegi Street, turning left into Petőfi Sándor Street and then going along the busy Rohonci Street and Dolgozók Street. At the junction in Olad, we can choose either the Bucsu or the Sé-Torony route, both of which have had light traffic since the bypass of Highway 89 was built to the border. On the edge of Bucsu, we can see the remains of an ancient aqueduct, which is unlike any other Roman structure found in the country. This antique water channel was found when the bypass was being built. From here we turn towards Narda and from Narda we can wheel along the Vas-hegy bicycle route to our next stop in Felsőcsatár. Here it is worth seeing the Iron Curtain memorial site and quenching our thirst in the Sándor wine tavern. From Felsőcsatár, after following a route lined with vineyards and hospitable wine-cellars where we can stop and taste the local vintages, we come to the banks of the Pinka creek. In Vaskeresztes we can turn into the Alpesi Fogado where we can satisfy our hunger with trout and other delicacies. Between Pornóapáti and Nárai we cross a pleasant wooded country. In Nárai we can look at the exterior of the Eörssy Castle, and then take the road from the village directly back to Szombathely.

Additional information:
Sándor Vendéglő (Inn) (9794 Felsőcsatár, Szőlő-hegy)
tel.: +36 94 351-415
Seasonal Opening: Every year 1st April – 31st October
Alpesi Fogadó (Inn) (9795 Vaskeresztes, 165/2 hrsz.)
tel./fax: +36 94 651-247
e-mail: info@alpesifogado.t-online.hu

Castle Tour
This is an easy grade tour, recommended to everyone. Most of the route is asphalted but there are stretches of unpaved road. We leave Szombathely Main Square along Szent Márton Street and then the Zanati Street cycle path. After going under the railway bridge, we turn right into Vépi Street. On the edge of the city we go straight on at the roundabout crossing the bypass connecting Highways 86 and 87. Before coming to Vép it is worth looking at the functioning wind power generators. Leaving Vép, we turn right at the signed junction and head up an incline towards Tanakajd. The route of the one-time railway line is clearly visible where it crosses the Vépi Street near the edge of Tanakajd. From here we can follow the route of the old railway, sometimes on terrain to which mountain bikes are suited, to Vasszécseny and back to Szombathely.
The mansions that can be seen on this tour are the Erdődy Castle in Vép, the Széchenyi Castle in Táplánszentkereszt, the Ó-Ebergényi and Új-Ebergényi Castle Hotels in Vasszécseny and the Bogát Castle in Szentkirály.

Additional information:
Tourinform Szombathely (9700 Szombathely, Király utca 1/a)
tel./fax: +36 94 317-269
e-mail: szombathely@tourinform.hu

Small Villages Tour
Tour difficulty grade: easy. Most of the route is on asphalt but there are a few unpaved stretches on the old railway line. Starting in front of the Town Hall in the Main Square, we make our way to the Szőllősi railway station along either II. Rákóczi Ferenc or Rumi Street. After the level crossing we turn left and follow Szent István street across the new railway line. At the first junction after the level crossing we turn left and crossing the Gyöngyös creek we come to Szentkirály. Turning left at the crossroads in front of the church, we soon come to the old railway line. A stronger bicycle is recommended for the journey from here to the edge of Tanakajd, where at the crossing with the Vépi street we turn right and come to Highway 87 where we turn left. After a few kilometres, we cycle towards Sorkifalud, and then through Nemeskolta to Csempeszkopács. After crossing Highway 87 we head for Meggyeskovácsi, where we turn right and cycle towards Rum. From Rum we travel through Zsennye and Rábatöttös back towards Highway 87 but before reaching it, we can go back onto the disused railway embankment. Things to see during the tour: the Bogát Castle in Szentkirály; the Széchenyi Castle in Táplánszentkereszt; the Ivánkovich Castle in Tanakajd; the Vidos Castle in Nemeskolta; the Árpád era church in Csempeszkopács; the Batthyány-Arz Castle in Meggyeskovácsi; a belfry in Rábatöttös as well as the Dömötör Mill in Sorkifalud.

Additional information:
Tourinform Szombathely (9700 Szombathely, Király utca 1/a)
tel./fax: +36 94 317-269
e-mail: szombathely@tourinform.hu

Spring Rhododendron Tour
This tour is of a medium degree of difficulty, as it includes some mild inclines. Apart from about 7 km of track the cycling takes place on paved roads of low traffic. The tour takes you past fields of wheat and rape, forests, vineyards, river valleys and declivous scenery. The varied countryside and the pleasant little villages have a restful and calming effect on the tourist.
The best time to visit the Jeli Arboretum is late April to early May in the 3-4 week period when the rhododendrons are blossoming. Their beautiful range of colours makes a visit to this arboretum with its collection of Asian plants even more interesting.

Arboretum

Additional information
Szombathelyi Erdészeti Zrt.(Forestry company) (9700 Szombathely, Zanati út 26.)
tel.: +36 94 329-977, fax: +36 94 329-973

Írott-kő Cycle Route
This tour runs over metalled and packed gravel roads. It is a difficult route requiring a good degree of physical fitness and a bicycle with gears – we recommend it only to practised cyclists – and includes several shorter and some longer inclines. Recommended sites are: Styrian Houses forestry centre, the Szent Vid Chapel, the Sibrik Castle and the Cák Wine Cellars.

Cák – Wine Cellars
Bozsok – Sibrik Castle
Szent Vid Chapel

Additional information:
Írottkő Nature Park Association (9730 Kőszeg, Rajnis utca 7.)
tel.: +36 94 563-121
e-mail: ine@t-online.hu

The Vashegy Bicycle Tour
This is an easy tour over a flat country on paved roads. It is recommended to everyone. Views of mountains across the border and the friendly atmosphere of the peaceful villages give the journey a pleasant atmosphere.
It is worth stopping to see the Ják Church, the Szent Jakab (Saint James) Chapel and the Eörssy Castle in Nárai.

Additional information:
Tourinform Szombathely (9700 Szombathely, Király utca 1/a)
tel./fax: +36 94 317-269
e-mail: szombathely@tourinform.hu