Exploring Mecsek

Hello Hikers! 🥾

Full blown springtime 🌸 has arrived and we’ll celebrate it in the southernmost mountain range of Hungary! The Mecsek 🌄 is situated right above Pécs, the 4th most populous town of the country. Pécs is the most significant cultural center of the countryside, famous not only for its Roman 🏛️, medieval, Ottoman architecture and its 600 years old university 🎓, but also well-known for its role as a hub of contemporary music 🎶 and art 🎨 which granted the town the rank of the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2010.

The Mecsek is the only higher elevation (600-680 meters) mountain range in the southern part of Hungary and displays great diversity: the southern slopes are covered with orchards 🍏 and vineyards 🍇 while the inner part hosts dark, damp beech forests 🌲 dotted with charming lakes 🏞️, scenic cliffs and waterfalls. As an isolated wilderness, the Mecsek was also a home for hermits, monks, and also some freedom fighters after the 1956 revolution. Thanks to its colorful historic background and peculiar geography, it is really easy to stumble into caves 🕳️, church ruins ⛪, ancient fortifications and outlandish plant species all around the mountain range.

We’ll start the hike at the railway station of Abaliget, from where the hike will take a really slow and pleasant ascend following the southern route of the famous Hungarian Blue Trail. At the top (Jakab-hegy) is the famous monastery ruin of the Hungarian Pauline order along with the prehistoric earth walls and at the southern edge of the summit we find the Zsongorkő cliff with its stunning view over South Hungary. After the mountain top the trail descends directly to Pécs across charming forests 🌳 and trickling streams 💧. In Pécs, we’ll briefly walk by the most important sights of the city, the Ottoman-time mosques and the other breathtaking medieval buildings before catching our train.

The length of the hike: 24 km, 600 meters ascend and descend
Duration of the hike: approx. 7 hours ⏱️
Difficulty: This hike is doable for everyone but don’t forget to bring your proper trekking shoes! 👟

Schedule:
7h50 – Meeting at Kelenföld railway station, at Platform 14 (address: Etele tér) 🚉

10h40 – Arriving at Abaliget railway station 🚉
Hike-time 🚶‍♂️
18h00 – Walk in the old town of Pécs 🏰

19h15 – Taking the train from Pécs to Budapest 🚂
21h50 – Arrival back to Budapest 🏠

🎟️ Tickets: 6990 huf which includes the group train ticket, guide and energy pack (a chocolate goodness müsli bar and fruit pouch)

Some pro arguments to definitely join this hike:

Charming spring landscape and mesmerizing bear-garlic scent! 🌼

The most spectacular cliff-view of Hungary – Zsongor-kő 🌄

Discovering an enormous archeological site in the middle of the forest: the Jakab-mountain hillfort with its church ruins and ancient trenches 🏞️

World heritage downtown of Pécs – Mosques and cathedrals 🕌

Last but not the least, you can spend your day with lovely international people! 🌍

Feel free to invite your friends, the more the merrier! 👫👭👬

Looking forward to hiking with you,

The Budapest Hikers and BAIS team 🌍