Mecsek Hike – Bear’s garlic hike over Pécs

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 in 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.

Schedule:
7h20 – 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
22h20 – Arrival back in Budapest

?Charming spring landscape and mesmerizing bear’s 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
?lovely international people!⁠

⁠Last but 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