Vértes Hike – the enchanted forest

Hello Hikers!

⁠As the nights are getting shorter and spring is finally closing in we invite you to a refreshing long forest walk in the mystical Vértes Mountains. The Vértes is situated about 30 kilometers west of Budapest right above the Vienna railway and it is famous for multiple reasons in Hungary. Historically, the mountain range always constituted a natural barrier between the Central and the Western part of the country, hence it is densely dotted with amazing medieval castle ruins that witnessed bloody battles and sieges through the centuries. Besides the knights and soldiers, the thick forest attracted also monks and hermits whose residence can still be spotted in Vértes, along with the abandoned villages of the German settlers who worked as woodcutters and miners.

During the trip, we will pass by the famous baroque Camaldolese monastery which hosted the silent monks for centuries, then climb up to the neat German village of Vértessomló, from where we continue our way to the hill plateau. In the middle of the forest, we’ll find the scenic ruins of the Vitány castle which was a significant battle site in the time of the Ottoman wars. From this point onwards, the hike follows the famous Hungarian blue trail. On our way to the railway station, the Eastern part of the mountain range also boasts some exquisite sites: the abandoned chapel and cemetery of Körtvélyespuszta, the Mária-gorge and the lookout tower of Körtvélyes.

The length of the hike: 22 km, 400 meters ascend and descend
Duration of the hike: approx. 6 hours
Difficulty: Medium, this hike is doable for everyone but don’t forget to bring your proper trekking shoes!

Schedule:
8h40 – Meeting at Kelenföld railway station, at Platform 6 (address: Etele tér)
10h10 – Arriving at Oroszlány railway station
Hike-time
14h00 – Lunch at the castle of Vitány
Hike-time
18h47 – Taking the train from Szárliget to Budapest
19h25 – Arrival back in Budapest

⁠Some pro arguments to definitely join this hike:

Scenic early spring landscape
Discovering one of the most popular hiking resorts in the proximity of Budapest
Gorges, lookout towers, neat villages
Medieval ruins in the forest – highly instagrammable

⁠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