EUROPARC CONFERENCE, 2013 - 40-YEARS IN NATURE MANAGEMENT
Dear Guests,
Hortobágy is the largest continuous natural grassland in Europe. The Hortobágy National Park, established in 1973 is the country’s largest protected area of 82 thousand hectares. Hortobágy has outstanding landscape features and is a unique example of the harmonic coexistence of people and nature based on the considerate use of the land, maintaining great biological variety in respect of species and habitats. However, at first sight there is nothing here. If you look around, the most conspicuous thing is that your eyes are not arrested by any buildings, hills or mountains. The mirage can be a spectacular sight on hot summer days, where you see something that is not in fact there. A major part of the area of the National Park is formed by natural habitats, alkaline grasslands, and meadows, smaller and bigger marshes enclosed between them. Some artificial wetlands covering a much smaller area are of considerable importance: these are the fishponds, situated on 6 thousand hectares. The marshes and fishponds are breeding habitats of birds and important sites for the migrating birds. So far the appearance of 340 bird species has been registered in Hortobágy, of which 160 species nest in the National Park. It cannot be doubted that one of the most spectacular sights is the migration of the cranes in the autumn. Tens of thousands of Cranes, which is also the symbolic bird of the Park, can be seen every October as they fly above the grasslands to their overnight roosting places. The Hortobágy National Park has been inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO on the 1st of December in 1999 in the category of cultural landscapes, since the Hortobágy Puszta have been used by humans for grazing their domestic animals for more than two millennia. A large number of tough, undemanding local breeds can be found here: the Hungarian Grey Cattle, Water Buffalo, Raczka Sheep. Less ancient species are the curly bristled Mangalica Pig, which gives good bacon, and the Nonius horse. The visitors are amazed at the skills of the horsemen and at the sight of the galloping herds of horses. The herdsmen living on the grasslands do not have permanent buildings for themselves or their animals. Most of the ancient herdsmen’s buildings are very simple but also practical, made chiefly of reed. The sweep-pole wells for watering the animals have become symbols of the Hungarian grasslands. Inns were built 10–12 km apart along the commercial roads crossing the plains, where travellers could rest and the herdsmen turn in for the night. Tourists still like to visit these inns where they can taste the excellent herdsmen’s dishes and other specialities of the cuisine of the Great Plain. It is worth getting information on the areas open for visits at the Visitor Centre of the National Park, before setting out on your journey.
Tourist information, souvenir shop Exhibition about the flora and fauna of the national park Conference room for 90 persons, meeting rooms Field study educational room Craftsmen's workshops
Opening hours: January, February, December: CLOSED March, April, November: on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May, October: on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; at weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June: on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; at weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July, August: on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; at weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. September: on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; at weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
23 October, 2-3 November: from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 17-20 August: from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1 November: Closed
Entrance is free.
The Craftsmen's Yard at the Visitor Centre
Opening hours: January, February, March, October, November, December: CLOSED April: on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed on Monday May: on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; at weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed on Monday June: on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; at weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Monday July, August: on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; at weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. September: on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; at weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Monday
30 March-1 April, 1 May, 18-20 May: from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 17-20 August: from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Entrance is free.
The mission of the "Craftsmen's Yard"is to unit craftmen of Hortobágy andthe geographicaly connecting regions under the brand of World Heritage title of Hortobágy.
The aims of the association:
improving the circumstances of the creative work and the working and selling conditions
protecting the quality of the products and the authenticity of the traditions
renewing and rescuing the folk art traditions
demonstrating the local ethnographical values
Somecrafts and workshops of the "Craftsmen's Yard"
leather goods maker
soft rush doll maker
"szűr" (long embroidered felt cloak) maker
weaver
felt goods maker
potter
wood-carver
Herdsmen Museum (Pásztormúzeum)
H-4071 Hortobágy, Petőfi tér 1. Tel.: 00 36 52 369 040 E-mail: info@hnp.hu; Web: www.hnp.hu
Traditional herdsmen life on the puszta Scenes about livestock breeding and everyday life of shepherds Souvenirs
Opening hours: 15-31 March, November: from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April, October: from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May, June, September: from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July, August: from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1 December - 14 March: CLOSED
1 November: Closed
Entrance fee: 600 HUF/person, 400 HUF/student and retired, 1600 HUF/family (The ticket is valid at Herdsmen Museum, Körszín craftsmen's work exhibition, Hortobágy csárda inn exhibition and Kadarcs csárda inn exhibition.)
Opening hours: 15-31 March, November: from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April, October: from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May, June, September: from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July, August: from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1 December - 14 March: CLOSED
1 November: Closed
Entrance fee: 200 HUF/person, 100 HUF/student and retired
The Puszta Wild Animal Park based on the natural conditions of the Hortobágy National Park is a perfect place for the demonstration of the ancient wildlife of the Hungarian Puszta. You can watch wild animals lived here before the human history, but the spread of civilization drove them to extinction: Wolves, Jackals, Przewalski's Horses, Vultures, Pelicans, and other wild animals still living in the protected areas.
A well illustrated exhibition provides background information on the various species. The wildlife park offers nature programs, where all generations can have enjoyably pastime activities.
The Hortobágy Wild Animal Park can be reached only by the car of the national park. The car starts from the parking place of the Herdsmen Museum (Pásztormúzeum).
Langs of the programme: 1,5 hours
Opening hours: April - October: from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May, June, September: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July, August: from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. November - March: only with previous registration for groups
Entrance fee: 1500 HUF/person, 700 HUF/student and pensioner Guidance in english or german: 300 HUF/person Entrance ticket buying: in the cashier of the Herdsmen Museum
Hortobágy Great Fishponds and Narrow Gauge Railway
Greatest bird habitat in Central Europe Exploring the area in a narrow gauge railway Nature trail with information about the avifaun, life of fishermen, hides and watchtowers
Departure time of narrow gauge train: April, May, June, September, October: 10.00, 12.00, 14.00 at Saturday and Sunday Monday-Friday: only with previous registration for groups July, August: 10.00, 12.00, 14.00, 16.00 every day For groups also with previous registration
Entrance fee: one way ticket: 800 HUF/person, 500 HUF/student and pensioner return ticket: 1200 HUF/adults, 700 HUF/student and pensioner, 3100 HUF/family (2 adults and max. 3 children)
Demonstration areas for ecotourists
Hortobágy Great Fishponds Trail
Rich avifauna, watchtowers and hides Traditional and ecological fishing Grazing Water Buffalo herd
Szálkahalom Nature Trail
Watch-tower and burial mound "Szálkahalom" Wind-brake forest Flora and fauna of the alkali and loess vegetation
Egyek-Pusztakócs Nature Trail
Revitalised marshes with rich avifauna Mosaic of different habitats in alkali/loess puszta and wetlands. The famous "salt road" - dirt road with information Bird saving centre
Entrance fee:
Visiting one of the nature trails of the national park: 600 HUF/person/day, 400/student and pensioner/day, 1600 HUF/family/day (2 adults and max. 3 children)
Visiting the nature trails of the national park: 1000 HUF/person/day, 600/student and pensioner/day, 2600 HUF/family/day (2 adults and max. 3 children)
Visiting the nature trails of the national park: 2000 HUF/person/week, 1200/student and pensioner/week, 5200 HUF/family/week (2 adults and max. 3 children)
Fee for professional foreign language (english or german) guiding: Less than four hours: 10000 HUF/group More than four hours: additional 2500 HUF/hour Guidance (special birdspecies) is only available with previous registration by e-mail (info@hnp.hu).
300 year-old stud with Hungarian breeds. Horse-drawn carriage drive into the puszta, visiting famous Hungarian rare breeds such as grey cattle,Nonius horse, water buffalo, racka sheep and woolly pig. Visitors can get an insight into the traditional life of local herdsmen. Possibilities for riding and other programmes in the puszta
Opening hours: from the middle of April to the end of October
Domestic animals in the Carpathian basin National Cowherd and Shepherd Festival held on Whitsunday each year Souvenirs, parking
Opening hours: 15-30 March: from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 31 March - 31 August: from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1 September-26 October: from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 27 October - 17 November: from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1 January - 14 March, 18 November - 31 December: on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
1500 metre board-walk into the wetlands of the lake Information about the flora and fauna, hides and watchtowers
The water trail can be reached by a small ship from the lake end of Poroszló village.
Opening hours: 7 April - 15 June, 1 September - 31 October: at weekends and on bank holidays from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., for groups only with previous registration 16 June - 31 August: every day from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Entrance fee: 900 HUF/person, 600 HUF/student, 1900 HUF/family, 14000 HUF/group (max. 20 people)
Press Release
Informal Meeting of the Agriculture Ministers of the Europaean Union Opening ceremony of the ecotouristic developments of the Hortobágy National Park Directorate - 30th May, 2011, Hortobágy (click here for detailesand click for the photos)
