Hortobágy National Park

Hungary’s first and largest National Park, as well as the largest salt plain in Central Europe. An area in which a unique shepherding culture has evolved over many centuries, manifesting itself in distinctive traditional styles of clothing and architecture, and the tending of particular types of animals are not found elsewhere. These remarkable features combine to form a unique World Heritage Site.

Did you know...

• During the autumn migration 60 to 70.000 cranes take rest on the Puszta?
• Grey cattle, at one time endangered species, are once again to be found grazing in large numbers?
• The unique life and traditional working methods of shepherds on the Hungarian Puszta have been maintained to this day, the historic network of roadside inns (csárda), dating back to the ancient "salt routes", has also been preserved?
  

Visitor and education centres:

Hortobágy National Park Visitor Centre and Workshop
(Hortobágy, Petőfi tér 13; Tel.: 52/589-000, tel./fax: 52/589-321, info@hnp.hu) – natural history exhibition, National Park tours, open air schools, lectures and courses, lecture hall, conference hall, information office, gift shop, craftsmen workshops.
Open: all year
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 1st May to 31st October Saturday-Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
July-August Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Other demonstration sites:

Hortobágy Great-Fishponds Narrow Gauge Railway
(Hortobágy-Halastó, Tel.: 52/589-000) – unique way of exploring further areas of the fish pond system, which is one of the largest in Central Europe, while viewing the exceptional scenery and rich avifauna of the internal lakes.
Narrow Gauge Railway timetable: April, May, June, September, October: Monday-Friday by appointment, Saturday-Sunday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m.
July, August Monday-Sunday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4.20 p.m.

Hortobágy Shepherd Museum
(Hortobágy, Petőfi tér 1, Tel.: 52/369-040) – housed in a former cart shed and stables dating from the first half of the nineteenth century, next to the celebrated Nine-Arch Bridge. Exhibits detail how animals are raised on the Puszta, and how herdsmen live on the Puszta.
Open:
15th- 31st March and November: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
April and October: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1st May to 30th September: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
 
Hortobágy Sanctuary (Hortobágy Malomháza, Tel.: 52/589-000) – unique presentation of the traditional Puszta’s wildlife in a large sized sanctuary; large carnivore and smaller species, which are difficult to be observed will be accommodated in kennels arranged similarly to their natural habitat.
Coming in 2010.

Körszín (Hortobágy, Petőfi tér, tel.: 52/589-000) – providing an insight into the handicraft trades of the area, souvenir shop.
Open:
15th-31st March and November: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
April and October: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1st May to 30th September: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tisza Lake Water Trail and Nature Trail (1.5 km)
(Tel.: +36-30/466-3300, ) – a glimpse into the wonderful marshy world around Lake Tisza, departing from Poroszló and Tiszafüred boat landings.