Ecotourism
Ecotourism – for lovers of nature
The hotel of Hortus Naturae Hotels chain and its environment in Hortobágy is characterized by eco-conscious construction. Hortobágy National Park, the first national park in Hungary is an ideal place of excursions for ecotourists. It was established more than thirty years ago and has served nature protection and the evolution of ecotourism since then. The unfavorable conditions of agriculture and application of rules of area use motivated the development of farming methods harmonizing with the environment; these methods can be studied in the framework of ecotourism.
Hortobágy Nature Protection and Gene Preservation Non-profit Company switched to ecological farming continuously from its establishment. Recently it’s the largest eco-conscious farming company in Hungary – with a 17-hectare land and a stock of 3000 animals. Their activity has become more and more recognized due to ecotourism. In 2000 the Hungarian Eco-farming Association has been founded with a seat in Hortobágy like Eastern Hungarian Bioculture Association.
Hortobágy Fishponds switched to eco-farming and producing ’bio’ quality fish on its whole area of 5500-hectare fishponds. On the whole more than the third of Hungarian ecological farming area is concentrated in the region defined eco-region by the Directorate of Hortobágy National Park that promotes the boom of ecotourism.
Hortus Naturae Hotels for ecotourism
Ecotourism is enriched by exciting and various programs such as horseback-, carriage-, bicycle trips, walks, migration of cranes and bird spotting in the Hortobágy.
Guests of Hortus Naturae Hotels are provided the possibility of bicycle rental for different trips. In the framework of ecotourism guests can participate in hunting in order to maintain the ecological balance. The scope of games is wide and various: wild-boar, roe, pheasant, wild duck, wild goose, fox and rabbit.
Ecotourism fans can rent a canoe to familiarize with the flora and fauna of River Hortobágy. Those who would like to fish can buy a day ticket to River Hortobágy, a certain section of Western Main Channel and dedicated channels of Hortobágy Fishponds Rt.
Ecotourism – on foot
An important form of ecotourism is hiking. Several trips are offered: by the River Hortobágy to Vókonya; from Máta to Hortobágy-Halastó; from Máta to Karácsonyfok Issue and from Máta to Hortobágy Tározó and back. Lovers of ecotourism can discover the area of the national park also by bike: Hortobágy-Halastó can be reached on the bicycle path next to the railway while the characteristic and rich bird fauna of the area might be observed. an alternative trip for ecotourists leads to the Church Ruins from the age of Saint Leslie and enjoy the spectacular herds of grey cattle, ’racka’ sheep, buffalo and ’mangalica’ pig.
As a part of ecotourism guests are awaited in the Grassland Zoo. Among others and beside formerly mentioned animals of the Hortobágy ’kuvasz’ dog and Nonius horse can be observed; stock keeping methods and devices and the history of typical breeds of the grassland can also be studied. Ecotourism includes familiarizing with buildings and memorials of the ’Puszta’. Among others Hortobágy Pastoral Museum, Nine-Arch Bridge, Hortobágy Nagycsárda, Western Departure Building, Meggyes Inn Museum and Circle Barn provide special experience for guests and offer an insight to the everyday life of people of the grasslands.
Demonstration areas – for ecotourists
The following demonstration areas also serve ecotourism:
Szálkahalom Demonstration Area (accessible from Road 33 at mark 79) About 3-4 thousand years ago nomadic people had built several hills (kurgans, not Cumanian hillocks). In the demonstration area mostly plants and plant associations typical to saline grasslands can be observed.
Marshes of Egyek–Pusztakócs bicycle path (Egyek turnout of Road 33) Marshes of Egyek-Pusztakócs is a real paradise of waterbirds.
Hortobágy Fishpond Demonstration Area (accessible from Road 33 between marks 64 and 65) The area of almost 2 thousand hectares became internationally recognized due to its high priority fauna of waterbirds. Lovers of ecotourism are awaited with watch towers on the demonstration area.
