Tapio Side (Tápiószecső)

At the point at which the Great Plains and the Godollo Hills meet to the east of Budapest, there is an area still unknown to tourists. The landscape is dominated by hills fashioned by the Ancient Danube which fl owed in a northwest–southeast direction. The hillsides contain valleys and plains typical of the Great Plain area. The upper and lower branches of Tapio Creek join together at Tapioszentmarton and flow into Zagyva. The Tapio Side is a paradise for hikers and tourists. There are 70 protected plant species and nearly 180 species of protected animal in the area. It is also rich in birdlife; two-thirds of the protected animals are birds. The fertile valley and the hillsides belonging to the Godollo Hills hide many settlements that can easily be reached by road (primarily on main road No 31 running towards Jaszbereny), but the Budapest–Nagykata–Szolnok railway also crosses the region. If you want to cycle around the region, alight from the train at Sulysap or Nagykata. If you’d rather take an excursion by car, it is best to arrive from the direction of Monor and take the winding roads to the hills surrounding the Tapio Valley from the west. At springtime the acacia is in blossom, while during the summer the flowers of the poppy fields cover the region. The area between Pand, Kava and Benye is rich in smaller game – hunters worship Goddess Diana here. The Lake of Gomba and Farkasd are ideal places for the “sons of Saint Peter” (the anglers) to try their luck. After a good dinner, you can also try the wine from the grape gardens of Benye and Gomba – an official wine region of Hungary. Starting from Nagykata, before taking the road to Bicske, it’s also worth walking around the town to see the Keglevich Chapel, the Patrona Hungariae statue and the memorials of the 1848–49 Revolution. The memorial dedicated to the victorious battle and the reconstructed bridge – which had a decisive role in the fights of 4 April 1849 – are situated a couple of kilometres from Tapiobicske. The locals commemorate the fights for freedom with a special tradition that dates back to 1882: on 4 April each year they re-create the “bridge battle” in original costume. Each child taking part in the performance used to get a roll as a reward, but today “patriot’s cakes” are given out instead. At the bridge of the Lower Tapio we can turn towards Tapiosag. Here stands the “Riedesel Cross”, which is prominent in Hungarian literature. We can continue on to Tapioszecso, a stronghold of Hungarian carriage driving; you can have a go at carriage driving or horse riding yourself. The main sights in the region are the noble mansions, but the nearby Toalmas has a real palace as well. It used to belong to the Andrassy family, and its 54 acres of protected park were designed by the chief gardener to Palatine Jozsef. (The park can only be visited with permission.) The local thermal beach offers refreshment in summert. We can stay a bit longer in Tapiobicske and make our way from the Baroque Catholic church in the direction of the cemetery to see one of the most beautiful domestic birds, the Bee-eater. The next stop is only 5km away: Tapioszentmarton. The village has become increasingly popular for its Attila Hill. Don’t forget to visit the Kincsem equestrian park and the Kincsem Museum. There are good hotels and restaurants, and super opportunities for lovers of equestrian sports. The hills give way to plains, and the roads are ideal for horse riding. Those who fancy seeing a spot of nature should also head for the Gobolyjaras Wetland next to Farmos Road and the Szik study path at Farmos.

There are seven settlements whose names derive from that of the creek. The best known of them is Tapioszele. Its Blaskovich Museum recalls the atmosphere of 19th-century noble mansions. The house of the noble Blaskovich family was built in the early 19th century, and its beautifully furnished rooms contain collections of weaponry, trophies, paintings, jewellery and pipes. In one of the rooms, we can also see the relics of Kincsem, the wonderful horse from the stud of the Blaskovich family. Kincsem won all of its 54 races during a four-year career. On leaving the Ethnography House, we can proceed along the Feher golya (white stork) study path, and then take a comfortable dirt road. Our goal is Tapiogyorgye, where we find the Gyorgye residence with its protected park (you need to ask for a permission to enter). The old teachers’ house is the home of the Village Museum. Unsurprisingly, there’s yet another thermal bath where we can enjoy some rest and recuperation.