Jászszentlászló: Nature and Bell History

• The Móricgáti láp covers 766.97 hectares, two-thirds of which lie within the territory of Jászszentlászló.
• Kerektó is a salt lake that holds water intermittently and is protected.
• The bell of the settlement’s founders is the only historical memento of the municipality that can still be found today.
• Visiting anglers can buy day permits at several outlets in Jászszentlászló.

The Móricgáti láp combines a precise size with a distinctive natural environment: its wildlife and plant life are highly diverse. The strictly protected Bugac marsh orchid is also found in the territory of Jászszentlászló and in the Móricgáti láp. This gives you two points of focus: the wetland itself and a specific protected plant species.

Kerektó offers a different perspective on the landscape. The lake holds water intermittently, and its shallow water is a popular habitat for waterbirds. It remains protected. Historically, Kerektó served as the municipality’s beach before it filled in naturally during the 1920s and 1930s. Its use as a beach is part of the lake’s history; today, its protected status and importance as a habitat also shape how the place is described.

The bell of the settlement’s founders is connected with the settlement of Szentlászlópuszta and is the only historical memento of the municipality that can still be found today. Its story can be told through several locations: it first stood in the courtyard of an inn built in 1806, later in the courtyard of a school built in 1904, and then in the cemetery.

On February 27, 1927, Reverend Ferenc Szaniszló had the bell installed in the church tower. This sequence links a single surviving memento to specific places and dates in the municipality’s history. Those interested in local history will find a different focus here than in the natural attractions around the Móricgáti láp and Kerektó.

The lakes managed by the association are about 5 km from Jászszentlászló. Visitors are welcome, including anglers, tourists, and others looking to spend a day in nature. Day permits for visiting anglers are available at several outlets in Jászszentlászló, including shops, a gas station, and a pub. As outlets may change, it is best to check this option before your fishing trip.

In the wider Bács-Kiskun destination, the Tiszaalpár, Földvár educational trail focuses on the Bronze Age: it presents the history of a Bronze Age fortification and the way of life of people in that period. In Tiszaalpár, a reconstruction built for the millennium also depicts the settlement layout of an Árpád-era village discovered during local excavations. These attractions provide a distinct historical focus within the wider destination.

Crafts and nature are represented there too. At the Kiskunhalasi Csipkeház and Csipkemúzeum, visitors can learn about the history of Halas lace, which began in 1902, admire lacework dating back centuries, and see the lace-making process. At Lake Szelidi, an educational trail about blue-green algae features twelve information stations covering the lake’s development, the properties of its water, the organisms living there, and the wildlife in the surrounding area. It is accessible on foot and by bicycle year-round; check local conditions before your visit.

Another natural attraction in the wider Bács-Kiskun destination is the Boróka educational trail in Bugac. It is 1,100 metres long and combines information boards with interactive stations, including a forest xylophone and a play telescope. This makes it possible to compare different themes: the nature around the wetland and salt lake in Jászszentlászló, and distinct nature and cultural attractions in the wider destination.

If you would like to compare more destinations, also explore Csólyospálos, Móricgát and Kiskunmajsa.

What characterizes the Móricgáti láp?

The wetland covers 766.97 hectares, two-thirds of which lie within the territory of Jászszentlászló, and it has diverse wildlife and plant life. The strictly protected Bugac marsh orchid is also found there.

What is the history of the bell of the settlement’s founders?

It first stood in the courtyard of an inn built in 1806, later at a school built in 1904, and then in the cemetery. On February 27, 1927, Reverend Ferenc Szaniszló had it installed in the church tower.

What can you tell me about Kerektó?

Kerektó is a protected salt lake that holds water intermittently. Its shallow water is a popular habitat for waterbirds. It served as the municipality’s beach before filling in naturally during the 1920s and 1930s.

To the wider travel overview: Kiskunmajsai.