Discover Baranya

The Sopianae necropolis in Pécs includes decorated tombs dating from the 4th century. Siklós Castle and a Gothic section made accessible through the modernisation of the museum wing are the main attractions in Siklós. Near Szaporca, the Ős-Dráva Visitor Centre combines an interactive exhibition with agriculture and nature trails. Villány has a row of wine cellars where wines and food can be sampled year-round.

The early Christian necropolis of Sopianae shows how burial chambers and memorial chapels were designed: the 4th-century tombs lie underground, while the associated memorial chapels were built above ground. The burial chambers are distinguished by richly decorated Christian wall paintings. Those interested in early Christian art and historic funerary architecture will find a different way to explore cultural history here than through the family and factory history of the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter.

The Zsolnay Cultural Quarter offers this second perspective with the exhibitions “Golden Age of Zsolnay”, “Pink Exhibition” and an exhibition on the family and factory history. The quarter also lists several activities for children: outdoor playgrounds, an interactive lab, a planetarium, the Bóbita Puppet Theatre, a ceramic painting workshop and classes at the Hercules Workshop. When comparing cultural attractions, you can therefore consider whether your travel group is interested in exhibitions, hands-on activities or both. The quarter’s outdoor area is freely accessible and can be visited free of charge during opening hours.

The Ős-Dráva Visitor Centre near Szaporca focuses on traditional agriculture, the Ős-Dráva Programme and wildlife along the Drava. Its three themed nature trails provide information about these topics. The site includes an interactive exhibition and a working demonstration farm. Native Hungarian domestic animals are shown there, including Hungarian Grey cattle, Mangalica pigs and Hucul horses, as well as heritage breeds of sheep and poultry.

The Wilderness Nature Trail along the Old Drava adds opportunities for wildlife watching. Its facilities include a birdwatching and bird-ringing station, a viewpoint, a photographic hide, a covered activity area and several rest areas. The two visitor experiences thus differ in their focus: the visitor centre also highlights agriculture and its livestock, while the nature trail provides birdwatching and places to spend time along the Old Drava.

Siklós Castle is one of Hungary’s best-preserved military complexes and also one of the country’s most significant Renaissance buildings. Modernisation of the museum wing made the Gothic section, which had previously been inaccessible to visitors, accessible. When comparing historic buildings, you can consider both the site’s military significance and its Renaissance architecture.

The Kikerics Panorama Trail offers a different experience: it allows safe movement along the cliff edge while protecting the park’s plant life from trampling. At Nagyharsány Sculpture Park, the “Art in Nature” programme includes a guided tour of the sculpture park. These experiences have different emphases—walking along the cliff edge and taking a tour focused on art in the open air, respectively.

In Villány’s row of wine cellars, you can go from cellar to cellar year-round and sample wines and tasty food. This gives travellers a concrete option for combining a trip with regional wine culture and food. By contrast, the historic row of wine cellars in Villánykövesd makes for a beautiful sight. When planning, you can therefore decide whether sampling in Villány or seeing the historic row of cellars in Villánykövesd is more important to you.

For regional orientation, you can explore the following subregions: Sellye, Komló, Matty, Sásd, Pécs, Pécsvárad, Mohács, Szigetvár, Szentlőrinc and Siklós.

What activities does the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter offer for children?

Activities listed include outdoor playgrounds, an interactive lab, a planetarium, the Bóbita Puppet Theatre, a ceramic painting workshop and classes at the Hercules Workshop.

What do the nature trails near Szaporca cover?

The three nature trails at the Ős-Dráva Visitor Centre cover traditional agriculture, the Ős-Dráva Programme and wildlife along the Drava.

Can you sample wines in Villány year-round?

Yes. You can go from cellar to cellar in the row of wine cellars and sample wines and food year-round.

For the broader travel overview: Hungary.