Discover Villánykövesd

• The three-tiered cellar row consists of press houses, each of which is unique.
• Construction of the cellar village began in the second half of the 18th century; it did not reach its final form until the mid-20th century.
• The Church of the Assumption of Mary features a Neoclassical main altar dating from the 19th century.
• During kerepelés, young people replace the sound of church bells with wooden clappers, from Maundy Thursday until the Easter Saturday Resurrection service.

The cellar village is laid out on three tiers. Although the press houses together form a cellar row, none is exactly like another. Differences can be seen, among other things, in the painted facades and in the colors and patterns of the cellar doors. As a result, individual design features stand out alongside the overall layout: the row is not a uniform block, but a collection of individually designed houses.

Its origins also tell the story of a long development. Construction began in the second half of the 18th century, but the cellar village did not take its final form until the mid-20th century. This time span helps put its present-day layout in context: the familiar three-tiered arrangement was not there in its final form from the beginning. The cellar village also offers a view of nearby Fekete-hegy, a nature reserve.

The Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption of Mary is late Baroque. Its Neoclassical main altar dates from the 19th century. This brings together two different art-historical references in one building: the late Baroque church and the later altar. Visitors interested in architecture and religious art will find another specific point of interest here, alongside the cellar row.

Another expression of local tradition is the Easter kerepelés. Young people use wooden clappers in place of church bells: the custom begins on Maundy Thursday and continues until the Easter Saturday Resurrection service. The community has observed it for as long as anyone can remember. The timing of the custom is easy to factor into travel plans: it takes place during Easter and is not a year-round experience.

Beyond Villánykövesd, the wider destination of Baranya has a range of cultural themes to explore. In Pécs, the early Christian Necropolis of Sopianae includes decorated tombs dating from the 4th century. The tombs were built as underground burial chambers with above-ground memorial chapels and adorned with richly detailed Christian wall paintings. This offers an archaeological perspective on history, while the cellar row and church in Villánykövesd present different architectural and religious themes.

The Zsolnay Cultural Quarter is also in Pécs. Its exhibitions include “Golden Age of Zsolnay,” the “Pink Exhibition,” and an exhibition on the history of the family and factory. Activities for children include outdoor playgrounds, an interactive lab, a planetarium, the Bóbita Puppet Theatre, a ceramics painting workshop and classes at the Hercules Workshop. So, alongside historical sites, Baranya offers exhibitions and a range of hands-on and play-based activities.

Visitors interested in landscapes, agriculture and wildlife will find other distinct themes across the wider destination of Baranya. The Ős-Dráva Visitor Centre near Szaporca offers an interactive exhibition, a demonstration farm area with hands-on farming, and three themed educational trails. These introduce visitors to traditional farming, the Ős-Dráva Programme and wildlife along the Drava. The farm area features native Hungarian domestic animals, including Hungarian Grey cattle, Mangalica pigs, Hucul horses, and traditional sheep and poultry breeds.

The Wilderness Educational Trail along the Old Drava offers another focus on nature observation. Its facilities include a birdwatching and bird-ringing station, a lookout point, a photographic hide, a covered activity area and several rest stops. These themes differ clearly from Villánykövesd’s built historic environment.

Wine and food are also part of the wider destination of Baranya: in Villány’s cellar row, visitors can go from cellar to cellar and sample wines and food throughout the year. This adds a culinary aspect to the architectural and cultural highlights without conflating it with the cellar row in Villánykövesd.

Discover more destinations: Matty, Gordisa, Harkány, Nagytótfalu, Villány, Rádfalva, Magyarbóly, Nagyharsány.

How old is the cellar row in Villánykövesd?

Construction of the cellar village began in the second half of the 18th century. It did not reach its final form until the mid-20th century.

What is kerepelés?

During kerepelés, young people use wooden clappers in place of church bells. In Villánykövesd, this Easter custom lasts from Maundy Thursday until the Easter Saturday Resurrection service.

What is noteworthy about the Church of the Assumption of Mary?

The Roman Catholic church is late Baroque. Its Neoclassical main altar dates from the 19th century.

What can you see from the cellar row?

The cellar village offers a view of nearby Fekete-hegy, a nature reserve.

For the overview of the wider destination: Siklósi.