Almamellék: Draisine and Forest Railway

The draisine route was built in 2025 and is 530 metres long. It is designed for rides on a pedal-powered draisine; check operating conditions before your trip. The interactive exhibition “Biedermannok Öröksége” is located in the station building. The Zselici Csühögő Forest Railway runs tourist services between Almamellék and Sasrét. Its route is 6 kilometres long and passes through a wide valley with beautiful views. At the departure station, you can visit a forestry exhibition and an exhibition about narrow-gauge railways.

On the draisine, you power the vehicle yourself with pedals; the route built for it is 530 metres long. The forest railway, by contrast, offers a tourist ride along a 6-kilometre route. This is a clear comparison not only of the stated route lengths but also of how you travel: here you pedal, while there you enjoy a ride on a narrow-gauge railway. If you are considering Almamellék as a destination, these differences can help you choose the railway experience that best suits your interests.

The forest railway passes through a wide valley with beautiful views, adding a scenic dimension to the train ride. The draisine route is considerably shorter and offers the chance to ride a pedal-powered draisine. The two activities therefore appeal to different preferences, and you do not have to plan them as one combined tour.

The exhibition themes also differ. “Biedermannok Öröksége” is an interactive exhibition in the station building. At the forest railway’s departure station, the focus is on other subjects, with a forestry exhibition and an exhibition about narrow-gauge railways. If you would like to include exhibitions alongside the rides, note that they are in different locations and check the current visitor arrangements before your visit.

The wider destination of Baranya offers other explicitly regional cultural and excursion themes. In Pécs, the Early Christian Necropolis of Sopianae includes decorated tombs from the 4th century. They were built as underground burial chambers with above-ground memorial chapels and adorned with richly detailed Christian wall paintings. The Zsolnay Cultural Quarter features the “Golden Age of Zsolnay” and “Pink Exhibition”, as well as an exhibition about the family and the factory’s history. For children, it offers outdoor playgrounds, an interactive lab, a planetarium, the Bóbita Puppet Theatre, a ceramic painting workshop and classes at the Hercules Workshop. The freely accessible outdoor area can be entered and used free of charge during opening hours; check current opening hours before visiting.

Another regional highlight is the Ős-Dráva Visitor Centre near Szaporca. It offers an interactive exhibition, a demonstration farming area with hands-on farming activities, and three themed educational trails. These provide information about traditional farming, the Ős-Dráva programme and the wildlife along the Drava. The Wilderness Trail along the Old Drava has a birdwatching and bird-ringing station, a lookout point, a photo shelter, a covered activity area and several rest stops. The farming area features native Hungarian domestic animals, including Hungarian Grey cattle, Mangalica pigs, Hucul horses, and heritage sheep and poultry breeds. So, alongside Almamellék’s railway focus, Baranya also offers its own cultural and nature themes.

Discover more destinations: Ibafa, Somogyhárságy, Nagysziget, Magyarlukafa, Nagydobsza, Hobol, Szulimán, Merenye.

What is the difference between a draisine and a forest railway?

On the draisine, you power the vehicle with pedals; the route is 530 metres long. The forest railway offers a tourist ride along a 6-kilometre route.

What exhibitions are there in Almamellék?

The interactive exhibition “Biedermannok Öröksége” is located in the station building. At the forest railway’s departure station, there is a forestry exhibition and an exhibition about narrow-gauge railways.

What should you check before visiting?

Check the current visitor arrangements for the exhibitions, the draisine’s operating conditions and the forest railway timetable.

For the wider travel overview: Szigetvár.