Szabadkígyós: Castle Park and Wenckheim Heritage

• Wenckheim Castle and its castle park lie within the Körös-Maros National Park.
• The Wenckheim Crypt served as the family’s burial place.
• At the Postaház, visitors can talk to one another from different rooms using working rotary-dial telephones.
• A 220-metre extension to the existing cycling route makes it possible to ride to the Diadalív.

The castle and its park connect local history with the landscape of Körös-Maros National Park: both lie within the national park area. The Wenckheim Crypt adds a specific insight into the family’s history, as it served as the family’s burial place. Together, these sites offer different points of interest for a stay focused on architectural heritage and its history.

Local exhibition venues offer further insights into everyday life in the past. A post office operated for 90 years on the grounds of the Szabadkígyós Major. At the Postaház, visitors can talk to one another using working rotary-dial telephones located in different rooms. The cellar of the Intézői Lak hosts temporary exhibitions featuring work by amateur creatives and artists from the town. The cultural offering thus ranges from family and local history to contemporary local artists.

The described extension to the existing cycling route is 220 metres long and leads to the Diadalív by bike. If you plan to use this connection, check the route’s current condition before setting out. The Wenckheim-Kerékpárút also passes the castles of Szabadkígyós, Póstelek and Gerla, and takes in the architectural heritage of the Wenckheim branch in Doboz. This route therefore highlights several sites connected with Wenckheim heritage, while the short local extension specifically describes the ride to the Diadalív.

Another regional option is the themed Wenckheim Tourist and Cycle Route. Along this cycling route, you can discover cultural monuments as well as the region’s natural and distinctive landscape features. If you want to combine cycling with culture, compare the focus of the two routes when planning.

The wider Békés travel destination has other distinct destinations for nature and culture enthusiasts. Körösvölgyi Animal Park is set in a 26-hectare woodland. Its walking trail is about two kilometres long, with bird aviaries, animal houses, wetlands and spacious enclosures along the way. The Jégmadár Water Nature Trail also starts at the park’s jetty: it follows a one-kilometre stretch of the Szarvas–Békésszentandrás oxbow lake and introduces visitors to the oxbow lake and its flora and fauna at eight floating buoy stations. It is accessible only by canoe or boat and is particularly suited to canoeists and rowboaters travelling without an expert guide.

The Sterbetz István Bustard Conservation Visitor Centre offers a distinctive focus of its own: visitors can see great bustards up close only here in Hungary. Guided tours, birdwatching, nature photography, themed programmes and astronomy demonstrations can be requested there. The Réhely Trail starts and ends at the visitor centre; the Mágor-pusztai Trail is just over 500 metres long and introduces visitors to the natural and cultural-historical values of the protected area. These offerings differ in theme and format and should be considered separately when choosing an excursion.

Further cultural points of interest in Békés include the Munkácsy Mihály Museum collection of natural history, archaeological, ethnographic, historical and art-historical objects, and the Kardoskúti Bird Migration Museum’s interactive exhibition about bird migration and the region’s distinctive flora and fauna. Gyula Castle was built in the 15th century and is now the only intact brick lowland castle in Central and Eastern Europe. For a regional perspective on nature and the changing seasons, Bihari Táj Napja takes place every year on the third weekend of May, featuring orchids in the Ugrai Meadow, expert-guided birdwatching at the Biharugra Fishponds, and other specialist and cultural programmes. Check the event dates when planning your visit.

First, consider whether you want to focus on the sights in Szabadkígyós or visit several destinations in the wider Békés travel destination. The regional attractions are spread across different places, so compare your planned destinations with the location of your accommodation before booking. If you are mainly interested in Wenckheim heritage, the castle, crypt and cycling route are the main highlights in Szabadkígyós. For nature-related interests, you can also visit the distinct attractions elsewhere in Békés.

Discover more destinations: Békéscsaba, Újkígyós.

What is included in Szabadkígyós’s Wenckheim heritage?

The local highlights include Wenckheim Castle and its park, the crypt that served as the family’s burial place, and the cycling route, which also takes in the castles of Póstelek and Gerla and the architectural heritage in Doboz.

Can I cycle to the Diadalív?

A 220-metre extension to the existing cycling route makes it possible to ride to the Diadalív. Check the route’s current condition in advance.

What nature destinations are there in the wider Békés travel destination?

Examples include Körösvölgyi Animal Park, with its walking trail of about two kilometres, and the Jégmadár Water Nature Trail, accessible only by canoe or boat. Programmes at the Sterbetz István Bustard Conservation Visitor Centre can be requested.

When does Bihari Táj Napja take place?

The event takes place every year on the third weekend of May. The programme includes wild orchids in the Ugrai Meadow and expert-guided birdwatching at the Biharugra Fishponds, among other activities; check the dates for the relevant year.

Go to the main travel overview: Békéscsaba.