Mátraverebély: Pilgrimage Site and Hiking Trails

• Section 20 of the National Blue Trail runs from Mátraverebély to Mátraháza; a regional tourism strategy from 2023 gives its approximate length as 25.4 kilometers.
• To reach the Szentkút pilgrimage site, turn off Main Road 21 at Mátraverebély. It is about five kilometers from there, and the route is signposted throughout.
• In the valley of the Szentkúti-patak, a short walk and a marked gorge lead to several named natural features.

Mátraverebély-Szentkút is known for its spring water, which is said to have miraculous powers, and for the statue of the Virgin Mary. Other sights include the Hermit Caves and a group of springs in the valley. These religious and scenic features offer different ways to shape your visit: you can focus on the pilgrimage site or combine your stay with a walk in the valley.

In the valley of the Szentkúti-patak, a short walk leads to a signposted gorge. According to legend, the Szent-László Gap is where the king made his great leap. Farther along the valley are the Köszvényes Spring and a group of three springs. There is a bench and shelter from the rain at the Köszvényes Spring. The hiking trails of Mátraverebély-Szentkút offer suitable options for visitors of all ages.

Section 20 of the National Blue Trail starts in Mátraverebély and runs via Ágasvár, Mátraszentistván, Galya-tető and Vércverés, and the Vörösmarty Tourist House, to Mátraháza. A regional tourism strategy from 2023 describes the route as approximately 25.4 kilometers long. The approximate total distance and the named stops help you plan this section as a standalone part of your hike.

Geological walks for groups are organized at Mátraverebély-Szentkút by prior arrangement. A local app with a guide helps tourists find their way. If you are planning a hike or a group visit, you can consider different ways to explore: trails to discover on your own and a geological activity for registered groups.

At Mátraverebély, turn off Main Road 21 toward Szentkút. The pilgrimage site is about five kilometers away and is signposted throughout. Szentkút can also be reached via Mátraverebély and a five-kilometer access road into the valley. On the day you arrive, the turnoff and the signposted route onward are the main points to use for navigation.

If you would like to include other cultural attractions in your travel plans besides Mátraverebély, the wider destination of Neuburg offers additional options. The old village of Hollókő is a Palóc settlement in Nógrád County and is considered a consciously preserved, living example of rural life before the 20th-century agricultural revolution. This offers a different focus from the religious and scenic attractions of Szentkút.

Museums also add to the choice: the Madách Imre Memorial House in Csesztve has a permanent exhibition on the history of the Madách family, focusing on The Tragedy of Man. In Horpács, the permanent literary history exhibition at the Mikszáth Kálmán Memorial Museum is titled “MIKSZÁTH.” The Pásztó Museum, meanwhile, uses a Baroque Cistercian monastery building, rebuilt in 1717–1718, for its permanent and temporary exhibitions. These examples offer different cultural highlights to consider when choosing what you are interested in seeing on your trip.

To compare other destinations, you can also visit Bátonyterenye, Mátranovák and Szuha. When looking for accommodation, it helps to decide before comparing hotels whether Szentkút, the hiking trails or a broader cultural program will be the main focus of your trip.

How do you get from Mátraverebély to Szentkút?

At Mátraverebély, turn off Main Road 21 toward Szentkút. The pilgrimage site is about five kilometers away and is signposted throughout.

What can you see on a walk in the valley?

The short walk leads to a signposted gorge. The valley also contains the Szent-László Gap, which legend associates with the king’s leap, the Köszvényes Spring and a group of three springs.

How long is the described section of the National Blue Trail?

A regional tourism strategy from 2023 describes section 20, from Mátraverebély to Mátraháza, as approximately 25.4 kilometers long.

How can groups take part in geological walks?

Geological walks are organized for groups at Mátraverebély-Szentkút by prior arrangement.

For the wider travel overview: Bátonyterenye.