Duna-Dráva NP

0: Zselicség Landscape Protection Area

Territory of the protected area: 8 337 hectares, of which 140 hectares are under increased protection. Location: The landscape protection area includes the central parts of the Zselic hills south of Kaposvár. Visitors: Except for the areas under increase protection it can be visited without restrictions. Management: Directorate of the Danube–Drava National Park The highest ranges of hills of the rolling internal Somogy region form the fascinating area of the Zelic hills. The terrain of varied features is still covered with extensive, unbroken woods. The unparalleled variety of the area with its small and large streams and rills, cold and wet valleys alternating with southern warm sometimes steep sometimes gently rising slopes suitable for vinegrowing and marshy meadows promise memorable tours for the visitors. The general characteristics of the Southern Transdanubia is valid for this region as well: it is a border zone of the Mediterranean, Illyrian, Pannonian and frequently of alpine flora. Its unique flora communities are the result of interesting cohabitation between species of different regions. Beech trees appear on the loess hills of Zselic much lower than the height usual for them and, often in a rare and valuable community, it mixes with the Balkan silver lime reaching this far from the south (its most beautiful example is the fabulous Ropolyi forest rich in game) at the same time the common pine is indigenous in the deeper, cooler valleys of the northern slopes. Dozens of valuable thermophile plants live on the quickly warming up loess soil of the sunny slopes. In addition to the arum, the sweet-William and the vetchling, the dog's tooth violet and the cyclamen blossom in the woods and tourists come to admire the beautiful flower of the white asphodel (Asphodelus albus). The lilac petals of the blossoming autumn / purple crocus seem like a carpet on the autumn meadows. An exceptionally rich assembly of the butcher's broom and the spineless butcher's broom (Ruscus hypoglossum , R. aculeatus) live in the hornbeam and Turkey-oak woods (for example in the Vitorág), and the yellow adonis and the Pasque flower are not rare occurrences either. Somogy county is characterized by the rich mosaic of woods and wetlands, marshy valleys and by their rich flora and fauna and it is true for the Zselic hills as well. On the western part of the protected area near the Ropoly forest is the Bárdi brook, on which a string of fishponds was created earlier. The fishponds are no longer maintained, so the ponds with increasing marsh, floating reed-grass, sedge and reed provides waterfowl with safe and secure nesting and feeding place. Similarly rich marshy habitats can be found east of B?szénfa in the broad valley of the Surján brook. The closed woods and the closeness of water and damp areas cause that several couples of black stork nest in the Zselic. The great white heron, the common and the purple heron are frequent in the marshy valleys and a number of species of ducks, reed and coastal birds hatch in the territory. The white-tailed eagle, the honey buzzard, the green woodpecker, the black woodpecker and a host of small songbirds nest in the woods, which are abundant in deer, boar, red deer, along with the wild cat, the badger, the beech-marten and the otter. Zselic is a region full of values from the aspect of ethnography and social history as well. Man has lived here since the stone age and it was densely populated before the Turkish occupation. The woods still preserve the traces of small villages and larger settlements called towns at that time. However, after its devastation by the Turks it became almost totally deserted. The outlaws living in the really vast, uninterrupted forests of those times were famous all over, the abundance of the remaining outlaw legends recalls the similar stories of Bakony mountain. The Hungarian and southern Slav population of the region made their living from animal husbandry in the woods, fed their pigs on the mast of the woods (the word Zselic also comes from the word zhelod – mast). The characteristic folk architecture of the region is presented in the village museum of Szenna on the western border of the landscape protection area where in addition to the church with painted paneled ceiling tourists can learn a lot about the peasant houses and original structure of the yards of Somogy county ranging from the Zselic hills to the Göcsej area (the barns and other buildings in the outdoor village museum are still in use). http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tk/angtk/zselic.htm

1: Eastern-Mecsek Landscape Protection Area

Territory of the protected area: 9 361 hectares, of which 1 180 hectares are under increased protection. Location: The territory of Mecsek bordered by Komló, Pécsvárad and Szászvár. Visitors: Freely accessible for visitors. Management: Directorate of the Danube–Drava National Park According to the locals Mecsek mountain was created by God in his cheerful mood and you will believe it if you visit it. This is an area of captivating beauty with colourful varied landscape, rich flora and fauna recalling many parts of the world, historical memories including hosts of legends and stories. The mountain is roughly divided into a western and an eastern part by the Komló and Hosszúhetény line. The basically lime stone mountains of eastern Mecsek with its almost seven hundred metre high peak of Zeng? is characterized by broad ridges divided by steep canyons. In addition to the lime stone, Mecsek is also constructed of volcanic stones from the Jurassic period. In addition to the basic stone mentioned above there is good quality coal in quantity worth mining in several places, where heavy industry was developed (unfortunately, it left still unhealed wounds in the landscape). However, the most exciting geological feature of the mountain is the phonolite, this greyish stone emitting an extraordinarily interesting ringing sound, a characteristic of Köves peak and Somlyó. The geomorphology of Mecsek is extraordinarily interesting, because the block mountain is divided by valleys running radiantly almost concentrically from the centre of the mountain near the basin of Kisújbánya (Óbánya (old mine)-valley is perhaps one of the most beautiful ones). This territory is also characterized by the specifics of the flora of the Southern Transdanubia, that is its communities were formed by Pannonian, Illyrian and Mediterranean species. Apart from the geographical coordinates the form and climate of the mountain also play a part in it. The warm, sometimes Mediterranean temperatures, the high number of sunny hours, the ample annual rainfall over 700 mm, the valleys abounding in water (there were times when several dozens of water-mills operated in the valleys of the mountain) and the almost fifty springs create an ideal surrounding even for the most delicate plants. The higher zones of the mountain are covered with beech, the lower parts and the southern slopes with hornbeams and oaks. There are scrub groves on the more exposed rocky parts with poorer soil, while canyon groves can be found in the narrow, cooler valleys. The characteristic feature of the woods in Mecsek is that (as a result of the extraordinary diversity of the ecological factors, the complexity of the soil and surface forms) the wood communities are almost always formed as a mixture of species (the most frequent constituting species are the thermophilous ash-tree and the Balkan silver lime). The precious Mediterranean plants of the eastern Mecsek are the leopard's-bane sp. (Doronicum orientale). The inula sp. (Inula spiraeifolia), the butcher's broom grow in certain territories only, but in abundance, the pink woodruff, the monkey orchid, and the golden chervil (Caerophyllum aureum) as well. Some examples of the very rare woodcock-orchid can also be found in the territory and the giant pink sp. (Dianthus giganteiformis) reaching sometimes the height of eighty centimetres (on Hármas mountain). Still, the most valuable plant of the territory is the beautiful peony (Poenia officinalis), growing in Hungary only here on the Nagymez? on the slopes of Zeng?. The yellow Adonis and the Pasque flower (Pulsatilla nigricans and grandis) as well as the green-winged orchid blossom on some places of Nagymez? stretching over Pécsvárad and Hosszúhetény. One of the most beautiful and largest grove of the sweet chestnut in Hungary can be found on the southern slope of Zeng? where several hundred-year-old trees are not rare. The avifauna of the mountain is very rich, the nesting of more than sixty species is proven: stock dove, flycatcher and collared flycatcher, black woodpecker, green woodpecker, grey wagtail, black stork in the quieter parts hatch here. From among the birds the prey harrier and the common buzzard are considered common, the honey buzzard and the lesser spoted eagle also nest here. Mecsek is also valuable and rich from the aspect of cultural history; hosts of beautiful legends are attached to its fortresses, valleys, stone forms of the mountain: this is the case with the Máré fortress near Várvölgy south of Magyaregregy built after the Mongol invasion of Hungary just as well as to Réka fortress near Mecseknádasd in a beautiful location. Lots of relics from Roman times were found in Mecsek and similarly interesting is the church in Mecseknádasd from the time of the kings descendants of Árpád and the ruins of the abbey of Pécsvárad. Remains of glass-works used by the Germans settled here in the 18th century were found near Óbánya and Kisújbánya while in Máza-Szászvár a mine museum presenting more modern times is open for visitors. It is worth visiting the abandoned village of Óbánya, revived and renovated as a holiday resort as well as the valuable arboretum around the castle of Püspökszentlászló. http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tk/angtk/keletme.htm

2: Southern-Mez?föld Landscape Protection Area

Territory of the protected area: 7 546 hectares, of which 965 hectares are under increased protection. Location: The more than ten larger and smaller separate parts of the landscape protection area are located south of the Dunaföldvár–Cece road, in the triangle between the Danube and the Sió (the protected areas are marked by signs). Visitors: Freely accessible for visitors except for certain parts under increased protection. Management: Directorate of the Danube–Drava National Park Son of the Southern Mez?föld author Gyula Illyés wrote about this county in his book People of the Puszta that the beauty of this land was revealed to him as a child, he started to understand its hidden treasures when he heard about local stories or events, when the knowledge acquired earlier helped him revive the otherwise invisible small worlds. Mez?föld has still not changed from this aspect, the visitor must bend closer to it to recognize its values. The pleasant, soothing view of undulating hills, flatlands, meadows, patches of wood and small areas with stagnant water periodically flooded do not promise much at first sight. But it is worth keeping searching, because our efforts are richly rewarded by Mez?föld. Kölesd The territory of Mez?föld was formed as a result of a geological fault in the Pleistocene, as a result of which an extensive basin lying lower than its surroundings declining to the south was created (roughly from the line of Székesfehérvár to Szekszárd). The northern part of the basin was a marshy wet place till the time of the reclamation and river control works of the 19th century, but the southern part of Mez?föld was even originally characterized by dry loess cover, because the sloping base rock was covered with ever growing layers of loess, which is a good water absorber. First, the Primeval Sárvíz meandered and deposited its alluvium (certain parts of its continuously changing bed can still be recognized), later, at the beginning of the ice age a thick layer of loess was deposited on the lower lying southern parts. That is how the often thirty-fifty metre thick sand and loess ground of the Southern Mez?föld rich in lime was formed (it is freely accessible behind the brick factory of Paks as the loess wall is part of the landscape protection area). Csákvár In contrast to the first sight the place is quite varied. On the one hand it is characterized by the characteristic forms of loess: the slides, these characteristic surface forms created by erosion, on the other hand by phenomena of sandy territories: for example twenty-fifty (but sometimes one hundred) metre high sand hills of identical orientation. The wet, swampy spots have still remained at the bottom of lower parts. Thanks to the good quality loess soil Mez?föld has become one of the granaries of Trans-Danubia. The mosaic structured landscape protection area tries to preserve the communities surviving on the less effectively cultivable lands for posterity. These spots squeezed between the cultivated fields survive as ecological refuges and present the communities, the rare relics of plants once characterizing the southern dries parts of Mez?föld in a concentrated way. Among the characteristic loess forms of Mez?föld the traveller can often find regions where steep walled deep valleys run between the generally parallel rows of larger and smaller hills. These formations are difficult to pass or cultivate thus enabling the survival of loess steppe grass loess steppe lawns nurturing valuable drought resistant plants. For example the area of the loess hill of Gy?r?s (between Dunaföldvár and Dunaköml?d) is not only famous for the beauty of its surface forms but it also gives refuge to the Tartarian sea kale (Crambe tataria) on the brink of extinction. The uncultivated parts of Southern Mez?föld are covered with sand and loess steppe grass. The Szenes pasture near Nagydorog is well-known, here the sand iris (Iris humilis), pink (Dianthus serotinus), the purple golden-drop (Onosma sp.) blossom on its beautiful sand steppe grass. South of Szedres a sea of crocus (Crocus reticulatus) blossom from early spring on the protected steppe grass of the similarly sandy and loess covered area. It is a magnificent sight. Between Tengelic and Paks several tens of thousands of stems of crocus (Crocus reticulatus) can be found on the side of a sand hill covered with sand steppe lawn. The original plant community of Mez?föld is a steppe dotted with trees, remains of the steppe oak woods of which only some imposingly beautiful patches remained for example near Tengelic. Polgárd In the Southern Mez?föld from Alsószentiván to Szedres small marshy, boggy spots remained in a number of places, often with wonderful alders, communities of willows and birches and with valuable herbaceous plants such as the marsh helleborine (Epipactis palustris), the green-winged orchid, the marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata) etc. Several kinds of orchids (early spider-orchid, green-winged orchid and gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe) live in the deeper lying thus wetter fresh loess steppe grass (e.g. under Hardi hill near Alsószentmárton or around Tengelic). Turkish (blue) iris blossom on the wet meadow stretching along the saffrons of Szedres. Perhaps the most beautiful of these areas is the protected marsh meadow at Kistápé formed around a fish pond created on an originally wet and marshy place with its boggy meadow patched with shrubs (grey sallow bushes) groups of alders and birch trees. The yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus) , the gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe) and several species of orchid blossom here as well. The largest unit of the landscape protection area is the territory between Cece, Bikács, Nemeskér and Györköny including in addition to the marsh meadow near Kistápé Ökör hill of Bikács, Látó hill at Németkér and the territory stretching between them. There is a sandy pasture on the more than one hundred metre high sand hill on Ökör hill with protected plants such as the feather-grass (Stipa borysthenica), the sand iris or the pasque flower (Pulsatilla nigricans). The other "hill" on the protected area is the one hundred fifty metre high Látó hill near Németkér with pasque flower (Pulsatilla nigricans) St. Bernard's lily (Anthericum liliago), dwarf iris and purple golden-drop blossoming on its side. The fauna of Southern Mmez?föld is also valuable. Several kinds of rare butterflies, praying mantids and snouted grasshoppers live on the dry grass. The territory offers the sight of the most colourful birds of the country: bee-eaters, rollers, kestrels, hobbies, black storks nest in the woods, loess walls and steppes. In addition to the rich variety of amphibia of the marshy meadows the green and the common toad, the spade-footed toad, the edible frog and the moor frog, the fire-bellied toad etc.) the lapwing and the redshank nest here and the common heron and the great white heron hatch in the fen woods. The mosaic structured cultivated lands and grasslands offer habitat for partridges and quails. Wild cats live in the hornbeam and oak woods, otters in wet places and along the fishponds. http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tk/angtk/delmezof.htm

3: Boronka Region Landscape Protection Area

Territory of the protected area: 8 232 hectares, of which 499 hectares are under increased protection. Location: The landscape protection area is located between Marcali and Nagybajom. Visitors: Freely accessible for visitors. Management: Directorate of the Danube–Drava National Park The sandy table-land of the Boronka region was shaped by the alluvial deposit from the rivers, mainly by the Primeval Danube running here for thousands of years, from which the northern wind formed north-south oriented hardly protruding hills, with larger or smaller streams still among them. (of which the most important are the Boronka and the Aranyos brooks). The brooks sometimes stretch among the hills, creating ponds, marshy meadows, moors, alder marshes on territories without an outlet. The water reserve of the territory is further increased by the fishponds created by the dams on the Boronka brook. Lake system Loess lawns and calciphobic sandy steppes on the higher lying parts alternate with the wood community characteristic of these parts, the Turkey oaks mixed with common oaks and the hornbeams mixed with beech trees. The characteristic form of the landscape is often the gallery-like pasture woods on the dry strips along the brooks. Beautiful alder marshes live on the wetter, marshy places, one of their specifics is that they often mix with elms and ash trees into beautiful woods on the less marshy parts. The rich flora of the territory consists of valuable rare species like the cyclamen, the dog's tooth violet, the lesser butterfly-orchid, the broad helleborine, the yellow lily, or the butcher's broom the beautiful plant of the warmer parts of Turkey oaks. The most beautiful face of the woods by the Boronka can be seen in early spring, when snowdrops and later snowflake can be reaped in the wet woods. The sometimes one meter high common broom lives in a large territory on certain places in the gallery woods. Small house in the woods The valuable and here still frequent insect species of the warm sandy grassland is the snouted grasshopper. The avifauna of the Boronka is interesting as well. The valuable species of the marshy habitats and those of the fishponds are the common heron and the purple heron, the great white heron, several species of ducks, the green sandpiper is often sighted and several songbirds of the reed hatch here. The perhaps most valuable but clearly the most protected species of the Boronka are the black stork, the several couples of white-tailed eagles nesting in the territory, which go for prey from the Nagyberek near lake Balaton to as far as the banks of the Drava river. The black woodpecker, the green woodpecker, the bee-eaters are freqeunt nesting birds along the Boronka. The fishponds provide for a relatively large - in Hungarian respect - and stable community of otters. Fishpond The manager of the area attempts to achieve a complex extensive farming by the Boronka with the involvement of the local population to ensure the sustainable development of the landscape. Horses and grey cattle are kept on the sandy lawns; some of the local residents supplement their income with the collection of wild growing fruits. One of the first masters of the territory significant from the aspect of cultural history was sovereign Fajsz (preserved in the name of the village Somogyfajsz). The area was abandoned after the Turkish occupation, and later southern Slavs were settled here. Presently the unearthing of the ruins of the castle and the small church from Turkish time is under progress. http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tk/angtk/boronka.htm

4: Dávod Földvár-lake Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 74 hectares. Location: The protected area is situated three km to the west of the village Dávod. Visitors: Free of access for visitors. Management: Directorate of Kiskunság National Park The lake with a charcteristic crescent shape, is a similarly highly valuable waterland than other watery areas of the Mohács Island (though under the management of the Duna–Dráva National Park). The main branch of the Danube slowly meandering to the west had left these areas, but a network of its dead branches survived for a long time. Later they got blocked and turned into lakes after a time. The Földvár-lake was turned into a fishpond in the last century, but the extensive cultivation did not significantly changed the natural conditions of the watery areas and the surroundings. Therefore, the lake surrounded by agricultural fields, patches of forests and smaller lawns still provides habitat for an abundant waterland. More than a hundred protected bird species have been counted on the lake lined with reeds and in the neighbourhood including such rarities as the ferruginous duck, the gray leg goose, the black stork, the raven, several tern species, the black kite, or the saker falcon often coming to hunt here. Almost all the heron species hatch in the reeds, but the great crested grebe, the moorhen and several reed songbirds nest, too. The water rail lives in the swampy parts, lapwings and redshanks live a bit further away. Traces of the otter can also be detected around the lake. http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/davod.htm

5: Dunaszekcs? Loess-wall Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 7 hectares. Location: The more than ten km long protected area is situated in the fields of Dunaszekcs?. Visitors: Free of access for visitors. Management: Directorate of the Duna–Dráva National Park This area is one of the less known areas, which facinate everybody who are willing to sepend some time on them. The magnetism of these places in the Carpathian Basin is different form that of the fjords in the north or the untouched natural areas of the Alps. Such areas are not much found in the densely populated regions of the Carpathian Basin – the wonders here tell visitors stories about the inexplicably beautiful entwinement of man and nature. The Danube going to the south cut steep walls of amazing size and formations into the loess ground of the right bank – it is enough to think about the loess walls stretching at Érd, Paks or to the south of Baláta or towards Dunaszekcs?. All of them are heart-warming values of landscape and geology, since the structure revealing itself in the twenty, forty or even sixty meter tall loess walls tells the story of the geologic past. The sight of the river bank at Dunaszekcs? can be seen best from the river or from the other bank at Dunafalva, while the high bank at Dunaszekcs? provides excellent views of the Mohács Island and towards Béda-Karapancsa. The conservation area protects the loess wall and its collateral phenomena – the landslides, the banked in roads – while the flood plains of this reach of the river, the dead branches, smaller mort lakes belong to the main body of the Duna–Dráva National Park. Since the soft- and hard-wooded gallery forests in the flood-plain, the flora and fauna of the banks are just as valuable as those in Gemenc just a few km away. Feeding and hatching places of water birds, reptiles and amphibians and rare fish species live in the wash-land (see more detailed description of them at the Gemenc forest). But there are many more values in the area, the perhaps most interesting of which is yet to come. In the course of history the high bank and the neighbourhood was a rather important point of defence and startegy. Traces of a Roman watch-tower can still be seen on the Szekcs? side and the relics of the ferry tower on the Dunafalva side. However, the area has more historical aspects, as according to some research – mainly that of Tóth József – the system of high walls were also used long before the Romans by nomadic peoples for building defense structures, other earthen structures and for driving water. These large-scale systems constituted – still recognizable – an amazingly designed unity (from the south of Dunaszekcs? as far as Lánycsók, through Báta to Szálka in the north etc.). http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/duszecsk.htm

6: Fekete-mountain Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 95 hectares. Location: The protected area is situated to the south of the village Villánykövesd. Visitors: Except for the highly protected areas it is free of access for visitors. Management: Directorate of Duna–Dráva National Park The samll mountain (or hill) mostly covered with forests is surrounded by agricultural fields. Balkan (Illyrian) hornbeam-oaks blended with silver lime stretch on the northern side, so do beech-blends in colder parts. Karst scrub groves grow in the thin tilth of the ridge, while white oaks live in the warmer southern parts spotted by larger and smaller clearings – covered with calciphilous rock lawns and steppe slopes. These forests have a large role in creating a microclimate less warm than it is typical in the Villány-mountains, therefore the exchange of black pines and acacias – alien in the area – is done slowly, in small steps. The sunny, but humid, not too warm habitat provides favourable conditions for a lot of herbaceous plants. Yellow Adonis, several species of orchids and irises, burning bushes, golden flaxes, cross-leaved gentian (Gentiana cruciata) and further 50 rare protected plants grow in the dense thicket of the forest. Villánykövesd cellars http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/feketehe.htm

7: Nagy-meadow – Arany-mountain Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 101 hectares. Location: The protected area is situated in Keleti-Mecsek. Visitors: Free of access for visitors. Management: Duna–Dráva National Park This area lies in the highest part of the Keleti-Mecsek on the southern side of the peak of the Zeng?. The warm sub-Mediterranean climate is typical of the Mecsek anyway, but the high number of sunny hours is very true for this area. The Mecsek blocks the northern and western winds and the southern exposure of the area reinforces the strength of the sun, which is quite strong anyway in this region. Therefore the 'Nagy-mez?' (Large meadow) looks dry and parched during most of the year, which – beyond the vine yards – is only decorated with the little trees of the thermophile white oak karst scrub forest, the even more thermophile almond and the undemanding wild rose bushes – from June. Nagy-meadow karst Before June one of the prettiest flower of Hungary, the peony (Poenia officinalis ssp. banatica) conjures up a fairy world on the mountainside. This area – the Illés mountain, the Nagy mez? and the neighbourhood of the Nádasdi mountain – is the only presence of this adorable plant with purplish flower in Hungary, but the yellow Adonis, the pasque flower and the green-winged orchid grow at certain parts of the of the former pasture. Masses of orchids and other ravishing protected flowers celebrate the spring from budding to early summer in the forests of the neighbouring Arany-mountain. Without aiming at completeness just e few species dwelling here: green-winged orchid, the rare elder-flowedred orchis, two species of the pasque flower, a local version of leopard's-bane (Doronicum hungaricum) and a special lily growing on sanded areas the (Anthericum raqmosum). http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/nagymezo.htm

8: Mohács Historical Monument Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 7 hectares. Location: The memorial park is situated to the south of Mohács beside the village of Sátorhely. Visitors: Free of access for visitors (opening hours: between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. from April to October). Management: Directorate of the Duna–Dráva National Park The battle of Mohács on 29th August 1526 is the most devastating event in Hungarian history. The Turkish army led by Suleiman inflicted a disastrous defeat on the Hungarian army of twenty thousand. The Hungarian courageous warriors who were killed in the battle and the ones who were executed after the battle were buried in mass graves. These mass graves were uncovered by the historian Papp László, who found two mass graves in 1960, and during further research two more mass graves were identified. On the 29th August 1960 on the 450th anniversary of the battle of Mohács a memorial park was established on the spot. The visitor can enter the park through a wrought iron ornamental gate to a sank circular building with an atrium. Descriptions and images, maps engraved into a stone tablet tell the story of the progress of the battle and that of the building of the memorial place. On the really beautiful grass-covered area radiating an elated atmosphere – above the mass graves – there are more than a hundred wooden headboards of different shape with symbolic meanings, the creations of such renowned artists as K? Pál, Király József and Kiss Sándor. http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/mohacs.htm

9: Jakabhegy Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 223 hectares. Location: The protected area is situated in the eastern fields of K?vágósz?l?s in the Mecsek. Visitors: Free of access for visitors. Management: Directorate of the Duna–Dráva National Park The Jakabhegy, which is prominently rich in natural, geological and historical relics, is the westernmost part of the Mecsek. The characteristic base-rock of the area formed in the Perm at the end of the Palaeozoic is the sand stone of various colours from grey through red to purple. Later a rock – cemented by siliceous geyser eruptions – sedimented onto the soft base-rock at several places. The combination of these two types of rocks resulted the formation of wonderful superficial forms. The far-famed 'babe stones' are superficial forms on the southern rocky, steep parts of the mountain. The more exposed parts of the sand stone was eroded by the wind and rain over hundreds of thousand years, at the same time the at some places the hard siliceous layer of 'cement' protected the rock underneath. These remnant cones are of the shape of human body – with a little fantasy – and according to some touching local legend they really used to be humans. The larger and smaller 'babe stones' stand in singles or in groups at other places providing an impressive sight (the prettiest is perhaps the biggest one called 'Zongor stone'). The plant associations of the mountain – similar to those of the other associations of the Mecsek – hide a lot of precious species. The cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) and the Greek hellebore dwell in the southern side in the thermophile Turkey oak association blended with silver lime. The golden chervil, the spineless butcher's broom, the running clubmoss and a local kind of vetchling (Lathyrus venetus) grow in the hornbeam-oak forests of the northern side. The characteristic plants of the canyon groves of humid narrow ravines are the hart's-tongue fern and the ornamental soft shield fern (Polystichum setiferum) and the satin-flower (moonwort) (Lunaria rediviva). On the bottom of wet valleys there are small patches of alder. The fauna is similar to that of other scenes of the Mecsek: a rich butterfly fauna lives on the warm sides and several species of lizards roast in the sun in large numbers. The rock thrush is relatively common on the rocky areas. The historical assets of the area are also unparalleled. The region has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, which is proved by the finds found here originating from a people defined on the basis of the excavated finds as 'urnfield culture'. Later in the Iron Age the largest system of earthwork in the Carpathian Basin was created on the plateau of the mountain by an Illyrian-Pannon people. The earthworks five to eight m high at places encircle about a sixty hectare area. Besides the earthwork, tumuli and burial vaults were unearthed by archeologists. Later the area was conquered by Celts, then after the Magyar conquest in 1225 a Pauline monastery was built for the monks living in sand stone caves (the ruins can still be seen). http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/jakabhe.htm

10: Szársomlyó Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 224 hectares, of which 129 hectares are under increased protection. Location: The Szársomlyó lies between Villány and Nagyharsány to the south of the road. Visitors: Visiting is subject to permit. Management: Directorate of the Duna–Dráva National Park The Szársomlyó is a 442 m tall inselberg belonging to the Villányi mountains, it stands out even among protected areas with its invaluable scenic, natural, geological and historical treasures. The limestone constituting the mountains sedimented partly in the Jurassic and partly in the Cretaceous periods in the Mesozoic. The several meter thick layers are divided by brick clay containing bauxite. The lime bedrock was folded by quick tectonic movements of varying strength, therefore fault lines came about in the rock during the elevation of the mountains (however, the course of folding up is still in progress). This is the process that resulted the so called renowned 'devil's plough', which was named after the fractures perpendicular to the mountain-side (according to the a lovely local legend, it was the devil that ploughed the mountain-side overnight). The very steep south-southeastern side is even warmer and drier than the nearby mountains of mediterranean climate just the same. The side of the mountain is covered with rocklawn and sloping steppe meadow, with patches of karst scrubforest in some places. The area is one of the last refuge of extremely valuable plants. The saffron (Colchicum hungaricum) and the bird's foot (Trigonella gladiata) and the highly protected Cinanchum pannonicum and the rusty foxglove (Digitalis ferruginea). The fauna of the area is also remarkable. The butterfly fauna of the warm eastern side is especially rich. Lizards live in large numbers (green-, sand-, wall lizard), which makes it an ideal hunting-ground for the short-toed eagle nesting here. Among the reptiles the rare Balkan whip snake is valuable, while among the birds the rock thrush, the bee-eater and the simultaneous presence of three species of buntings: the ortolan bunting(Emberiza hortulana), the rock bunting (Emberiza cia) and the cirl bunting (E. cirlus) are worth mentioning. The northern side of the mountain is very different from the southern slopes: it is covered with hornbeam-oak forest blended with silver lime with such rarities in the forest as the butcher's broom and the spineless butcher's broom, the garden honeysuckle or the pink woodruff. The cultural historical value of the area is also unmatched. It has been inhabited since the Iron Age. Relics from the eras of the Avars, Romans and that of the Magyar conquest in the 9th century were unearthed. A village from the Arpadian Age was excavated at the foot of the mountain. The mountain was endangered for a long time by the mines working at two sites in the mountain. After a long period of struggles the one on the eastern side was managed to have it closed down (in the territory of the abandoned mine, a park of statues was established). The greatest historical asset of the area are the denarius minted for the occasion of the crowning of Saint Stephen came to light during mining. The Kristály cave located in the mountains became well known as a result of mining, too. http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/szarsom.htm

11: Villány Templomhegy (Church-hill) Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 3,2 hectares out of which 2,2 hectares are highly protected. Location: The protected area is situated in the fields of Villány. Visitors: The protected area can be freely toured on the educational paths. Management: Directorate of Duna–Dráva National Park The Villány Templomhegy is located at the easternmost part of the Villány-mountains. The good quality limestone almost 200 million years old was exploited in an surface quarry on the top of the church hill. Very precious finds were excavated during exploitation of the quarry (the quarry is abandoned and protected by the present). One of the most well known finds are the well visible prints of amonites (once lived in the sea which used to cover the area here) – distant realatives of the nautili – in the limestone walls of the quarry. The caves of the churh-hill are just as precious as the fossils. Unparallelled finds of fossilized remains of bones of small vertebrata – mostly rodents – were found in the caves. There is a magnificent view of the neighbourhood from the top of the mountain. http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/villany.htm

12: Melegmány valley Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 709 hectares.
Location: The protected area is situated halfway between Komló and Pécs in Közép-Mecsek. (Central).
Visitors: Free of access for visitors.
Management: Directorate of the Duna–Dráva National Park

The Melegmány valley is not as widely known as the Szalajka valley in the Bükk, though its natural and landscapic values are no lesser that those of its more well known relative. The system of valleys which is a region of adjacent broad valleys and ravines, is situated in the northern side of the central part of the Mecsek. The prettiest karst phenomena are concentrated in this relatively small captivatingly beautiful landscape. This is the world of streams flowing through tuffaceous limestone dams and tiny basins, ravines, sink-holes, water holes and caves of which flora and fauna are also very rich.

The lime content of the carbonic acid water rich in lime spouting out from springs in caves precipitates onto the bottom of the streams, stones, plants when the carbonic acid escapes. Then over these tuffaceous limestone dams, sometimes several m high, does the water of streams rush downwards (the Melegmány stream).

The sides of the valleys are covered with hornbeam-oak forests and beeches. In spite of northern exposure, the valley has a warm micro climate, therefore the forests are mixed with the thermophile Illyrian silver lime. The most valuable species of the undergrowth: the Greek hellebore, butcher's broom, spineless butcher's broom, the golden chervil, the black bryony (Tamus communis), the ornamental soft shield fern and the rusty foxglove. Psychrophilous blind cray fish remnant of the Ice Age live in the caves.
http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/melegma.htm

13: Abaliget cave Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 1 hectare. Location: The protected area of the cave is situated in the fields of Abaliget in the Mecsek. Visitors: Freely accessible for visitors. Management: Directorate of the Duna–Dráva National Park The Abaliget cave is one of the most interesting caves in lime stone. Though it is not a match for the Aggetelek-or the Szeml?hegy caves in Budapest in terms of length, size of the rooms or the richness of the dripstones, but it can offer an instructive excursion in its corridors and rooms, which are easy to survey because of their size. The different phases of dripstone forming can be observed by visitors in the rooms one after the other. On the top of that these dripstones make a magnificent show glittering in all the clolours of the rainbow. The cave is also unique in the aspect that it is the only cave open for the public where the route goes along an underground stream all the way the gurgle of which sounds different in spaces different of shape. An other point of interest of the cave is that most of its rooms came about by the collapse of rocks of several tones, which can be closely observed. The main branch of the cave formed in the Ice Age is about 450 m long, and also there are several hundred m long side branches, too. The rooms can be comfortably toured on the well-maintained pavements protected with bars – the 'Owlery', the Small and the Big Dome, the Library etc. – the ravines and all the corridors. The Abaliget cave was discovered in 1768 by a local miller, though its inner cavity had been used as a wine cellar by the priest of the village (the traditional name of the cave recalls this: priest's hole) much earlier. The cave had also been used by the prehistoric man, Stone Age fireplace was found by researchers in one of the rooms. The cave is visited, besides ordinary visitors, by people suffering from respiratory conditions, because the composition if its air has a healing effect. The flora and fauna of the cave is also interesting. Besides a rare relict blind crayfish from the glacial phase the rooms provide habitat for an especially rich bat fauna. According to local experts about twenty species of bats live in the cave. In the hall of the cave there is an exhibition about the life of bats. http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/abaliget.htm

14: Pintér Garden Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 3 hectares. Location: The memorial park is at 9 Tettye tér in Pécs. Visitors: Free of access for visitors (Open: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. from 1st May to 30th September). Management: Directorate of the Duna–Dráva National Park This arboretum – a real gem – was established on the southern side of the Mecsek by Pintér János at the beginning of the last century. No wonder that various tropical plants feel comfortable in the same way on this area. Originally the area was the orchard of the summer home of the bishop of Pécs (at present the villa is occupied by the Directorate of the Duna–Dráva National Park), which was set up right there, in the southern bay of the former outcrop mine of southern exposure, because it is a 'real trap of heat': the strength of the sun is further reinforced by the steep walls of the mine. The nicely created steps make it easier to walk around the small area of just three hectares ascending steeply. The little artificial pond, the garden pavilion and several statues transported from the statue park in Szársomlyó all add to the beauty of the arboretum. The most precious sight is the almost two hundred species of deciduous trees and shrubs, dozens of species of evergreens, which offer an impressive sight. Visitors can see an Arizona cypress (the only one in Central Europe!), Swiss stone pines (Pinus cembra), Japenese pines etc. The undergrowth of the area is the valuable association of karst lawn characteristic of the Mecsek. The Tettye spring is in the arboretum, which is however closed, not open to the public. http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/pinter.htm

15: Csokonyavisonta Wooded Pasture Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 424 hectares. Location: The protected area stretches to the south of Csokonyavisonta along both sides of the road. Visitors: Freely accessible for visitors. Management: Directorate of the Duna–Dráva National Park Until the 19th man of m extensive oak forests, hornbeam-oak forests mixed with beeches stretched around Csokonyavisonta, just like in other districts of south Somogy. These forests were dotted with large meadows and pastures. Larger agricultural fields emerged only around villages. The special kind of keeping swine the so called masting developed in the regions of Dunántúl at several places from the middle ages with the increase of the population and the livestock. Feeding swine on masts means that the animals are not driven to valuable pastures but to oak- and beech forests, where the development of livestock is ensured with mast. Through centuries forests were cleared at many places, but closed forests became thinner as a result of masting, too. They were replaced with a characteristic man made association called grove or wooded pasture – one of the last representative of this touching scenery is the wooded pasture in Visonta. There lives an annual lawn association on its acidic sanded soil, with several hundred year old oaks solitarily or in little groups at other places. In recent years after giving up pasturing the area began to be more wooded again and it became weedy. Csokonyavisonta is also renowned for its thermal bath, curing rheumatic conditions, and it is worth commemorating the scientist János Xantus, who was born there. Fishing lake near the village http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/csokonya.htm

16: Szentegáti forest Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 235 hectares. Location: The protected area is situated to the south of Szigetvár, beside the village of Szentegát. Visitors: It cannot be visited during hatching time, otherwise visiting is under restrictions. Management: Directorate of the Duna–Dráva National Park The flora and fauna along the Dráva can be surprising for the uninitiated, since the flora and fauna of the plain areas along the river are not characteristic of Transylvania in the first place, but they are rather similar to those of the Dél-Alföld (South). The Szentgáti forest is even more special, because it is the relict of an old meteorological period of the Carpathian Basin. The forest is the relict of one of the shorter cold periods between the great glacials, called the Bükk I. The characteristic montane psychrophilous beech associations such as the Szentgáti forest emerged in this period even in flat areas. Patches of beeches – from earlier cold periods – have survived in a relatively good condition in the predominant hornbeam-oak associations. The undergrowth provides refuge to a lot of montane species: the wood speedwell (Veronica montana), the European ginger (Asarum europaeum), the wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosela), the rue-leaved isopyrum (Isopyrum thalictroides) and the yellow dead-nettle (Lamium galeobdolon) grow in the area. ancient chapel in the forest Further specialty is that on the top of all that a group of thermophile plants corresponding to the region are also present in the forest such as the silver lime, butcher's broom, the black bryony and the thin-spiked wood-sedge (Carex strigosa). This is still not all, because there are such rarities too, as the narrow-leaved helleborine, the common twayblade or the broad helleborine. The precious asset of the fauna of the forest is the red kite couple (Milvus milvus), the only nesting couple in Hungary. Other valuable species: the black kite, the black stork, the tree-creeper (Certhia familiaris), the stock dove, the hobby and the grive draine (Turdus viscivorus) hatch in the forest. http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/szentega.htm

17: Babócsa Basakert Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 13 hectares.
Location: The little protectd area lies beside Babócsa.
Visitors: Free of access for visitors.
Management: Directorate of the Duna–Dráva National Park

There was a Benedictine abbey near Babócsa in south-Somogy in the Arpadian age. Much later in the Turkish era it was an important border fortress, therefore when it was occupied by the Turks a steady military station was established in Babócsa. According to the legend the wife of the Turkish pasha herself planted narcissus in the hayfields near the fortress. It was Mediterranean narcissus angustifoliate (Narcissus stellaris), which is met with in Hungary just sporadically. The district along the Dráva even originally mixed with warm Illyrian elements of flora was taken a liking to by the new plant, so much so that it greatly increased in number marvelously – at present tens of thousands of them make a magnificent show in May and June in the area which is otherwise an orchard. On the top of the magnificent sight the stupefying lively scent of the immense field of narcissus is an experience, too (no wonder that traditional narcissus festivals are held at several places from France to the Carpathians).

Besides the values of nature conservation and those of the landscape, the historical relics of the area are not inessential, either. The ruins of a gothic church from the Arpadian age and those of a Benedictine abbey were uncovered, as well as the remains of a Turkish bath.


http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/babocsa.htm

18: Rinyaszentkirály forest Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 63 hectares. Location: The protected area is situated in the square bordered by Nagyatád, Lábod, Görgeteg and Rinyaszentkirály. Visitors: Visiting is subject to permit. Management: Directorate of the Duna–Dráva National Park The vast contiguous forest – oaks, oak forest mixed with ash and elm, alder marshes, patches of willows covered with water almost all the year round – and immens open water surfaces edged with boggy, bulrush marshes recall the landscape of Bels?-Somogy (inner-Somogy). True that the lakes are not original, but fishponds created by damming up the water of the two streams the Rinya and the Lábodi Rinya running through the area, still they make valuable landscapes and play an important role in the richness of the species of the habitats. Besides several rare protected plant species and a rich amphibian fauna it is the avifauna that is the most precious: the endangered black stork and the white-tailed eagle hatch in the forests, but green sandpipers, common herons, great crested grebes, great white herons and several duck species are regulrly sighted on the fishponds. The chain of fishponds become a true bird paradise during migration times, in winter guests from the north flood the lakes: mergansers and divers and diving ducks. Chapel of St. Hubertus http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/rinya.htm

19: Lake Baláta Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 174 hectares. Location: It is situated in the fields of Szenta and Kaszópuszta to the northeast of Csurgó in Somogy county. Visitors: Visiting is subject to permit of the management. Management: Directorate of the Duna–Dráva National Park The lake Baláta is one of the areas which have been under protection for the longest time. The swampy ancient marsh without an outlet surrounde by fenwood grove at present must be the remains of a once was lake of a larger surface, which took shape in a hollow of about 2 square km in a dish-shaped impermeable layer of clay in a scene divided by sand ridges of southeast-northwest orientation, which is typical of the Bels?-Somogy (Inner-Somogy) landscapes. The water-supply of the lake, silting up in a natural way, is exclusively provided by rain, therefore the level of its water is very changeable. The slow, but continuous decrease of the level of the water is also due to the water control of the surrounding areas. In the southeastern part of the lake the boggy area of the Bojsza-lake, already detached, divided by a dam, is completely dry by now. The lake Baláta is situated at an ideal location in terms of nature conservation, because it lies far from roads. For a long time it was under the control of the Hungarian People's Army, and as such it was a closed area, not accessible for the public. Thanks to that the hardly larger than 1.5 square km ancient marsh survived almost untouched. The majority of the area is covered with boggy reed, surrounded by an alder- and willow marsh, though shrinking, still significant in extension. Besides the thick, almost impenetrable willow-marsh, the other characteristics of the lake Baláta is the nettle alder marsh, which makes it even harder to approach the area difficult to walk around anyway. The specialty of the open water surface, still significant in territory, is the development of floating islands mainly consisting of lesser bulrush (Typha angustifolia) and reed mannagrass (reed sweet-grass) (Glyceria maxima). The greatest sight of the lake Baláta is the insect catching reed-grass called waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa), which has its only habitat in Hungary here (only about fifty habitats of it can be found all over the world). However, less and less specimen were found in the past decades, it is also possible that it has disappeared for good, jut like the other rarity of the marsh at the edge of the lake the purslane (Ludwigia palustris). Still, a larger stock of the marsh cinquefoil (Comarum palustre) and the peat / bog-moss (Sphagnum) can be traced on the floating islands and on boggy areas. The a kind of caldesia (Caldesia parnassifolia) is also common on the area, several species of orchids (Orchis) bloom in the fresh meadows, the fringes of the forests are decorated with the also protected white asphodel (Asphodelus albus). The fish stock of the lake is quite poor, but the reptile and amphibian fauna of the marshy boggy areas are rather rich. Aesculapian snakes, slow-worms, pond tortoises, smooth newts and quite a few species of frogs can also be found on the area. The most renowned is the common viper, the melanic variety of which the black adder only lives here in Hungary. The avifauna of the lake Baláta is still extremely rich, although it has reduced recently as a result of diminishing surface of the water (because of drought) and the rehabilitation of the bird paradise of the Kis-Balaton. Common birds of the area are black storks, moorhens, spotted crakes, kingfishers. The common heron and several duck species are still common and the area is an important station of bird migration in autumn and spring. The field vole, a rare relict from the glacial lives here, too. 1994. 1999. photos credit: Toldi Miklós image source: www.bestcarnivorousplants.com text source: http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/balata.htm

20: Szakadáti Pasture Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 3,5 hectares. Location: The protected area is situated to the south of Tamási, to the north of the village Szakadát. Visitors: Free of access for visitors. Management: Directorate of the Duna–Dráva National Park Mentioning orchids most people will think about the large ravishing flowers of tropical areas. However, others who know and are fond of nature, will be aware that native species of orchids – e.g. early spider-orchid, military orchid – though smaller, are not less pretty than their tropical counterparts. But there are orchids which are not easy to notice even for nature conscious people. A tiny white flower – plain-looking from the distance – blooms on just a few hundred square m hill side used for grazing sheep beside Szakadát, in one of the valleys of the Tolna hill country: the autumn lady's tresses (Spiranthes spiralis). Unbelievable it may be, but this tiny little flower is an orchid, anybody can judge for themselves by taking a closer look at the little, white flowers (sometimes with a purplish shade) running spirally around the almost ten cm tall stem. The loess lawn of the Szakadát hills is an ideal habitat for this little humble orchid. Moreover, they are taken care of by sheep, which eat off all their rivals. The autumn lady's tresses bloom at the end of August or beginning of September, when the scent of the flowers of the stand consisting almost of five hundred stems lingers over this corner of the valley. http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/szakadat.htm

21: Pacsmagi lakes Nature Conservation Area

Territory of the protected area: 487 hectares. Location: The protected area is situated to the south of Tamási, along the road to Regöly. Visitors: Only guided tours are available. Management: Directorate of the Duna–Dráva National Park The economic rationality of man gets twisted from time to time, the beneficiary of which will be nature. For example the Tisza lake, which was originally made to be a storage lake, but because of imperfect survey the silting up area is – according to sharp remarks – became 'the most expensive investment in bird protection'. It is the same story about the Pacsmag lakes: the Koppány valley was an agricultural area until the beginning of the 20th century when the Koppány stream was dammed to create fish ponds. However, because of this intervention the valley transformed entirely. The grounds along the five lakes became boggy, marshy, even areas further away could be used only for grazing. Later the edges of the fish ponds got silted up and the banks were covered with reed, bulrush associations and undisturbed reed islands came about in the inner areas – on the open water surface larger than a hundred hectares. This is how the important – even in terms of European standards (so called Ramsar area) a station for migrant water birds came about. But the about sixty birds nesting here are of outstanding value. The great white heron, the little egret, common and purple herons, dwarf herons and night herons, ferruginous ducks, mallards hatch here. The corncrake getting rarer, the great snipe, the grasshopper warbler and the marsh harrier feel comfortable in the marshy associations of the neighbourhood. White-tailed eagles, black kites, lesser spotted eagles come from the vicinity to hunt here. During migration time thousands of ducks and goose species buzz in the valley stretching among hills recalling paradise. Koppány http://www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/pacsmag.htm