Hungary: Tourism Without Borders - Iron Way

At the end of summer, common project of Košice Autonomous Region, represented by the town of Spišská Nová Ves, and Hungarian County of Borsod-Abauk-Zemplen, under the name of: „The Tours Without Borders“, getting into opeartion web sites, specialized for the support of excursion activities in both neighbouring regions. So, let´s present the second of them, Iron Way.

This project represents the monuments of mining and iron ore tradition of the region. In past, the area belonged to biggest producers of iron ore in Hungary. At the same time, there are registered there all nature, countryside and other sightseeings. From this reason, Gemer Area was known as  European Iron Heart. In Slovak territory, three preserved blast - furnaces are protected, such as: Karlova huta, Vlachov, Etelka in Nižna Slaná and blast - furnace in Červeňany. Mining history in Spiš-Gemer Ore Mountains is registered in Rožňava Mining Museum (including remarkable mineral-collections and new exhibition of Klopp Orth Mining Tower in Spišská Nová Ves), or standard mining exhibition in Michal Gallery, in underground of former mining schoo building.

Technical Specialities    

In Hungarian territory, many of such monuments are to be found in the town of Miskolc and surroundings. These are, for instance, the following sightseeings:

- Selmeci Monument Library: nearly complete library of Mining and Forest Academy from Banská Štiavnica is preserved there.

- Mining collection in Mexico Valley collects geological subjects of interest and mining monuments, including miningmachines.

- Felsohamor Metalurgy Museum, including respective models, informing about technologies´ development.

- Ancient blast - furnace for burning of wooden coal (Oskoho) in Ujmassa (Bukk National Park), belongs to most important technical monuments of Hungary.

To the other historical industrial centres, close to the Slovak borders, belongs the town of Ozd. Here, you can find a museum and old steel-workers colony, declared as protected area. In the town of Telkibanya, local gold mining is reminded in the building of the oldest Hungary china (porcellain) - factory, established in 1825, as well as Iron Ore and Mineral Mining Museum in Rudabanya, all this was mentioned in our last chapter, dedicated to Gothic Parh.

A Chance for Recognition of Cultural Traditions

Rather longer way variant of this way enables to make better acquiaintance with beauties of the region, make a bath in cave spas in Miskolc or in Zsory Spa, to visit spa resorts as well as a Museum of Traditional People´s Art Matyo in Mezokovesd, or to taste a wine in Cserepfal. In east direction, a couple of kilometres distant from Slovak community of Čaňa, it could be a target in China (Porcellain) Museum  in Hollohaza Longer route on Slovak part is leading across very well preserved forge in Medzev or mining sightseeings in Gelnica, Smolník and Smolnicka Huta.

A part of this educational path could become the experience from some festival held in Miskolc, such as February Jelly Festival (Kocsonyafesztival), Borsod Folklore Festival or Bartok Music Festival (both are organized in June), International Folk Festival Kalaka in July, or Hunting and Wine Festival, held in September in Bukk National Park (Bukki Vadas-Boros Napok).

More detailed information, regarding accommodation possibilities or services reservation on chosen Iron Way, could be got in internet web sites, such as.

spis-gemer.sk , baztour.hu or tourswithoutborders.eu.