Page 231 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Hungary

THE NOR THERN HIGHLANDS  229

centuries. It was the Rákóczis
who built Szerencs Castle at
the beginning of the 16th
century, today the most­visited
attraction in the town.
Converted to domestic use
after defeat against the Turks,
the castle houses the Zempléni
Museum, which tells the story
of Rákóczi Zsigmond and the
castle’s military history, as well
as boasting the largest postcard
collection in the world (over
The Cave Baths in Miskolctapolca, unique in Europe 900,000). Exhibits also include
period furniture, arms and the
early humans thousands of years over centuries, the caves artistic works of goldsmiths.
ago, all knowl edge of it was lost, contain water that is high in Szerencs’s main source of
and its entrance was rediscovered calcium and magnesium, and wealth and employment was,
only in 1569. The cave was fully is particularly suited for treating until its closure some years
mapped in 1839, and has been joint and back problems. The ago, a huge sugar factory –
open to the public ever since. water is a warm 30° C (86° F) the third largest in Europe.
There are entrances in both all year round. The cave baths In the town’s Sugar Museum
Aggtelek and Jósvafő. Many are surrounded by a large park one can see fascinating
caverns have been spectacularly with a rowing lake, and there details about the history
lit. Parts of the cave are open is also a cave chapel nearby. and technology of sugar beet
to all­comers, but the best way While the 150­m­ (492­ft­) long cultivation and sugar produc­
to view it is on a tour. There cave baths are the primary tion, and displays some 800
are several to choose from, attraction, the resort also offers sugar packages from around
all beginning at the Aggtelek all the attractions of a conven­ the world.
entrance; one tour of 7 hours tional thermal bath com plex, The Gothic Reformed church
takes in a part of the cave complete with sauna, massage on Kossuth tér dates from 1480,
known as Domica under and other treatments, near­ and hosted the Hun gar ian
Slovakian terri tory. Occasionally freezing­cold plunge pools and, parlia ment in 1605. Three
the cave, which boasts splendid on the recreational side, water generations of the Rákóczi
acoustics, hosts classical and slides and children’s pools. family are buried in the crypt.
other music concerts. Szerencs also has an elaborate
though badly weathered
T Baradla Cave e Szerencs Baroque Greek Orthodox
Baradla oldal 1, Aggtelek. Tel (48) 50 church, built in 1799, on Ondi
30 00. Open (guided tours only) Apr– 32 km (20 miles) east of Miskolc. Road utca in the north of the town.
Sep: 8am–5pm daily; Oct–Mar: 8am– Map F2. * 11,000. £ from Miskolc,
3pm daily; Oct: 8am–5pm Sat. & Budapest. @ from Budapest. E Zempléni Museum
The little town of Szerencs is Rákóczi­vár. Tel (47) 77 77 70.
q Miskolc dominated by its historical links Open 10am–4pm Tue–Sun. 8 7
with the Rákóczi family, who E Sugar Museum
See pp230–31. owned the town and much Gyár út 1. Tel (47) 77 77 72.
of the surrounding area for Open 8am–4pm daily.
w Miskolctapolca
Pazár sétány, Miskolctapolca.
Road Map E2. Tel (46) 56 00 30. @
from Búza tér, Miskolc. Open May–
Aug: 9am–7pm daily; Sep–Dec, Feb–
Apr: 9am–6pm daily. & 7 0 -
= ∑ barlangfurdo.hu
The cave baths of Miskolctapolca,
set amid the back drop of the
Bükk Hills, are the most spec­
tacular in Hungary. A vast resort
has grown around the caves,
which, discovered in the 16th
century, have been attracting
bathers ever since. Carved out Szerencs Castle, housing the Zempléni Museum

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