Page 241 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Hungary
P. 241
THE GREA T PLAIN 239
manuscripts, codices and books, way into the park is via
the earliest dating from 1040. Nagybugac. This village is a
At the House of Folk Arts worthy attraction in itself,
(Népművészeti Tájház), the local with its fascinating horseriding
craft society displays and sells displays. The Bugac Stud Farm
its colourful wares in a (Bugaci Ménes) just outside
traditional Puszta cottage. the village puts on daily shows.
These may, however, be
E Paprika Museum cancelled if there are too few
Szent István király út 6. Tel (78) 46 18 spectators; it is best to book
60. Open Apr–Oct: 9am–5pm Tue– an organized tour (www.
Sun. & 8 Hun garian only. 7 bugacpuszta.hu). Not to be
E House of Folk Arts missed are the per formances
Tompa Mihály utca 5–7. Tel (78) 46 of the legendary Puszta Fiver,
15 60. Open midApr–midOct: where one man – usually with One of many birdwatching towers
10am–5pm Tue–Sun. & a moustache as long as his whip in Kiskunság National Park
8 Hungarian only. 7 – rides five horses simultaneously
(see box below). Visitors can ride great bustards, herons and
one of the many thoroughbreds spoonbills can be seen. The
at the stables themselves, and unparalleled flora and fauna in
join a daylong horsebacktour the reeds and marshes around
of the surrounding area. the lake include rare species of
Nagybugac’s tiny Herds men’s orchid, as well as otters, weasels,
Museum (Bugaci Pásztor water snakes, turtles and lizards.
múzeum) exhibits a small The Fülöp háza with its
collection of folk art, costumes shifting sand dunes is a unique
and tools but most visitors to environment in the park and
Nagybugac are merely passing is the habitat of hoopoes,
through on their way to the golden orioles and beeeaters.
park. The village is the gateway Trails around the dunes begin at
to the largest area of the park, the village of Fülöp háza, 30 km
the Bugac – a vast 100sqkm (19 miles) west of Kecskemét.
Early machinery at the Paprika Museum (39sqmile) expanse of grass
in Kalocsa land, marshes, freshwater lakes G Bugac Stud Farm
and reeds. A number of well Nagybugac Ménes. Tel (76) 57 50 28.
marked nature trails start at Open daily. & 7 for horse shows, it
4 Kiskunság the park entrance. is advisable to book in advance with
National Park Birdwatchers should head Herdsmen’s Museum.
Kiskunsági Nemzeti Park for Lake Kolon, northwest of E Herdsmen’s Museum
the Bugac and accessible Nagybugac, Tel (76) 57 51 12.
25 km (16 miles) west of Kecskemét. via the village of Izsák, where Open May–Oct: 10am–6pm daily. &
Road Map D4. National Park Head
quarters, House of Nature, Liszt Ferenc
utca 19, Kecskemét, (76) 48 226 11. Csikós Horse Shows
Open 10am–4pm Tue–Sat. £ from
Kiskunfélegyháza to Bugacfelső; from The equine skill of the Hungarian cowboys (or csikósok; also csikós
Kecskemét to Izsák for Lake Kolon. meaning “wrangler”), goes back as far as the first Magyar migrations
@ from Kis kunféle gyháza to Bugac and was originally military in nature. The Hungarian mounted soldier
park entrance; from Kecskemét to typically carried light weapons and rode light horses without a saddle.
Fülöpháza. n Tourin form Kecskemét, Today’s csikós shows contain much
Kossuth tér 1, Kecskemét, (76) 48 10 65. pseudomilitary posturing, usually
& 7 0 - = ∑ knp.hu beginning with a horse parade and
salute, followed by displays of eques
trian skill, control and dressage. What
Kiskunság is Hungary’s is unusual is the way the csikósok
secondlargest national park can make their horses walk at
after Hortobágy (see 256). Spread almost a crawl: a legacy of fighting
over 759 sq km (293 sq miles), battles in the open plains. The
the park is divided into a highlight of these horse shows is
number of unique natural the Puszta Fiver (pusztaötös): one
habitats, which are not all man riding five horses simultan
interlinked. A visit to the park’s eously. The Fiver’s origins are
adminis tration office, in the unknown – perhaps the rider was
Kecskemét (see pp240–43) bringing back the horses of his A horseman practising for the
House of Nature enables visitors dead comrades after a battle. impressive Puszta Fiver
to get their bearings. A popular
238-239_EW_Hungary.indd 239 18/09/17 3:41 pm
