In autumn, the lookout towers of the Mátra reveal a true riot of colour. Not only can we admire the colourful forests, we can also breathe in clean air, and on sunny days we can see all the way from the Great Plain to the Tatras. Let's make our way from the lowest lookout tower to the roof of the country!
In autumn, the lookout towers of the Mátra reveal a true riot of colour. While admiring the colourful forests, we can breathe in clean air, and on sunny days we can see all the way from the Great Plain to the Tatras. Let's make our way from the lowest lookout tower to the roof of the country!
Kozmáry Lookout Tower (370 m)
Rising right next to Mátrafüred, this stone lookout tower, more than a hundred years old, is one of the symbols of the Mátra. It is named after Kozmáry János, under whose leadership Mátrafüred developed considerably. From the top of the easily accessible tower, a beautiful all-round panorama opens up towards Gyöngyös and the ridge of the Mátra.
Sástó Lookout Tower (507 m)
Originally built as a drilling tower, the 53-metre-high lookout tower was moved to Sástó in 1973. On its terraces, bird identification drawings, tactile carved birds, captioned landscape pictures and a telescope help visitors identify the sights. Everyone should see its magical panorama!
Hanák Kolos Lookout Tower (590 m)
The lookout tower, which could already be visited at the beginning of the last century, commemorates in its name the “father” of Mátra tourism, Hanák Kolos, a lawyer from Gyöngyös. The current small tower is a faithful reconstruction of the original tower, which was destroyed in the meantime; to the south it offers a view of Sár-hegy and Gyöngyös.
Gortva-Jójárt Lookout Tower (764 m)
One of the Mátra's newest lookout towers stands on the summit of Nyikom. At night, a colour-changing illuminated cross can be seen on top of the 22-metre, five-level stone tower, and it has already helped hikers who lost their way in the dark. Another special feature is that it also serves as a shelter: on several floors there are sofas, couches and everything you need to spend the night.
Thuróczy Lajos Lookout Tower / Galya Lookout Tower (955 m)
In the cradle of Hungarian hiking, on Péter hegyese, one of the peaks of Galyatető, stands a lookout tower that has won numerous architectural awards since its renovation; its top three floors house wildly romantic bivouac shelters, protected from wind and rain. Its splendid panorama tempts up even those with a fear of heights.
TV Tower lookout (1,014 m)
At 1,014 metres, Kékes is the “roof of the country”, and the TV tower, which can be divided into three sections, rises a further 180 metres above it. From a covered and an open viewing terrace on its lower level, a breathtaking landscape unfolds that shows a different beauty in every season, and in clear weather even the ranges of the Tatras are visible.
Extra tip: the Kékes circular hike
While you are at Kékestető, it is worth setting off on the 11.5-kilometre hike, which starts from the summit stone at Kékestető, alongside the fence of the TV tower. After leaving the beautiful rock formations behind, the path leads to the saddle of Sötét-lápa. From there, a serpentine trail descends to a fern-covered boulder field, and then we reach the peak of Gabihalála. The route continues towards Pisztrángos-tó, a lake that is home above all to fire salamanders and alpine newts. On the lakeside meadow, benches, a fire pit and a rain shelter invite you to rest, and then a pleasantly undulating path takes you on to the Vörösmarty inn, from where the route continues along the waymarks of the National Blue Trail (Kéktúra).
At Mátraháza it is worth catching your breath a little before the climb up to Kékes. Through a forest adorned with huge “witch trees”, we tackle a serious ascent to get back to the summit. On this moderately difficult hike there is an elevation gain of 430 metres to overcome, but the route can be completed in 4 hours.
More detailed route description and downloadable map: aktivkalandor.hu
Source: Turizmus.com