Discover Bulhary

Bulhary lies in the northern part of the Cerová vrchovina and in the headwaters of a left-bank tributary of the Suchá stream. Its location in this mountain region, the wooded landscape, and the routes described here offer several points of reference for planning a trip. If you are looking for a hotel in Bulhary, you can consider whether you are especially interested in nature and hiking trails or in local history.

Landscape and nature conservation

The area around Bulhary consists of sandstone and claystone, with remnants of basalt lava flows emerging from them. Beech, oak, and black locust forests are also part of the landscape. Geological features and a varied woodland composition thus exist side by side: in addition to sandstone and claystone, basaltic remnants and three named tree species shape the character of the area.

The Kerčík Nature Reserve is located near Bulhary, between Bulhary and Šávoľ, on an isolated basalt outcrop. It protects an area where the Bohemian pasqueflower (Pulsatilla pratensis ssp. bohemica Skalický) grows abundantly among steppe-like, warmth-loving plant communities. Kerčík thus combines the geological feature of the basalt outcrop with a specific nature conservation purpose. For nature enthusiasts, the reserve is a point of interest in its own right, alongside the forests and volcanic remnants.

Trails to Veľký Bučeň

Veľký Bučeň is one of the table mountains of the Cerová vrchovina, stands 514 m high, and forms the highest slope in the northern part of the mountain range. There is a hunting stand and an information board at the summit. Facilities on site may change, so check the current conditions before your trip.

Two routes lead to Veľký Bučeň. A 9 km paved road is also a red-marked cycling route and starts at Fiľakovo’s main railway station. Another option is an approximately 9.5 km yellow-marked hiking trail along the Fiľakovské skaly. It provides another way to reach Veľký Bučeň and passes through hills formed by Neogene basalt volcanism. The routes are similar in length, but differ in their stated type: a paved road and cycling route marking on one, a hiking trail and yellow marking on the other. Check the current condition of the trails and their markings before setting out.

Chapel and local history

The Kaplnka Všetkých svätých in Bulhary is a Neoclassical chapel built in 1849 and restored in 1893. It contains a folk-crafted late Baroque altar dating from around 1800. The dates point to different periods: the altar is dated to a time before the chapel was built, while the chapel itself dates from the mid-19th century. This named building thus brings together Neoclassical architecture and an older late Baroque furnishing.

Another historical trace is the former “Kráľ stromov,” an 800-year-old oak that no longer survives at the site. A cross-section of this tree is held at the town museum in Fiľakovo. The chapel and the oak represent different aspects of local history: a building with an altar on the one hand, and the memory of a tree, represented by a cross-section held in a museum, on the other.

Plan a stay that suits you

When choosing a hotel in Bulhary, you can use the different themes as a guide: the landscape and trails lend themselves to a focus on nature and outdoor activities, while the chapel and oak bring local history into view. If you are planning a trip to Veľký Bučeň, the stated distances, markings, and route types offer concrete points of comparison. Plan around the route that best suits your plans, and check current trail conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Lupoč, Kotmanová, Podrečany, Šíd, Mučín, Lehôtka, Licince, Lovinobaňa

Go to the wider travel overview: Lučenec District.