Trebišov District: Tokaj Wine Region, Nature and Cultural Heritage

Tokaj winegrowing, river landscapes and a rich cultural heritage give Trebišov District a range of travel highlights. In Trebišov, the museum and historic architecture take centre stage; elsewhere, vineyards, cycle paths and protected habitats shape the themes of your trip. As you plan, consider which of these aspects interests you most and choose your outings accordingly.

River landscapes and protected nature

Medzibodrožie is characterised by a network of river branches and habitats that are periodically flooded. Alluvial forests, floodplain meadows and pastures add to this landscape. Protected breeding birds found here include the ferruginous duck, black tern, little egret, great egret, purple heron, bittern, whiskered tern, redshank and European bee-eater. The Východoslovenská rovina offers a different focus: it is predominantly used for intensive agriculture, while its steppe character benefits several bird species.

The Boršiansky les protected area, in the cadastral territory of Borša, protects lowland-type willow and poplar alluvial forests and species such as the stag beetle, brook mussel and European fire-bellied toad. The area covers 7.93 hectares; protection levels two and three apply. The Tajba National Nature Reserve is an oxbow of the Bodrog and is subject to the strictest, fifth level of protection. The critically endangered European pond turtle regularly breeds there; waterbirds are also found there. Observe the restrictions in force in the protected area.

Borsuk is home to a protected occurrence of thermophilous vegetation with rare protected plant species, including Dictamnus albus and Iris pumila. An obsidian deposit was also discovered above the vineyards, in the andesitic area. Nature enthusiasts will find a range of topics here: wetland habitats and birdlife, as well as unusual plants and geological traces.

Tokaj winegrowing and routes through the region

The Tokaj Wine Route runs through Bara, Čerhov, Černochov, Malá Tŕňa, Slovenské Nové Mesto, Veľká Tŕňa and Viničky, as well as Borša, Ladmovce and Zemplín, which are historically connected to the Tokaj micro-region. Trebišov is considered Slovakia’s gateway to the Tokaj wine region. Medieval wine cellars along the Wine Route are hewn into volcanic tuff. The area thus connects wine-growing villages and cellars with a landscape shaped over many years.

A prominent landmark among the vineyards is the twelve-metre-high Tokaj lookout tower between Malá Tŕňa and Černochov. Its shape is reminiscent of a wooden barrel. There is a shelter and a children’s playground at the tower; it serves as a rest stop for tourists, cyclists and families with children, and offers views of the Tokaj region and its vineyards. Check the condition of the facilities on site before your visit.

The two cycle routes described also differ in length and course. The Dolnozemplínska long-distance cycle route runs for 22.5 kilometres from Čerhov to Viničky. A 3.5-kilometre section runs between Borša and Viničky and continues towards Zemplín along the Bodrog embankment. The Lesíkom cycle route is 10.2 kilometres long and connects Čerhov and Veľká Tŕňa via forest tracks through the forests of the Zemplín Hills. Some unpaved sections may be affected by the weather; check current trail conditions before setting out.

A boat trip on the Bodrog starts at a boat harbour beyond Viničky and can go as far as Sárospatak in Hungary or Tokaj. If you plan to take the trip, confirm in advance whether it is currently operating and which destinations it serves. For a further insight into the wine region, the attractions at Borsi Rákóczi Castle are worth exploring: these include an interactive exhibition, an escape room, a virtual experience game and panoramic projections. Check in advance which attractions will be available during your planned visit.

Museum and architecture in Trebišov

The museum in Trebišov is housed in a Baroque-Classical castle in the town park, with a French garden. Its permanent exhibitions explore Tokaj winegrowing and winemaking, including an archive of Tokaj wines. Other topics include the agricultural history of eastern Slovakia, Zemplín folk dress and traditional crafts, historic tractors and internal combustion engines, steam and cable ploughs, the development of threshing, and archaeological monuments in Trebišov District. The specific selection of exhibitions may change.

The Mausoleum of Count Július Andrássy tells another chapter of the town’s history. It was built in 1893 in the Neo-Gothic style, based on a design by German architect Arthur Meining. The sarcophagus was made between 1893 and 1895 by Budapest sculptor Juraj Zala. The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary has been a national cultural monument since 1963. The choir and nave feature Rococo paintings in 63 fields of the Gothic net vault—a remarkable interplay between the shape of the vault and its later decoration.

Discover more destinations:

Čierna Nad Tisou, Veľký Kamenec, Trebišov, Biel, Sečovce, Veľaty, Veľká Tŕňa, Viničky, Dobrá

For the broader travel overview: Košice.