Biel: Sennyey Family Manor, Park and Blueberries

If you’re looking for a hotel in Biel, local attractions can shape your trip planning: the Sennyey Family Manor and its exhibitions, the historic park, the Chapel of the Virgin Mary, fishing ponds near the manor, and the “Zemplín Blueberries” blueberry farm. There’s also cycling on state and field roads used by local residents. Consider whether culture, landscapes and architecture, or activities such as fishing and cycling will be the deciding factor for your stay.

Culture at the Sennyey Family Manor

The Sennyey Family Manor houses a permanent exhibition about the poet Sándor Petőfi. The renovated central section also has a museum that currently features an exhibition about the Sennyey family. The exhibitions have different themes: one is devoted to the poet, the other to the Sennyey family. Check current visiting arrangements before your visit if you plan to see either exhibition.

Building history and architecture

The Sennyey Family Manor is a single-storey, U-shaped building with three wings. It was completed in the Baroque style in 1781 and later remodelled into its present-day Rococo-Classicist form. Between 2007 and 2013, the manor was partially restored as part of the Hungary–Slovakia Cross-border Cooperation Programme. Thus, its Baroque completion, later remodelling and more recent restoration represent different phases in the building’s history. The present-day Rococo-Classicist form dates to the later remodelling and should be distinguished from the Baroque completion.

Park and chapel

A 3.5-hectare historic park surrounds the manor. Its trees include century-old ash and plane trees, as well as other rare species. The park provides a landscape counterpoint to the building’s history: alongside the manor’s form and style, the focus here is on old trees and the historic grounds. The Chapel of the Virgin Mary is a Neo-Gothic building dating from 1854. It originally served as a garden pavilion near the manor. Its history connects two aspects: its original purpose as a garden pavilion and its present form as a Neo-Gothic chapel.

Fishing and cycling

Two fishing ponds near the Sennyey Family Manor are open year-round. They are stocked with African catfish, carp and trout; day fishing permits can be purchased on site. If fishing is part of your trip, check the pond rules and how to buy day permits before you travel. Cycling is another activity to consider: local residents use state and field roads in Biel for cycling.

Blueberries and getting around

The “Zemplín Blueberries” blueberry farm was established in 2012. The berries are grown using environmentally friendly methods, and visitors can taste freshly picked blueberries directly in the orchard. If you plan to sample them, confirm availability in advance. This offers a different focus from the manor and chapel: at the farm, the emphasis is on growing and tasting freshly picked berries. Biel also has a tourist information centre. Check its current opening arrangements before planning a visit.

Discover more destinations: Trebišov, Čierna Nad Tisou, Dobrá, Veľká Tŕňa, Sečovce, Veľaty, Viničky, Veľký Kamenec

For the wider travel overview: Trebišov District.