Szabadkígyós: Castle Park and Wenckheim History

Castle, Park and Local History

If you would like to combine architecture and local history with cycling on a trip, Szabadkígyós offers several specific places to explore. The focus is on Wenckheim Castle and its grounds; both are located in the Körös-Maros National Park. The Wenckheim Crypt adds another dimension to the historical picture: it served as the family’s burial place. The local story therefore encompasses not only the castle ensemble but also family and local history.

A post office operated for 90 years on the grounds of the Szabadkígyós manor. At the Postaház, visitors can talk to one another in different rooms using working rotary-dial telephones. In the cellar of the Intézői Lak, temporary exhibitions showcase works by local amateur and professional artists. While the crypt and former post office highlight the historical heritage, the exhibitions bring local artistic contributions to the fore.

Cycle to the Triumphal Arch

A new 220-metre-long cycle path extends the existing route, allowing you to reach the Triumphal Arch by bike. Check current path conditions before setting out. The Wenckheim Cycle Route forms part of a wider themed itinerary: it includes the castles in Szabadkígyós, Póstelek and Gerla, and also provides access to the architectural heritage of the Wenckheim branch in Doboz. For your planning, there are two scales to consider: a specific destination in Szabadkígyós and a themed route taking in other places.

More to explore in the wider Békés destination

In Anna-liget in Szarvas, Körösvölgyi Animal Park is set in a 26-hectare grove. A walking trail of about two kilometres passes bird aviaries, animal houses, wetlands and spacious enclosures. The Jégmadár Water Nature Trail begins at the park’s pier and follows a stretch of more than one kilometre along the Szarvas–Békésszentandrás oxbow lake. Eight floating buoy stations introduce visitors to the oxbow lake and its animal and plant life, particularly canoeists and rowers without an expert guide. The trail is accessible only by canoe or boat. Another themed trail, the Mágor-pusztai Trail, is just over 500 metres long and showcases the natural and cultural-historical values of the protected area.

The Sterbetz István Bustard Conservation Visitor Centre near Réhely, close to Dévaványa, offers a special opportunity to observe nature: this is the only place in Hungary where you can see great bustards at close range. Guided tours, birdwatching, nature photography, themed programmes and astronomy presentations are available on request. The Réhely Trail starts and ends at the centre.

The collection of the Munkácsy Mihály Museum in Békéscsaba is also among the cultural attractions of the wider Békés destination. It includes natural history, archaeological, ethnographic, historical and art-historical objects. This wide-ranging collection complements the castle and local history that take centre stage in Szabadkígyós.

Discover more destinations: Békéscsaba, Újkígyós.

View the wider travel overview: Békéscsaba.