Bélmegyer: Salt Meadows, Rare Species and Hunting Lodges

Key themes for a trip to Bélmegyer include the saline landscape of Bélmegyeri Fáspuszta, hunting lodges and a designated cycling route. When planning your visit, it is worth bearing the access conditions in mind: the central, strictly protected nature area is not accessible, and Wenckheim Castle is closed to visitors.

Nature in Bélmegyeri Fáspuszta

Bélmegyeri Fáspuszta is a 644-hectare part of the national park; 82 hectares of it are under strict protection. The area is one of Hungary’s last remaining intact salt oak forests. Scattered across the saline pasture are pedunculate oaks several centuries old and old wild pear trees. The area is also home to one of the world’s largest known populations of the endangered moth Gortyna borelii.

The central, strictly protected area is not accessible because of its small size and vulnerability. Check the national park’s current guidance before visiting. Along the road from Vésztő to Bélmegyer, you can also find the locally protected white willow “Öreg hölgy,” also known as “Idős Fehér Hölgy.” It is considered the oldest white willow in Békés County.

Hunting Lodges and History

Béla Wenckheim had Wenckheim Hunting Lodge in Fáspuszta built between 1855 and 1862 to designs by Miklós Ybl. Wenckheim Castle is closed to visitors and can only be viewed from outside the fence; check its status before setting out. Remains of the former English landscape garden and trees more than 100 years old survive around the castle.

Kárászi Hunting Lodge was built on the outskirts of Bélmegyer in the 1860s. The Romantic-Eclectic building is set in a five-hectare park, one hectare of which is protected. Another historic landmark in Fáspuszta is the monument to soldiers from the surrounding farmsteads who fell in the First World War.

Cycling and Other Activities

The 100-km road cycling route of the Körös-100 endurance ride passes through Bélmegyer. If you plan your trip around this event, check the details for the next edition. At Bélmegyeri Vadászkastély, the Disznótoros program gives guests the chance to make sausage and bake bread themselves. Check seasonal availability in advance.

Bélmegyeri Vadászkastély also offers pheasant hunts from mid-November to the end of February, as well as hunting opportunities for roe deer, fallow deer, mouflon and partridge. For these seasonal offerings, confirm availability and booking conditions before making plans.

Getting There and Regional Context

Bélmegyer is accessible by road from Békés, Mezőberény or Vésztő. Check current road and public transport conditions before setting out. This will help you plan your journey around your intended activities without assuming that a particular tour or season will be available.

In the wider destination of Békés, Körösvölgyi Animal Park offers another nature-focused attraction. It is set in a 26-hectare grove and has a walking trail about two kilometres long, with bird aviaries, animal houses, wetlands and spacious enclosures along the way. This regional context adds to the nature and wildlife themes without conflating the landscape of Bélmegyeri Fáspuszta with the park.

Discover more destinations: Doboz, Mezőberény, Békés, Köröstarcsa

Return to the main travel overview: Békési.