Hortobágy: Puszta, Horse Breeding and Culture

Hortobágy brings together themes ranging from Neoclassical architecture and horse breeding to shepherd culture and the Puszta landscape. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Hortobágy, these different highlights may shape your choice of destination. The sites and exhibitions offer insights into different aspects of its history and landscape.

Bridge and Shepherd Culture

The Kilenclyukú híd was built between 1827 and 1833 in the Neoclassical style, replacing an older wooden bridge, according to plans by Ferenc Povolny. At 167.3 metres long, it is a distinctive part of Hortobágy’s architectural history. Those interested in architecture will find a tangible point of reference here: the bridge links a clearly defined period of construction with the transition from the older wooden structure to its Neoclassical replacement.

The Pásztormúzeum displays historical memorabilia in a former wagon shed. The building’s former use and its function as a museum bring architectural and shepherd culture together in one place. Another exhibition is located in the former guest rooms of the Hortobágyi Csárda. It explores the history of the Csárda, the lives of travellers and the people who explored the Puszta.

The History of Horses in Máta

Targeted breeding of the Nonius breed began in Máta in the 1880s. At the time, Máta became a centre for horse breeding and the city’s grazing operations. This historical role can be distinguished from the specific visitor opportunities at Mátai Ménes: its grounds are open year-round, free of charge. Check before your visit whether any temporary changes apply.

Landscape and Exhibitions

At Hortobágyi Vadaspark, observation towers offer a bird’s-eye view of the landscape. Admission also includes access to the interactive exhibitions “Hortobágy Természete”, “Darvak Világa” and “Pusztai Kincsestár – A jószág haszna”. Their names point to different exhibition themes; together with the observation towers, they offer visitors interested in landscape and nature a variety of points of interest.

Traditional Cuisine

The Hortobágyi Csárda serves traditional shepherd cuisine and dishes made with ingredients from the Puszta. These include Hungarian Grey cattle, Racka sheep, guinea fowl, Mangalica pork and fish; Hungarian pálinka and wine are also available. The cuisine adds its own culinary focus to the site’s historical themes. When planning your visit, you can therefore weigh up architectural history, exhibitions, horse-breeding traditions, landscape and regional cuisine.

Hajdú-Bihar as the Wider Region

Within the wider destination of Hajdú-Bihar, the Hortobágyi Nemzeti Park – the Puszta World Heritage Site covers nearly 75,000 hectares in the Great Hungarian Plain in eastern Hungary. As a cultural landscape, it preserves visible evidence of more than 2,000 years of traditional pastoralism. This regional perspective complements Hortobágy’s local cultural and landscape themes.

Also within the wider destination of Hajdú-Bihar, the Hortobágyi-halastó nature trail offers walks of 3.6, 5.4 or 10 kilometres, with no difficult sections. The Hortobágyi-halastó pond system is a Ramsar site, an Important Bird Area, part of the World Heritage Site and a Natura 2000 site. The three distances give you a concrete way to compare the routes by length.

Discover more destinations: Tiszacsege, Balmazújváros, Egyek.

Go to the wider travel overview: Balmazújvárosi.