Discover Olcsva: Castle and Fishing Lake

Olcsva: Castle, Memory and Fishing Lake

Olcsva brings together a turbulent castle past and a fishing lake in the heart of the town. This gives your stay two distinct points of interest: the history of Olcsvai Kastély and time spent at the Holt-Kraszna Fishing Lake. The bust of Sándor Károlyi in the park south of the Reformed Church is another tangible historical connection to the town. Choosing which of these topics to explore can give your stay a clear focus.

The Building History of Olcsvai Kastély

King Ferdinand’s troops besieged and captured the fortified castle of Olcsva in 1561. The Károlyi family rebuilt Olcsvai Kastély in 1699; after this reconstruction, it was a multi-storey complex consisting of several buildings. Olcsvai Kastély burned down in 1703 and was rebuilt by Count Sándor Károlyi in 1708–1709. Francis II Rákóczi visited the complex in February 1711. The complex was demolished between 1777 and 1791.

Sándor Károlyi thus features in the town’s history in two roles: as the person who rebuilt Olcsvai Kastély and as the person whose bust stands in the park south of the Reformed Church.

The Holt-Kraszna Fishing Lake

The Holt-Kraszna Fishing Lake lies in the heart of Olcsva. The Olcsva Angling Association manages the lake and regularly stocks it with fish. The lake welcomes anglers as well as those seeking relaxation. Its focus differs from that of the historic castle: here, the emphasis is on a managed body of water and regular fish stocking. Access requires a fishing permit; take this requirement into account when planning your visit.

More to Explore in the Wider Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg Destination

The wider destination of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg also offers a range of historical highlights. In Vaja, the Vay-Ádám Museum Collection of the Hungarian National Museum is housed in the Renaissance-style Vay Castle. Báthori Castle in Nyírbátor has a permanent exhibition and a waxwork display depicting members of the Báthori family in period settings. Andrássy Castle in Tiszadob was built between 1880 and 1885 in the French Gothic style by former Prime Minister Gyula Andrássy, to designs by Ignác Alpár. These examples range from a museum collection and depictions of the Báthori family to castle architecture.

The region’s natural landscapes offer a variety of highlights too. Bátorliget Moor covers about 53 hectares and is strictly protected; it preserves particularly well the different stages in the vegetation and landscape history of the Alföld plain. Cégénydányád Park Nature Reserve currently covers 14.28 hectares. Near Csaroda lie the distinctive peat bogs of Nyíres-tó and Báb tava, whose origins date back to the Ice Age. Near Tiszadob, a 1,000-hectare nature reserve includes oxbow lakes, riparian forests and grassland. A colony of 80 to 90 pairs of herons nests in Tölgyes Forest.

Another regional cultural highlight is the northern Hungarian section of the Route of Medieval Churches, which connects 37 churches in the medieval church landscape of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg.

Discover more destinations: Vásárosnamény, Gelénes, Csaroda

Return to the wider travel overview: Vásárosnaményi.