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National Park
With its colorful world
of horse-breeding farms, village tourism, wines, food specialties and various
cultural and ethnographical values, the Danube-Tisza Interfluves region provides
great opportunities for tourism. Yet, it is the wonderful landscape that frames
all the attractions. The true aspect of the landscape and the untouched beauties
of nature are to be traced in nature conservation areas..
The Kiskunság National
Park Management Center is in charge of an approximate 284,165 acres of protected
area. 123,550 acres of the total amount comprise the nine separated areas of Kiskunság
National Park. Several landscape-protection areas, nature conservation areas and what
we call 'ex lege' protected areas bulk up to the remaining 160,615 acres of land.
Owing to the outstanding natural values, a number of the protected areas are famous worldwide.
The main objective of the Kiskunság National Park is to preserve and maintain the matchless
treasure, and also to show it to anyone interested in a way that satisfies both tourists'
needs and the topmost aim of preservation.
Our aim with this short introduction is to provide ideas to and suggestions for arranging
a memorable program for those who show both interest and respect for nature.
Upper-Kiskunság Plain (Puszta)
This is a vast sodic lowland plain of the Great Hungarian Plain, the
former flood area of the River Danube with a calcareous-sodic (what
we call solonchak-solonetz type) soil, second in size only to
Hortobágy. It presents a nice variation of sodic meadows,
grazing lands, sodic terraces and 'blind' sodic flats with a
typical vegetation consisting of various salt-resistant and
halophyte species. The vast untouched land gives home to the
largest and steadiest population of the great bustard (Otis) in Hungary.
In the sodic grasslands traditional extensive animal husbandry
is still alive. Typical ancient Hungarian domestic animals,
including the grey cattle and "racka" sheep, are shown in
the live open-air exhibition in Bugacpuszta.
Bugac
This is the largest separate area of the Kiskunság National Park. The amazing variety
of different natural beauties and values include the highly protected Native Juniper
Grove, sand dune forests and sand plains, marshes, bogs, boggy meadows, wet grasslands,
sodic lakes and sodic plains. The sand-dune forests of junipers and poplars accommodate
numerous rare species of plants and animals.
The entrance to the Bugac area of the Kiskunság National Park is at 'Karikás Csárda'
(Karikás Inn), where admission tickets and information leaflets are available. Near
the entrance some replicas of ancient shepherd's buildings, made of reed and wood,
are displayed.
The plain (puszta) can be approached on foot or by horse-drawn carriage.
The cone-shape building of the 'Pásztormúzeum' (Shepherds Museum), showing up nicely
against its background, houses an exhibition of the typical flora and fauna of the
region, and the life of shepherds in the plains around Kecskemét. Horse shows, which
are offered daily in the high season, demonstrate the skilfulness of the rangemen of
Bugac and old shepherd's traditions. Ancient-origin farm animals gazing around revive
the one-time atmosphere of the puszta.
The Lower Plain (Alsó-puszta) and the Bugac Forest (Bugaci Nagyerdő) may be visited
along the Red Cross and the red stripe tourist trails and along the 'Boróka (Juniper)
Study Trail'.
The Red Cross trail leads to a lookout, from where there is a magnificent view over
the Native Juniper Grove, which is a highly protected area and may only be visited
strictly following the marked trail or in the company of a professional guide.
Another sight of interest is the Plain Afforesting Museum, which is situated in an
amazing natural environment.
One of the most important events in the puszta is the 'Bugac Festival', whose main
attraction is the Horse Carriage Qualifying Race, which is organized yearly in the
memory of Imre Abonyi, former world champion charioteer. For those wishing to spend
several days in Bugac, the farmhouses of Bugacpuszta and the Karikás Csárda (Inn)
provide accommodation and catering services.
How to get there: Bugac can be reached on Road 54 from Kecskemét. A side road at the
21st kilometre stone leads to Bugacpuszta. A car park is available at Karikás Csárda.
The puszta can also be approached by a narrow-gauge train service running from
Kecskemét to Kiskunmajsa and back. Some of the trains are what we call 'nostalgia'
trains with old engines and carriages.
Railway station address: 6000 Kecskemét, Halasi út 19. Tel: 76 504 308.
There is a coach service from Kiskunfélegyháza to the village of Bugac.
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