Pilisszentkereszt

The popular hiking destination is located only 26 km from Budapest, in the Pilis Valley. The village is part of Dobogókõ, the highest point of the Visegrád Hills, which is a perfect winter and summer hiking destination and one of the centres of Hungarian skiing. From the Dobogókõ Lookout you can enjoy one of the most beautiful panoramas in the country, with unparalleled views of the nearby mountains and the Danube bend. To the south of the village, you can explore one of the most atmospheric stream valleys of the Pilis, known to most as the Szurdok. The fairytale-like Dera gorge winds between steep cliffs, giving hikers a fairytale atmosphere and a wild and romantic feeling. Along the Dera stream, unfortunately, only the ruins of the Romanesque Cistercian monastery, one of the first in Hungary, can be seen today. It is interesting to note that King Endre II and his wife, Queen Gertrudis, who was murdered in 1213, were buried in this monastery. The well-known tragedy was the subject of József Katona’s drama “Bánk bán”. The ruins of the building are open to the public, but the remains of the tomb can be seen today in the Hungarian National Gallery. For those interested in local traditions, the Slovak Country House has a special exhibition of utensils and folk costumes. The Museum of Tourism (Eötvös Loránd Manor House) presents various branches of Hungarian nature tourism. Other easily accessible excursions include the Preaching Chair, the Thirring Rock, the Wild Standing Stones, the Árpád Castle and the Rám Gorge.