St Elizabeth’s Tour

Woods

In the homeland of Saint Elizabeth 

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Walking pilgrimage on the St Elizabeth Way

  •    Duration: 7 days (6 nights)
  •    Date: at any time for groups or individuals
  •    Route: Sárospatak–Füzér–Košice (Hungary-Slovakia)
  •    Distance: 100 km (~16 km/day)
  •    Difficulty: 2/5 (easy)
  •    Price: from € 330

What you will do and see

In the hometown of Saint Elizabeth, departing from the assumed place of her christening, first we discover the amazing Sárospatak castle of the Rákóczi-family. Then our route leads through the magical Zemplén mountains until we finally arrive at the biggest and most magnificent Gothic Cathedral of Central Europe, the Dome, erected in Saint Elizabeth’s honour. While having a rest in the cathedral, we can once again think about Saint Elizabeth’s life while looking at the beautifully carved medieval Triptych consisting of twelve paintings. On our way we will pass quiet forests, tiny villages, and magnificent castles.

Click and roll down for more information:

    • Six days walking in the untouched, magnificent Zemplén mountains in Northern Hungary
    • Sárospatak: pearl of Northern Hungary, birthplace of Saint Elisabeth
    • Košice: easternmost Gothic Cathedral of Europe erected in Saint Elizabeth’s honour, historic town centre
    • Tokaj Wine Region (UNESCO World Heritage)
    • Mediavel castles: Füzér, Sárospatak and Regéc
    • Visit of the porcelain manufacture in Hollóháza
    • Pilgrim passport and certificate
  • …all this in a small group of fellow pilgrims

1st Day

  • Lunch & dinner: Three-course meal (Restaurant Koronaőr)

Accommodation in Füzér:

  • Guesthouse Erdőgondnok / “The Forest Stewart” (double rooms) &
  • Guesthouse Koronaőr / “The Crown’s Guard” (single rooms)

Family run guesthouses only a minute walk from each other.  The Guesthouse Erdőgondnok is a new one, with up-to-date style, while you may find the Guesthouse Koronaőr an older one, nevertheless, it offers the same comfort.

Guesthouse Koronaőr

2nd Day

  • Breakfast: Continental breakfast (Restaurant Koronaőr)
  • Lunch: one-course meal in a modest restaurant in Hollóháza
  • Dinner: Three-course meal – in the restaurant of the Hotel Aranygombos

Accommodation in Telkibánya:

  • Hotel Aranygombos / “The Golden Button”

A First Class hotel, with wellness facilities (swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna), just by the forest. We will be put up at the elegant apartments of the Balnea Courtyard.

Hotel Aranygombos


3rd Day

  • Breakfast: Buffet breakfast (Hotel Aranygombos – Telkibánya)
  • Lunch: packed lunch in the forest on the way
  • Dinner: Two-course meal- at the Pension Veronika

Accommodation in Regéc:

  • Pension Veronika

A cosy, family-run pension, with a huge garden, sauna and jacuzzi.

Pension Veronika


4th Day

  • Breakfast: continental breakfast (at the Pension Veronika – Regéc)
  • Lunch: packed lunch in the forest on the way
  • Dinner: Three-course meal (in the restaurant of the Hotel Sólyomvár)

Accommodation in Komlóska:

  • Hotel Solyómvár / “The Falcon’s Castle”

A stylish First Class hotel, run by the mayor of the village. You may also enjoy the saunas with a view on the fields and the forest.

Hotel Sólyomvár


5th Day

  • Breakfast: Buffet breakfast (Hotel Solyómvár – Komlóska)
  • Lunch: packed lunch in the forest on the way
  • Dinner: Three-course meal (restaurant of the hotel)

Accommodation in Sárospatak:

  • Hotel Bodrog**** (Bodrog is the name of the local river)

A recently refurbished hotel built in the 1980’s, with a small wellness centre (swimming-pool, jacuzzi, saunas), situated in the town centre. 

Hotel Bodrog


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6th Day

  • Breakfast: Buffet breakfast (depending on the numbers of the pilgrims)
  • Lunch: Three-course meal (Sárospatak)
  Basic package: €330 All inclusive package: €980
Accommodation Pensions and guest houses;
in double rooms (mainly) with bathroom
Good quality hotels and pensions;
in double rooms with bathroom
Single supplement €100 €200
Catering Modest breakfast + warm dinner (packed lunch is available for extra fee) Breakfast + warm or pre-packed lunch (depending on availabilty of a restaurant) + warm dinner
Guidance At 2 places: Sárospatak and Füzér castle At 3 places: Sárospatak, Kosice and Füzér castle
Luggage shipment Yes Yes
Accompanying car Yes Yes
Accompanying person Pilgrim host, who drives the accompanying car, gives all the necessary information and arranges everything, but doesn’t walk with you.
Spoken languages: Hungarian and English, German, French or Italian.
Pilgrim host (see basic package)
+ hike leader, who walks with the group leading all day.
Spoken languages: Hungarian and English, German, French or Italian.
Wine tasting in the world famous Tokaj wine region (World Heritage) no yes
Admission fees no yes
Info pack & map no yes
Canoe ride no yes – we will row the first 5 kilometres of the pilgrimage on the river Bodrog (it is not compulsory)
Traveling to Sárospatak and traveling from Košice no transfer from Budapest or Košice airport
Insurance no no

The prices apply for a group of at least 10 persons.

Of course you can also mix the two packages (e.g. you want the basic package, but with the canoe trip and wine tasting). In this case please contact us, and we will calculate you the best price possible.

Szent Erzsébet szülőföldjén 3
Day 1 (Sárospatak)

On the first day we meet at the Sárospatak railway station, from where we go straight to our accommodation, then take a sightseeing walk in the town. First we visit the starting point of our road, the Gothic style Castle Church and the ruins of the Royal Chapel, which was built in the X or XIth century and where the little Elizabeth was probably baptized. Following the Saint Elizabeth road, we then arrive at the Sárospatak Rákóczi Castle where a tour guide will introduce us to the nearly four hundred year old home of Transylvanian Princes, built in a Renaissance style.

We can also pay a visit to the ancient walls of the Protestant College of Sárospatak where the Moravian teacher, Comenius worked and lived, who was famous for his pedagogical reforms. Those who are interested in natural beauties will also have the opportunity to visit the Megyer Hill tarn as well, which was chosen as the most beautiful natural wonder of Hungary in 2011. .

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Szent Erzsébet szülőföldjén 4
Day 2 (Sárospatak – Erdőhorváti)

Distance: 18 km | Elevation difference: +350 m; –320 m

Our pilgrimage begins!

In the morning we slowly leave the city and arrive in a riverside village called Bodrogolaszi, famous for its mediaeval church. After a little rest, we go off towards the thick forests of the romantic Zemplén, which is one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in Hungary. Following the indicated route, we pass the Szarka(Magpie)-Well resting place first, then we continue our journey near the ruins of the Premonstratensian Darnó monastery (almost nothing can be seen from the ruins unfortunately), and finally we arrive in the spectacularly beautiful tiny village, Komlóska, populated by Rusyns.

Our destination for the day is an other 4 kilometres away: Erdőhorváti. We get to our accommodation by car, and then we can savour the wines of a nearby family vineyard (Tolcsva) during a wine-tasting session.

If you don’t insist on following the official route, the daily distance can be reduced to 14 kilometres.

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Szent Erzsébet szülőföldjén 6
Day 3 (Erdőhorváti – Regéc)

Distance: 13 km | Elevation difference: +650 m; –380 m

During our pilgrimage, we are still walking in the jungle of the Zemplén Mountains: in Erdőhorváti, we may taste the crunchy pretzel that is considered to be a local delicacy, while admiring the village’s wine cellars resembling hobbit-houses, and then, after a long, tiring hike, we arrive in Regéc where the Rákóczi Castle is being renovated.

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Szent Erzsébet szülőföldjén 6
Day 4 (Regéc – Telkibánya)

Distance: 16 km | Elevation difference: +760 m; –920 m

On the fifth day, we will be facing a difficult journey: we go further North from Regéc in the direction of Telkibánya. At Sólyomkő, a wonderful panoramic view lies in front of our eyes, while a nearby memorial park, erected in honour of the Slovak soldiers killed in a 2006 airplane crash, can be visited. The pilgrimage route goes right next to the imposing ruins of the former Pauline Monastery Church established near Telkibánya in 1371.

Eventually, we arrive in Telkibánya, which was famous for its gold mines in the Middle-Ages. Here we can relax under pleasant conditions after an exhausting hike.

This day our trip leads all the way through mountains, far from civilisation and roads, therefore, after the morning departure, getting into the escorting car will not be an option along the entire duration of the trip.

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Szent Erzsébet szülőföldjén 4
Day 5 (Telkibánya – Füzér)

Distance: 15 km | Elevation difference: +610 m; –470 m

After visiting the famous places of Telkibánya, our way leads to Hollóháza, which is famous for its porcelain production: here we can not only get to know the history of the local porcelain production, but we can also take pleasure in the rich porcelain collection of the museum.

At the end of the day we arrive at one of the most beautifully situated castles in the country: Füzér. There was a time when even the Holy Crown was kept in this fortress, which was built on a specific volcanic cone and was incredibly difficult to approach! After occupying our accommodation, we will go for a rather difficult castle tour and then the country house of the village will also be available for visiting.

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Sun shining
Day 6 (Füzér – Nižná Myšľa)

Distance: 20 km | Elevation difference: +450 m; –670 m

This day, we say goodbye to the romantic forests of the Zemplén and, after crossing the border of the country, we continue our route in Slovakia. Having passed the reconstructed walls of the Magdalene Convent hiding near the road, we arrive in Nižná Myšľa (Alsómislye), from where we get to our accommodation by car. Tomorrow, we are arriving at the Saint Elizabeth Dome in Košice, which is the destination of our pilgrimage!

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Cathedral Kosice
Day 7 (Nižná Myšľa – Košice)

Distance: 15 km | Elevation difference: +50 m

We return from our accomodation to Nižná Myšľa by car and then we continue our trip on foot. We go along the bank of the slowly waving river Hernád towards Kokšov-Bakša and, after a persistent march, we arrive in one of the main squares of the most romantic City of Slovakia, Košice. Here we can find the Easternmost cathedral of Europe, the Saint Elizabeth Cathedral, which is waiting for visiting pilgrims. Finally, at the farewell dinner, we will joyfully celebrate and bring our pilgrimage to an end.

Accommodation for the night is possible for extra fee.

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The route of the tour (click on the map):

AttilaHello,

I would like to warmly invite you to walk with me on this pilgrimage.

The magical Zemplén mountains and the town of Sárospatak are one of my favourites. I have been hiking countless times on this enormous extinct volcano, and especially like its historical castles, breathtaking viewpoints and geological forms (e.g.: cliffs).

Being there numberless times, I have learned the whole mountain quite well, just like all the sights in the villages. It would be my pleasure if I could lead you along the St Elisabeth Way, and show you the curiosities and tell you local stories.

See you in Hungary!

Attila Hernády


Our professional partner

The Saint Elizabeth’s Way Foundation

“Make the people happy” (St. Elizabeth)

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