Békés: Culture along the Körös and regional nature destinations
Accommodation in Békés
Békés can be explored through a range of interests: within the town, the Jantyik-Mátyás Museum and the stretch of the Kettős Körös are key points of reference. The wider Békés destination broadens the picture to include nature and cultural destinations elsewhere. For planning, it helps to distinguish between the two: would you like to explore exhibition venues and riverbanks in the town, or focus on individual themed destinations across the wider area? This question also gives your search for a holiday apartment or holiday home a clear focus.
Körös rivershore at Várkert in Szarvas, one of the wider county's water-oriented settings.
Photo: Globetrotter19 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Water and activity in the town of Békés
The Békési Kishajó kikötő lies on the Békés stretch of the Kettős Körös, on the bank between Dánfok and the weir. The Dánfoki Üdülőközpont is suitable for cycling and water tours. If you are planning a specific tour, check its availability in advance. This lets you shape your stay around your preferred focus: cycling or getting out on the water.
At Dánfok’s free beach, fishing is possible in an area separated from the swimmers. State and local permits are required; check the requirements before fishing. The designated area and permit requirements are important if fishing is part of your plans.
Four museum exhibition venues
The exhibition venues of the Jantyik-Mátyás Museum of the town of Békés include the Békési Galéria, the Nagyház, the Tájház (Békési Ház) and the Iskolamesteri Lakás. The museum’s offerings are therefore spread across four named venues rather than a single exhibition space. This choice is worth considering when planning a cultural day; access to the individual venues may vary.
Nature destinations in the wider Békés destination
Within the wider Békés destination, the Körösvölgyi Animal Park is set in a 26-hectare grove. A walking trail of about two kilometres passes bird aviaries, animal houses, wetlands and spacious enclosures. The Jégmadár Water Nature Trail offers a different way to observe nature: it begins at the park’s jetty and runs along a one-kilometre stretch of the Szarvas–Békésszentandrás oxbow. Eight floating buoy stations present the oxbow and its wildlife and plant life, especially to canoeists and rowboaters without an expert guide. The trail is accessible only by canoe or boat. The walking trail and water route therefore differ both in how you travel and in the nature experience they offer.
Birdwatching is also a feature of other destinations in the wider Békés area. At the Sterbetz István Bustard Conservation Visitor Centre, visitors can see great bustards up close—nowhere else in Hungary. Guided tours, birdwatching, nature photography, themed programmes and astronomy presentations can be arranged on request. At Kardoskúti Fehértó, an internationally recognised wetland, two observation towers are available for birdwatching; the area has been protected under the Ramsar Convention since 1979.
For seasonal nature interests, Bihari Táj Napja offers another point of reference: it takes place every year on the third weekend in May. Visitors can see wild orchids in the Ugrai Meadow, learn about the birdlife of the Biharugra Fishponds with an expert guide, and attend other professional and cultural programmes. The Mágor-pusztai Trail offers a different focus: over a little more than 500 metres, it presents the natural and cultural-historical values of the protected area.
Culture and food in the wider Békés destination
Beyond the town of Békés, cultural themes range from natural history to architecture. The collection of the Munkácsy Mihály Museum in Békéscsaba includes natural history, archaeological, ethnographic, historical and art-historical objects. The castle in Gyula was built in the 15th century and is now the only intact lowland brick castle in Central and Eastern Europe. Those interested in regional food culture will find CsabaPark, a gastronomic event centre that preserves, nurtures and presents the traditions of making Csabai sausage. CsabaPark also hosts the Csabai Sausage Festival.
Choose the right focus for your accommodation search
When searching for a holiday apartment in Békés, it is worth first deciding on your preferred geographical focus: the town’s museum venues and connection to the river, or specific nature and cultural destinations in the wider Békés area. The different offerings appeal to different interests—from a walk and a water route accessible only by boat to birdwatching, history and food culture. Consider which of these themes you would like to shape your trip, and choose your holiday location accordingly.
Discover more destinations
Mezőberény, Doboz, Köröstarcsa, Bélmegyer
Go to the wider travel overview: Békési.
