Szenta – Moorland and Protected Churches

Szenta offers two distinct points of interest for a trip: the wetlands around Baláta Lake and the locally protected buildings of its Roman Catholic and Reformed churches. Marshland, marsh forests and diverse wildlife define the nature theme at the lake; the churches add an architectural dimension. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Szenta, these different focal points can guide your plans for your stay.

Baláta Lake: marshland and wildlife

The 174-hectare Baláta Lake lies on the boundary between Szenta and Kaszópuszta and has been protected since 1942. It is a marshy, enclosed natural marsh that is now surrounded by marsh forests and is the remnant of a larger lake. The landscape therefore encompasses more than just a body of water: the marsh, the surrounding forest and the history of the larger lake are all connected.

Baláta Lake has a rich birdlife and a diverse reptile and amphibian fauna. The different animal groups give this natural area several distinct facets. If you are interested in wetlands, the defining themes around the lake include not only the marsh itself, but also its wildlife.

A nature trail near Baláta

Near Szenta, the Dr. Marián Miklós sétány is located at Baláta. The approximately 600-metre-long nature trail runs along a boardwalk over the marsh meadow, offers views of marshland life and protects the natural features it showcases. Its length is on a different scale from the 174-hectare protected area: here, the focus is on a clearly defined route through the marshland.

The nature trail and the protected area thus offer different perspectives on the natural environment. While Baláta Lake is described as a large-scale landscape and habitat, the boardwalk directs attention to the marsh meadow and the marshland life featured there. As you plan, you can consider whether you would like to focus on this particular stretch of trail or primarily on the landscape and wildlife of Baláta Lake.

Szenta on a longer circular route

A regional route description, updated in 2016, lists an approximately 50-kilometre circular route that begins and ends in Csurgó. It passes through Csurgónagymarton, Ágneslak, Iharosberény, Kanizsaberek, Kaszó, Baláta Lake and Szenta. The roughly 50-kilometre loop is on a different scale from the approximately 600-metre nature trail at Baláta.

Local architectural heritage and a special train journey

The church buildings are also part of Szenta’s character: the Roman Catholic church and the Reformed church are both locally protected. Together, they add two specifically named buildings to the nature themes. This means you can include both the wetlands and local architectural heritage in your exploration of Szenta.

The Kaszói Állami Erdei Vasút offers a special train journey to Szenta by individual arrangement. If you would like to include this option in your plans, arrange it directly with the operator. The journey is a separate planning element, alongside the nature trail and the circular route mentioned in the route description.

Choose the focus of your stay

When looking for a holiday apartment in Szenta, it helps to first decide what you would like to focus on during your stay: the marshland and wildlife, the nearby nature trail at Baláta, or the locally protected church buildings. If you also want to take the circular route or special train journey into account, plan for these as separate activities. This lets you choose your destination based on the attractions you actually want to include in your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Csurgónagymarton, Gyékényes, Iharos, Berzence.

Back to the main travel overview: Csurgói.