Vindornyaszolos: Discover Basalt and Nature

Basalt columns, caves and small ponds in depressions shape the nature around Vindornyaszőlős. At Kovácsi Hill, unusual geological formations meet trails that offer different views of the landscape. For planning your holiday, it is particularly useful to know that a circular hiking route starts directly on the eastern edge of the village, with more nature experiences nearby.

Basalt, Caves and Rare Habitats

On the western edge of Kovácsi Hill is a basalt road about one kilometre long. Its columns are 5 to 15 metres high; the area also includes caves and other morphological formations. Vadlány-lik Cave formed at the same time as the basalt road. Cracks developed as a result of tilting and sliding movements, both parallel and perpendicular to the trench of the basalt road. Here, you can encounter not only striking rock formations, but also a specific story of how the cave formed.

Other distinctive features of Kovácsi Hill include the Rakottyás Lakes, a habitat for rare animals and plants. The hill also has basalt dolines, with small ponds in their depressions. These formations give the natural area different facets: columns and caves sit alongside water-filled hollows and habitats where rare species occur. The Vindornya marsh is part of the Balaton Uplands National Park and is also a species-rich habitat, including for protected bird and insect species and protected plants. The names Vindornyalak, Vindornyafok and Vindornyaszőlős recall the villages’ connection with the marsh.

Hiking on Different Trails

An 8-kilometre circular hiking route starts on the eastern edge of Vindornyaszőlős. From the car park, it follows a nature trail to the basalt road, continues to the Rakottyás Lakes and returns to the car park through Kő-árok. The route has 150 metres of elevation gain and takes 3 to 4 hours. This gives you a clear idea of the excursion before you add it to your day’s plans.

Trail markings also help with navigation: from Vindornyaszőlős, the route marked with an S leads to the basalt road on Kovácsi Hill; the nature trail follows the same marking. This is separate from the six-kilometre nature trail, which opened in 1999. It can be reached from Vindornyaszőlős via the quarry and leads to important natural features in the surrounding area. It introduces visitors to the local flora and fauna. The Buruczki Ferenc Nature Trail runs along the side of the hill facing Vindornyaszőlős.

Another hiking idea is the Buddhist stupa on the eastern side of Kovácsi Hill. It can be reached from Vindornyaszőlős on an easy hike. It is considered Europe’s largest Buddhist stupa and was built around a Buddha relic and an 11-metre-high tree of life. Visitors interested in nature trails as well as this remarkable structure can include them as separate reasons to explore during their stay.

Also Interesting for Families

In the centre of Vindornyaszőlős, next to the sports ground, the Vidra Nature Trail and an ecological playground were established in 2008. Both are designed for preschool- and school-age children. So, as well as the trails on the hill, there is an attraction in the village specifically aimed at these age groups. The route to the basalt road and the facilities in the centre are different ways to spend your time, with distinct starting points and themes.

When choosing a holiday rental or holiday home, it may therefore be helpful to consider whether you want to focus your stay mainly on the hiking trails on Kovácsi Hill or on the nature and play facilities in the village. A 30.3-kilometre cycling stage also runs from Zalaszentgrót through Kisgörbő, Vindornyaszőlős and Vindornyafok to Karmacs and Hévíz. It gives cyclists another way to include the village in a longer itinerary.

Discover More Places

If you’d like to explore more places, you can also find Nagygörbő, Zalabér, Kehidakustány, Sénye, Zalaszentlászló, Kallósd, Zalaszentgrót and Zalacsány here.

For the broader travel overview: Zalaszentgrót.