UNESCO sites in Hungary - Hollókő
Source: Pixabay
The UNESCO World Heritage List, which includes the Taj Mahal and the Grand Canyon, and it consists of places of outstanding cultural and natural value, of which Hungary is certainly abundant. Come visit our country's eye-catching locations!
Hollókő-Ófalu and its surroundings
Source: Pixabay
On December 11, 1987, UNESCO decided to add two Hungarian sites to the list of world heritage sites, so Hollókő was added to the list along with Buda Castle and became known worldwide.
The village was built in the 17–18 centuries. It has a unique example of traditional architecture and village life before the 20th century, which has been preserved in its original state. As you approach the village, which is an hour's drive from Budapest, you can already see the castle towering on top of the hill from afar, and then, as you approach the border of the village, visitors are greeted by a statue of a raven sitting on a rock.
In the main street of the settlement stand the world-famous whitewashed farmhouses with porches. Based on the appearance of the buildings, we could assume that they were built at the end of the 18th century, possibly in the 19th century, but in fact they date from later.
Source: Pixabay
Most of the village was destroyed by the fire of 1909.
The buildings on the main street were subsequently rebuilt using traditional techniques: the wooden frame houses were built on stone foundations, with whitewashed walls and porches facing the street with wooden columns.
The world heritage is thus a unit consisting of 55 residential buildings and the church reminiscent of the beginning of the 20th century.
Some of the listed houses are still inhabited today, but several are now used exclusively for tourist purposes, they have exhibitions, and in others, old handicrafts are presented in authentic conditions, and guests can try them out. At the entrance to Ófalu, for example, there is the weaving workshop, where you can find a classic flying weft loom, and you can see the local women at work making woven fabrics with palóc patterns.
The decoration of Hollókő is the imposing 13th-century castle towering above it, from whose legend the village's name derives.
A not too strenuous walking path leads from the village to the hill of the castle, which is worth doing even if you are not interested in castles, as it offers a wonderful panorama of Hollókő and the wooded slopes of Cserhát.
Source: Pixabay
On holidays, the girls put on the famous Hollókő folk costume, which used to reflect the financial situation of the family.
The most important sights of the village can be visited for an entrance fee. Among the practical information, it is also worth noting that you cannot drive into the old village, so it is advisable to park your car in the large parking lot at the end of the village, or you can also arrive by bike.
Nora, OLS Community Manager – Hungarian