AVASI LOOKOUT TOWER

Look around from the 72-metre-high lookout tower on the hill rising above the city centre. Miskolc is also worth seeing from above!

The lookout tower is currently under reconstruction and is expected to re-open in December 2023.

Located at the heart of Miskolc, the 72-meter-high lookout tower offers a 180-degree view of the city. A great experience is guaranteed by an open terrace and a cozy coffee house.

A little history:

Avas Look-out Tower was built in 1963 by the plans of Miklós Hófer and György Vörös. It is one of the best-known symbols of Miskolc. Close to the nowadays place of the tower there used to be other towers made of wood in the past, such as Rákóczi Observation Tower.

The first observation tower on the Avas used to be a fire and it was started to build by the Bükk Association of Borsod in 1901. In 1906 there was just a temporary tower, so the construction was finished in 1934 by the plans of Bálint Szeghalmy the city’ s senior engineer. The tower suffered serious damages in 1943, but these were corrigible, but in the winter of 1956 the whole building was burnt down and only its spiral staircase survived.

Nowadays Avas Observation Tower was conveyed in 1963 and since that only a few reconstructions had been, the last one in 2010. 

The 72 m high TV tower waits for the visitors with more  than 180 degrees of view to Miskolc. A frightening fact about the tower is that its maximal deflection is 45 cm.

Distance from the hotel: 3,3 km – 6 minutes by car / 1,4 km – 20 minutes walk

ROW OF WINE CELLARS IN THE AVAS QUARTER

Explore the cobbled streets of this historic row of wine cellars. Today, the nearly 900 cellars and wine houses, most of which are 300 to 400 years old, are bringing the Bükk Wine Region back to its former glory.

The cellar system is part of the forgotten vine-growing and wine-making traditions of Miskolc, which was brought to an end by the “great wine blight” of the late 1800s. Today, only a fraction of the former cellars is functioning and give a hint of the rich history of viniculture in Miskolc (and in particular, in the Avas Quarter). With the planting of vines for wine production, the Bükk Wine Region, also extending to the vineyards of Miskolc, was created in the 1970s. The Zsolt Sándor Winery and the Gallay Craft Wine Cellar are two establishments in the area that are working on restoring the former popularity of the Bükk Wine Region. The Avasi Borangolás (a wordplay created by merging barangolás, i.e. wandering, and bor, i.e. wine) and the Miskolci Fröccsfesztivál (Miskolc Spritzer Festival) are two wine-related events taking place at this row of wine cellars. More than 900 cellars and wine houses, some of which are 300-400 years old, are located in the historic Avas Quarter of Miskolc, on the northern slopes of the Avas Hill. It is unique in Europe to find wine cellars so close to the centre of a big city.

Distance from the hotel: 1,1 km – 3 minutes by car / 1 km – 15 minutes walk

THEATRE

Visit Hungary’s first bricks and mortar theatre located at the pedestrian street of Miskolc and see the most complex ensemble in Central Europe.

The National Theatre of Miskolc is situated in downtown Miskolc on the corner of Széchenyi Street and Déryné Street. In addition to the main stage, the building complex features four other venues named the Hall, the Chamber Theatre, the Playhouse and the Summer Theatre.

A little history:

The people of Miskolc always had an appreciation for theatre and cared deeply about Hungarian dramatic art. After Déryné and her company conquered the city with performances in the old coach house of the Korona Inn, and then later on a temporary stage next to the Sötétkapu, the citizens worried when the company went on tour: will the actors come back? This fear gave the construction of a theatre the last boost it needed, and the people of the County of Borsod let the resident council know their will: “… Miskoltzon, mint Magyar Nyelven beszéllő… vidék közepén fekvő népes mező városban, állandó játékszínt építeni és ki is nyitni akarunk” Read More

DÉRYNÉ GARDEN

Don’t miss the Déryné Garden, located next to the Miskolc National Theatre, during your walk downtown! In the cozy little square, statues of several famous people associated with the theater were erected.

The statue of Jókainé was inaugurated in 2010 at the Garden of Déryné. Roza Laborfalvi Jokainé was born in Miskolc on 8 April in 1817. The National Theatre of Miskolc was opened in 1857 with the drama play of Maroti Ban. Jókaine played the main role in the play. The opening speech of the theatre was told by Mor Jokai. Next to the statue of Jókainé can be seen the statue of Déryné, Endre Latabard and Attila Nagy.

On the backyard of the National Theatre of Miskolc was inaugurated the bronze statue of Endre Latabar in 2007. Endre Latabar was an actor, director, translator and the head of the theatre in the same time. His grave can be visited at the Avas graveyard.

THEATRE HISTORY AND ACTOR’S MUSEUM

The museum, on the site of the first stone theatre in Hungary, was renovated in 2010.
The upstairs exhibition space still retains the spirit and admired relics of the first permanent exhibition, but has been enhanced with modern views, archive footage and interactive elements.
A new feature is the presentation of memorable ensembles and venues of amateur theatre in Miskolc.
Playful program for children: from picture puzzles to colouring-in and paper theatre making, they can explore the world of theatre through a variety of creative activities.
Opening hours: except Sunday and Monday: from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., from 1 June to 31 August: from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Distance from the hotel: 2,2 km – 5 minutes by car / 1,3 km – 15 minutes walk

PANNONIAN SEA MUSEUM

Discover the land of dinosaurs, the Primeval Forest Trails and the minerals of the Carpathians in the Pannonian Sea Museum.

In the geological and paleontological exhibition of the Pannonian Sea Museum, museumgoers can follow the traces of an ill-fated research expedition. The exhibition entitled “Minerals of the Carpathian Mountains”, covering a floor space of about 140 sqm, presents the mineralogical diversity of the mountain range through thousands of exhibits. The Primeval Forest Trails allow visitors to learn playfully about the Earth’s magnetism and various raw materials associated with the Miocene era. You can even witness a volcanic eruption. The museum preserves fossil remains of plants and animals that lived up to 18 million years ago.Read More

Distance from the Hotel: by car 750 m – 2 minutes / on foot 350 m – 4 minutes

 ORTHODOX CHURCH

Visit this unique Zopf-style [a local variant of late Baroque] church, as it features the largest iconostasis in Central Europe.

The construction of the “Holy Trinity” Greek Orthodox church, a protected monument, began in 1785 based on designs by Johann Michael Schajdlet, in Zopf style, which is rare in Hungary.

The construction of the church was necessary because, after the Turkish rule, Greek settlers and merchants settled in Miskolc and wanted to have their own church. At the time, there was no Orthodox church as Miskolc was mainly inhabited by Catholics and Protestants which wouldn’t have made the construction of a new church necessary.

What makes this church so special is that it has the largest iconostasis in Central Europe, a 16 meters high wall of icons and religious paintings showing 87 scenes from the life of Jesus. It also presents the eleven great feasts (to be more precise, in the Orthodox Church there are twelve great feasts, but Easter is considered as the “Feast of feasts”, and thus only eleven are named as “great” feasts). The iconostasis itself was made in the woodcarving workshop of Miklós Jankovits in Eger. With the exception of four, the icons are works of the Viennese painter Anton Kuchelmeister. The devotional picture is a copy of the Mother of God of Ahtirka, and was donated to the church by Catherine I of Russia during her visit to Miskolc.

 A school, hospital and parish were also built next to the church. The churchyard also serves as a cemetery; the oldest tombstones are over 300 years old. The church can be visited by appointment only. Contact information: Mr. István Tóth: +36 30 871 3256

Distance from the Hotel: by car 1.8 km – 4 minutes / on foot 1.6 km – 20 minutes

DIÓSGYŐR CASTLE

Diósgyőr Castle is expected to be closed until 2023 for renovation works.
About 8 kilometres from the downtown of Miskolc, at the foot of the Bükk Mountains, in a beautiful natural environment, one can find the Diósgyőr Castle, which is a prestigious place among the monuments of Hungary. The uniqueness of the equipment of the castle lies in the informal cognition. By moving freely, the visitor can experience the atmosphere of a medieval castle by trying out all things.

Distance from the hotel: 9,2 km – 20 minutes by car