Unique Attractions Make the Tokaj Wine Region a Must-See Destination

The lovely vineyards may be hibernating in mid-February, but even in this quiet period, local professionals are working tirelessly in the famous Tokaj wine region, Turizmus.com reports.

The website, mapping the region’s offers, writes that the Tokaj-Hegyalja region has experienced dynamic growth in recent years as one of the priority development areas. The 27 settlements of the wine region were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as cultural sites in 2002, which largely determines the direction of development, said István Dévald, president of the Tokaj Wine Region Development Council.

He stressed that their goals include the unification of the wine region’s development and the realization of sustainable investments. The president listed the top tourism developments in recent years, including the creation of riverside promenades in Tokaj, the reconstruction of the main street in Mád, and the creation of the “Borbringa” Visitor Center.

He described it as a great honor that

the Tokaj-Hegyalja project was among the winners of the Green Destinations Top 100 competition.

The expert also said that the panoramic hiking trail through the region has been mapped and marked out to expand the opportunities for active tourism, and that cycling trails will be mapped out in the near future. Work is underway to create a cycle route around the area, with the latest section between Hollóháza and Pálháza expected to be completed by the summer.

István Dévald also drew attention to an attraction known to few. The tomb of the “miracle rabbi,” buried in Bodrogkeresztúr, a small village in the region, is a pilgrimage site for Hasidic Jews. Hungary’s oldest Orthodox synagogue is also in the Tokaj region, in Mád.

Not far from the Slovakian border, Sátoraljaújhely offers exciting attractions for visitors to the wine region. In high season, the Ungvár cellars are not to be missed for wine lovers. For a more extreme experience, you can walk along the Bridge of National Unity. The bridge was inaugurated last year and connects Vár Hill and Szár Hill at a height of 80 meters.

The 723-meter-long Guinness World Record bridge is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world.

Mayor Péter Szamosvölgyi told Turizmus.com that the Zemplén Adventure Park, constantly expanding its attractions, is the second most visited attraction in the region after the Nyíregyháza Zoo, with more than 300-400,000 visitors a year. Thanks to the new attractions, the town could have one million visitors this year.

In response to the growing interest, the accommodation offer is also expanding, with a four-star, 51-room hotel to be built and opened this year at the Rákóczi Camp and Event Center, and the construction of a 96-room, five-star hotel in Rudabányácska to start soon. The hotel, part of a HUF 10 billion (EUR 25 million) investment, is planned to open at the end of 2026, the mayor said.

The mayor noted that

the town’s latest attraction, which will officially open in April, will be the Bortemplom (“Wine Church”) Visitor and Event Center.

The multifunctional building, originally built in 1913, will be a venue for events, with a café, restaurant, wine tasting rooms, and wine cellars. There will also be exhibitions, with the aim of playing an important role in promoting local values and education.

Via Turizmus.com, Featured image: Facebook/Tokaj Borvidék Fejlesztési Tanács