How to
get there?
by car
From Budapest, take M3 highway. Take exit at Miskolc
and go along on 35th road till Tokaj.
Around 230kms from Budapest
By train you
take off at Miskolc and change train to Nyiregyhaza direction or take direct
InterCity trains to Nyiregyhaza through Miskolc.
Featured
accommodations
Boldogkovaralja
castle ruins and museum
Sarospatak
Rakoczi castle
Fuzer
castle
ruins
Tisza lake
fishing and water sports
Tokaj
Among the best-known Hungarian towns after Budapest,
Tokaj is the capital of its historic wine region. Few places in the world can
boast, as Tokaj can, that thanks to its wine its name is mentioned in the
National Anthem. In 2002 it was listed a World Heritage Site along with the
Tokaj-Hegyalja Wine Region.
The town's name is thought to have originated
from the Slavic 'stokai'
(confluence); the town does indeed lie at the
confluence of the rivers Tisza and Bodrog. Historian writer Anonymous recorded
that Chieftan Árpád granted the land to his chieftain Tarcal.
From Sigismund to Matthias,
most of the Hungarian kings visited the town. Moreover, the Turkish, the Hajduk
foot soldiers of Bocskai's army, Bethlen's troops, Rákóczi's Kuruc soldiers, and the German and other nationality
mercenaries of Basta and Caprara were all here at one time or another. After the
Szatmár Treaty the settlement was passed to the Treasury as a confiscated
Rákóczi Estate, and remained so until 1860 when the village redeemed
itself.
From the late 19th century, Tokaj became one of the centres of
viticulture in Hegyalja. Today the settlement has preserved its small town
atmosphere and it is an attractive tourist destination.
Its natural
setting is stunning and its architecture reflects centuries of flourishing trade
and loving care. A walk in Tokaj could well start with the wine cellars,
continuing on to the centre which is full of architectural heritage buildings.
The townscape is dominated by 18th- and 19th-century town houses and
churches.
The public beach on the Tisza shore and the landing stages
serve fans of water sports, while the protected natural assets of Kopasz Hill
(Great Bald Hill), which stands above the town, offer plenty to see during
outings here.
The town offers numerous cultural and leisure-time events
from spring through to autumn, such as the Wine Festival (borfesztivál) at the
turn of May and June, and the autumn Harvest Week (szüreti hét) in
late-September, early October. In July the campsite over on the other side of
the River Tisza is the venue for the Hegyalja Festival, one of the most
highly-ranked pop events for the young. At the same time, Tokaj is also home to
the Writers' Camp (Írótábor).
The confluence of the rivers Tisza and
Bodrog is at Tokaj and the bridge here across the River Tisza is an important
crossing toward Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County.