The eight hiking trails starting from the Kardosfa Hotel are of different lengths and difficulty levels, some of which can be used not only on foot but also by bicycle. Whichever route you choose, the Zselic Forest is a magical place to explore, not only for its natural but also for its cultural and historical monuments.
Hotel Kardosfa - Ropoly fishing lake - Ropolypuszta hunting lodge (Beech tour)
- Distance: 3 km
- Height difference: 114 m
- Duration: 1 hour
- Marking: Beech leaf
- Marking on the map:
This short hiking trail, which is only 1.5km, can be a pleasant recreation even with small children, from Hotel Kardosfa, through the beautiful Ropoly valley, to the Ropoly hunting lodge. In the clearing below the castle there is also a covered filagoria from where you can see the whole valley.
Hotel Kardosfa - Observatory - Deer Farm (Deer tour)
- Distance: 10 km
- Height difference: 180 m
- Duration: 2,5 hour
- Marking: Deers
- Marking on the map:
This hiking trail is on a well-maintained artificial road, 10 km long, which can be used by bicycle or on foot. You can reach the deer farm in Bőszénfa, where you can take part in special programmes at pre-arranged times. The road is only accessible by car up to the information point at Aunt Lidi's house, the remaining 6 km to the deer farm are private roads.
Hotel Kardosfa - Dugás-kút - Hotel Kardosfa (Dugás-kút round trip)
- Distance: 5 km
- Height difference: 100 m
- Duration: 1,5 hour
- Marking: Spring
- Marking on the map:
This round trip makes for a very pleasant hike, with information signs along the way telling you about the distinctive wildlife and history of the place. There are also satirical signs along the route, which may be of interest to young children. The typical landscape of the Zselic landscape with its hilly valleys and dunes, and the Ropolyi Lake in the valley, offer a relaxing experience.
Hotel Kardosfa - Outlaw Pali's grave - Feneketlen Lake - Mátyás well (Valley tour)
- Distance: 8 km
- Height difference: 217 m
- Duration: 2 hour
- Marking: Oak leaf
- Marking on the map:
Pál Mészáros: whose outlaw name was Pali Nagy. He was active from the 1850s until 1861, when his gang was captured and he himself was shot dead in a firefight in the Visnyeszéplak (Vitorág) forest. He was buried here, and the place has been called 'Pali's cemetery' ever since. His memory is still preserved in this grave.
The pond was used for watering animals. At that time, agricultural work was done with ox carts. According to legend, a whole cart and its oxen sank into the lake, which is why it was called Feneketlen (Bottomless) Lake. The lake was cleaned and restored in the late 1950s, when grey cattle horns were found in it, which seems to confirm the old legend. The well was built in the 1960s and was originally used for watering wild animals.
King Matthias, after the death of his first wife, Catherine of Podjebrad (1464), became engaged to Beatrix of Aragon, daughter of the King of Naples, in September 1474. The marriage was negotiated by diplomats, and Matthias did not even see the bride at the time of the engagement, nor at the time of the wedding, because in Naples, according to the custom of the time, Beatrix was given away by an envoy. According to legend, the bander of Beatrix stopped here in the Zselic, and later King Matthias himself liked to hunt here. The well was named the Matthias Well in his honour.
Hotel Kardosfa - Emlékhársas (Linden Tree tour)
- Distance: 1,1 km
- Height difference: 15 m
- Duration: 20 minutes
- Marking: Linden leaf
- Marking on the map:
Starting from the hotel, the hiking trail of just under one kilometre passes by the Milleneumi memorial linden park, where a covered rest area awaits guests who wish to relax or have a picnic. In 1896, four hundred 10-year-old linden trees were planted ‘around the Cserlát fold’ on the estate of Prince Eszterházy in this area, in the shape of "1896″, under the leadership of the chief forester Imre Sulyanszky. Of the 400 trees, 71 are now standing. It is now difficult to recognise the shape because of the size of the trees and the many missing trees.
Zselic cross-country running - Forest running circle - Forest running track
- Distance: 2 km
- Height difference: 31 m
- Duration: 10 minutes
- Marking: Runner
- Marking on the map:
An exciting running track in a forest setting and fresh air. Soil forest terrain, earth, asphalt
Hotel Kardosfa - Observatory - Enyezd Barack (Enyezd hike)
- Distance: 4,1 km
- Height difference: 150 m
- Duration: 1 hour
- Marking: Cottage
- Marking on the map:
The hike from the hotel to the Enyezd Barrack can be done either by bike or on foot, this hiking trail passes by the Zselic Park of Stars and its view tower, but in addition you can rest at several information points and get useful information about the area and its wildlife.
The original building of the Enyezd Barracks was built in the 1930s. It was originally a 10-12m long building with a flat roof, assembled from prefabricated elements.
Due to the long distances and the difficulty of the work, the woodworkers were housed here. It could accommodate 8 people. They went home twice a week. They were accommodated in bunk beds, lit by kerosene lamps and water was supplied from various springs (the Csurgós well on the hillside in Hárságy, the spring in the ‘Mosquito pit'). Each day a different person was responsible for carrying water. The pasture opposite the barrack was very popular, but the well here was only used to water the animals. It was renovated by the Zselic Forestry in 2003 to give it its current appearance. Only the windows of the old building have been rebuilt. All that remains of the interior is the stove.
Two wheels in Zselic
- Distance: 30 km
- Duration: 6 hour
- Marking on the map:
Route: Hotel Kardosfa - Bánya - Lipótfa - Bárdudvarnok - Szenna- Hotel Kardosfa The Zselic forest is worth exploring not only on foot but also by bike, so you can reach the forest wonders of the greater distance.
