A biker’s view at Sopron Mountains

Region: Sopron Mountains

Distance: 31 km

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: easy

Bicycle type: mountain bike

Program:

First day:

Besides having a nice view of the vicinity of Sopron during an action-packed cycling trip, we may also visit places of significant European historic importance and connected to the fall of the Iron Curtain. From Sopron, our first stop is the Ó-Hubertusz lookout tower. From the wooden lookout tower named after the protector of hunters and foresters, a wonderful panoramic view is offered of the forest of Szárhalom, the Mountains of Sopron and Rozália, and Lake Fertő. The first tower was built in 1904 here, more than a hundred years ago, and it was reconstructed for the 100-year anniversary. Along the former technical blockade, we move on to find the location where the Iron Curtain was ‘cut’ into. A memorial column was raised as a remembrance of the June 1989 events: the Hungarian and Austrian foreign ministers symbolically cut the iron curtain here.

Moving on, we reach Dudlesz forest, where two caves await. Due to the parent rock, there are not many caves near Sopron, and even the sandstone caves have only become known in recent decades, which can also be attributed to being closed off by the borderland. We visit the caves Ottó and Ferenc, whose names remind us of the foresters that discovered them. Our trip continues along the former borderland until we reach the Pan-European Picnic Memorial Park. The border was crossed here in August 1989, commemorated by a memorial and a park. Here we can learn about the era of the Iron Curtain and the events of the Pan-European Picnic. Our next stop is the temple dedicated to the Roman god Mithras, which had formerly been in the borderland. Finally, we make our way to Fertőrákos and arrive to Sopron via Tómalom.

Distance: 20 km

Second day:

The second day, we go on a classic mountain cycle tour with the finest lookout towers of the Sopron Mountains. Our starting point is Lóverek, the lookout of Sörház-domb. The beautiful wooden tower is located in the suburban villa and resort district of Sopron, formerly known as Tulipán Magaslat, the lowest hill of the Lőverek.

We head to the park forest and reach Károly-magaslat to have a panoramic view from the Alps to Lake Fertő from the only stone-built lookout of Sopron, Károly Lookout Tower. At the ground and upper floors of the tower, there are permanent exhibitions and a bar to freshen up before heading to Várhely Lookout Tower along Ciklámen educational path. Várhely, considered one of the country's best lookout, is located in the territory of the early Iron Age Celtic hillfort. Várhely is ideal for having a rest or a campfire with bacon in the rest area of the Bella Lajos memorial. From Várhely, we cycle to the fishing lake in the embrace of the forests, Lake Szalamandra (and Természetbarát Spring), then move on to Fáber-meadow.

We may opt to take a rest in the meadow, surrounded by the largest Castanea sativa woods of the Sopron Mountains. Our next stop is Gloriette Lookout Tower at the 374-meter-high Vas-hegy mountain. The first tower was built in 1909, but today's wooden pavilion evokes the original old-fashioned design. On the way home, we should take a walk to Taródi Castle, built in 50 years by the lord of the castle himself, István Taródi. On the way, we have the opportunity to admire the villas of Lőverek and pass by the elegant edifices of Hársfa Lane.

Distance: 11 km

Participation fee: 29.900.-

Elérhetőség: Kovács Attila, +36307915306