Heves megyei aprónyomtatványok 19/E
MÁTRA Gyöngyös. The origin of its name goes back to the time of the Hungarian settlement. There was a tribe called kabar that settled down together with the Hungarians in the Carpathian basin. Their most famous leader was Sámuel Aba, the third king of Hungary. Many people liked him and many people did not. According to the popular legend he wanted to re-establish the equality of tribalism and the illusion of freedom associated with the wind-swept steppe. He was bound to fail, of course, and was killed by his opponents finally. The 11 th century crypt that was said to be Samuel Aba's was converted to a wine cellar in the 17th century. The next station of your tour is Markaz, a beautiful and wealthy village. The village is on the shore of a lake that has a silvery shimmer. The strong knight's castle of the Kompolthys, destroyed by the Turkish, stands on top of the 600 meter high Oroszlán-hegy (Lion Hill) not far from the village of Domoszló. If you continue your way by bicycle or car you can arrive at the fortress of Kisnána in no time. The fortress was built by the Aba and Kompolti clans as a safe home at the time of the Mongol invasion of Hungary in 1241-42. Then the fortress was being slowly formed into a genuine baronial residence. Although the fortress of Kisnána was never reinforced with outer round bastions and battlements, it was a safe shelter against unexpected attacks. However, László Móré, a robber baron feared throughout the country managed to occupy the fortress in the 16th century, but the pasha of Buda could not stand the bloodshed and ravage caused by Móré too long and tried to arrest him. The robber baron escaped from the pasha to the fortress of Kisnána. According to the chroniclers László Móré then resorted to a trick: thinking of the besiegers' greed he threw down many gold pieces to them. He could not stop the Turkish soldiers by that, so Móré's eyrie was occupied and the baron was taken to the Seven Towers, a prison in Constantinople. Starting from 1962, excavations were carried out in the fortress area, and the watch-tower was rebuilt. Visitors are allowed to enter the remains of the fortress. Also, there is an etnographic collection in the old country cottage at the foot of the hill. The following asociations offer to arrange hikings: 1. 'Red Meteor' Hiking Association István Francia 1 Törvényház st., 3300 Eger Telephone: 36/323-314 2, 'Lady's Slippers' Tourists' Association Dr. Sándor Orbán 8 Ady Endre st., Felsőtárkány Telephone: 36/434-380 Guiding services for bicycle and walking tours: 1. Toursit Association of Párád 234 Kossuth st., 3240 Párád Telephone: 36/364-831 2. Egertourist Travel Agency 2 Hanik Square, Gyöngyös Telephone: 37/311 -565
