Heves megyei aprónyomtatványok 19/E

BÜKK MOUNTAINS

Bükk Plateau. The memory of glass making is still alive in the name Huta Meadow (huta means 'glass-works' or 'foundry'); several hutás were operating in Huta Meadow. The hutás produced iron and glass until the end of the 19th century. Some of the products are still in existence: a few Hungarian families still have the'portion bottles' their ancestors drank brandy out of. The clay models of the hutás are shown in the Forest Museum in Szalajka Valley. Charcoal-burning and limeburning, the traditions of which are still alive, are also characteristic examples of the trades carried on in the forests of Bükk Mountains. The craft of lime-burning was brought in from France by the Cistercians who were settled in Hungary by Béla IV. The name Hármas-kút ('triple well') comes from the three springs that break out there and meet in a cistern. A popular winter sports center having seven ski tracks, three skilifts and appropriate lighting was established in Bánkút. It takes fifteen minutes from Bánkút to get to the 956 meter high Bálvány Peak. The 18 meter high Petőfi Lookout Tower offers a magnificent view in all directions. Bükk Plateau is unique in Hungary because it has a surface of 20 km2 at a height of 900 meters above sea level.

Useful addresses for cyclers

1. Frindley Society of Mountain Bikers of Eger Péter Gotyár

5 Kallómalom st., 3300 Eger Telephone: 36/414-593

2. Rental of Mountain Bikes and Guides

28 Sólyom st., 3300 Eger

Szalajka Valley, 3348 Szilvásvárad Telephone: 60/352-695

3. Bicycle Center 1/AJankovits st., 3300 Eger Telephone: 36/323-789

4. 'Golden Wheelarm' Bicycle Shop Zsolt Bacsó

Rákóczi st., Eger Telephone: 36/427-965

5. 'Avar' Mountain Bikers' Club István Bozsik

4 Béke st., 3232 Mátrafüred 32 Kossuth st., 3200 Gyöngyös