Zirc - a Bakony fővárosa

Details:

• Distance: 19.7 km
• Level rise: 690 m, slope: 545 m
• Highest points: 705 m
• Lowest point: 279 m
• Highest slope: 35.7%
• Expected time: 6.5 hours
• (The expected time doesn’t include rest periods.)
• Water points: Bakonybél (drinking fountain, buffet), Szépalmapuszta (restaurant)
• Borzavár (drinking tap), Pintér Hill (Rejuvenating Spring). There is a limited number of water points on the trails.
• Access to the place of departure: Buses of the Zirc - Bakonybél line.

Description

We depart from the settlement’s centre on the Z □ marking which climbs on the Jókai Mór Street steeply out of the village. Crossing the highway, through a steep slope we reach the asphalted forest road in the Száraz-Gerence Valley and we turn right. After a few hundred metres the KZ mark divides and we follow the S path. In the valley, the S Ω marking invites us to the Pörgöl cave. The road winding in the rocky, ravine-like valley rises higher and higher. We reach the crossroads of the SO marking where we turn left and go uphill. Our trip leads next to the Százhalom, one of the largest Bronze Age barrow fields of Central Europe. Rising in the Tekeres well trench, passing by the neglected well we reach a wide cart-road. On this path marked with Z, first we turn left and then, after approx. 50 metres, we follow the K Ω marking turning to right. Our path becomes more steeply. The sign leads us to the asphalt road heading to the Kőris Hill and after approx. 600 metres goes off the road. On a steep path, avoiding the Devil’s Hole and the old Marble Mine we climb up to the top of Kőris Hill, where we can enjoy the lovely view from the Péter Vajda lookout tower. For the rest of our journey, we have to follow the K path which leads first on the plateau, then goes down on a steep slope to the Y intersection of the main road leading to Kisszépalmapuszta. We take the right path of the Y and, after approx. 300 m, our sign leads us left into the forest. Reaching the unpaved road to Szépalmapuszta, turning to left we arrive at the entrance of the Arboretum and the lot providing accommodation. The KS sign goes along the asphalt road and on a small section in the forest, and finally we reach a road junction. The S goes to the left and the K continues on asphalt to the right towards Borzavár. From the Templom Hill offering a beautiful view, we go down on a narrow path next to the church to the village’s main street. Holding the course, we go through the village. On the village’s edge in the road bend, we take the cart-road running parallel to the highway. Passing by the ruins of lime kilns, our way starts to rise strongly. Crossing the ridge, we follow a steep slope down to another valley. On the other side of the valley, we start to go upward. Crossing a grassy field – where the Rejuvenating spring is to be found – we take a forest path. The wide forest path leads us to the courtyard of the quarry of Pintér Hill. Following the Borzavári and the Deák Ferenc Street, we arrive at the Rákóczi square of the town.