It should come as no surprise by now that a long weekend’s day can easily be passed exploring the many hiking places within a stone’s throw of the Danube Bend.
The village of Verőce on the left bank of the Danube, between Szob and Vác, offers one of such hikes. In this article, we have collected the sights of Verőce that may enrich a pleasant autumn Saturday for you.
Being one of the Danube Bend villages, Verőce has nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to attractions: a castle, a memorial cottage, museums, historical monuments and great trails are among the cherished values of the village worth exploring.
The settlement with nearly four thousand souls can be easily reached from Budapest by car on Route 12. In addition, two railway lines pass through the village, including the Budapest-Szob line, with modern trains running on an electrified track from Nyugati Railway Station. Those who prefer a workout may also hop on a bicycle and ride there in the pleasant autumn sunshine.
Traces of History
The Migazzi Castle
No, you don’t have to travel all the way to Italy for a Mediterranean-sounding attraction. The namesake Kristóf Migazzi, cardinal and bishop of Vác, was indeed from Italy before becoming a Baroque-era Hungarian clergyman.
The worthy bishop had a castle built here in 1769, when Verőce was already a historically frequented place. Originally, a Roman watchtower stood on the site of the castle, but there was also a late medieval Danube bridge nearby, and after the lost battle of Mohács, the surviving dignitaries of the battered country gathered here to hold a National Assembly. Interestingly, Pista Sisa, the outlaw of Börzsöny also served at the Migazzi castle for a while.
The castle currently houses a retirement home, but with the permission of the institution it can be visited at 1 Migazzi Road.
Remains of a Roman Watchtower
Ancient Romans used the Danube as one of the most powerful natural fortifications of the limes, the outer defensive line of the Empire. The waterway not only connected regions, but also kept barbarians from the East away from entering the colonies. Forts, watchtowers and bridgeheads were built on both banks of the river, from where legionnaires and their aides guarded the peace of the Empire.
You can find one of these battle stations next to Route 12. With a little imagination, you can envision a Roman soldier guarding the edge of the civilized world, looking over the timeless Danube river. His place of service has now become a sight of Verőce.
Culture and More
Géza Gorka Ceramics Museum
Géza Gorka began his career as a ceramist and potter, and his relationship to clay remained close to nature and to understanding the material.
The artist was an inhabitant of Verőce from 1923. Gorka was a Europe-wide famous ceramist of the early twentieth century, and the museum keeping his memory is a charming and impressive building. The artist often drew inspiration from natural phenomena, and his daughter, Lívia Gorka continued her father’s craft, rising among recognized artists in her own right.
You may admire their works in the Museum at 22 Szamos Street, where you can also get to know the history of the now third generation ceramist family.
Old Radio Receiver Exhibition
In 2009, the sights of Verőce were joined by a rather interesting member. That was when Sándor Perneky’s private collection became accessible, making the last century’s most influential invention’s history almost palpable.
The Museum displays over a 120 radio sets, and a host of gramophones, microphones, loudspeakers, tape recorders, playback devices and other devices, illustrating the wonderful development of technology and its unforgettable Golden Age, which Hungary took a great part in.
The unique exhibition is located at 22 Árpád Street, and according to visitor accounts, a non-geek audience will also leave with a curious experience after viewing the collection.
Boots and Water Bottles
In addition to the list above, Verőce has other meaningful sights in store, such as the Albert Wass Memorial House or the Miklós Ybl retaining wall. Its Catholic and Protestant churches are also notable, plus its Danube Beach can be worth a plunge on a warm summer afternoon.
Should you want to relax closer to nature, the nearby Királyrét’s Forest Railway is always an excellent choice. Apart from the famous light rail, it can be worthwhile to just sit at natural sights here for a bit of time. Csattogó-völgy offers attractions primarily for small school students, while the aforementioned Királyrét (King’s Meadow) has a nature trail and a train track modeling rail transport to provide the perfect family relaxation. If you would like to learn more about the beauties of nature surrounding Verőce, right next to the track you may enter the Lynx House, named after the legendary wild animal of the Börzsöny.
For hiking experts, the highest peak of the Börzsöny, Csóványos could be a good choice, and it is hard to find a better “base camp” to conquer this height than Verőce, with its rich historical, cultural and natural attractions!
