Hortobágy activities: the most famous events
Hungary's largest and oldest national park, the largest grassy heath in Central Europe, was given the collective name Hortobágy in the 19th century, before which it was made up of small estates. The Hortobágy National Park, a World Heritage Site, offers a wide range of attractions and activities for visitors who want to learn about the customs of the past, the flora and fauna that are still an integral part of Hungarian culture today. In this article we have collected the six most popular attractions in Hortobágy.
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Bridge Fair
The event is officially an animal fair and flea market – but those who have ever visited it
know that it is much more than that. In addition to the beautiful handcrafted folk art
products, the event also features colourful cultural activities. Examples of this include folk
dance performances, cowherd and herdsman shows, and horse competitions. There is also
no shortage of local gastronomy at the Bridge Fair, such as the famous slambuc, which is
authentically prepared.
The Bridge Fair begins each year on the 20 th of August. The venue, the Hortobágy
Fairground, is only 50 minutes away from the Outlet Hotel.
Hortobágy Equestrian Days
The Hortobágy Equestrian Days are a three-day event, usually held in July each year. All
elements of Hungarian equestrian life will be represented at the event, with professionals
and amateurs alike. You can watch foal races, carriage driving competitions and show
jumping, and also get to know the horse breeding activities of the Máta Stud Farm up close.
You can admire the stud farm's impressive collection of carriages, try out folk games and
have a dance at one of the concerts at the end of the day.
The Máta Stud Farm is also a 50-minute drive from our hotel.
St. Dömötör's Day Herding Celebration and Crane Festival
As is tradition, this iconic event is held at the end of October, when the cold weather sets in.
The reason for the event is the folk custom of herding the animals from the pastures to their
winter shelter during this period. Like the Bridge Fair, this Hortobágy event offers a wide
range of handcrafted items, demonstrations, games and gastronomic experiences. The most
spectacular part of the event is clearly the moment when the herdsmen and their livestock
cross the Nine-arched Bridge.
Equestrian activities in Hortobágy
The famous Equestrian Days are not the end of the equestrian-themed events in Hortobágy!
Usually there are several carriage races each year in the Hortobágy region: for example,
there is a possibility to hold indoor races at the Máta Stud Farm in winter.
If you want to get to know these beautiful, intelligent animals better, the Máta Stud Farm
offers riding lessons throughout the year. Participation is by prior registration, from the age
of 9 or over 145 cm in height.
The Stud Farm also offers horseback excursions for beginners and advanced riders alike.
Riding in the Hortobágy is an unparalleled experience: it presents the magical experience of
exploring the countryside with an authenticity like no other.
Hortobágy activities: Puszta Zoo
There is no better place to learn about old Hungarian domestic animals than the Puszta Zoo!
In this special place you can meet, among others, Hutsul horses, Hungarian grey cattle, racka
sheep, mangalica pigs, Hungarian plain goats, domestic buffaloes and Transylvanian bald-
necked hens. The park also has a petting zoo where you can make friends with local baby
goats, sheep and donkeys. In addition to the cuddly pets and the playground, children will
love the little carts in the zoo, which their parents can pull them in.
A Wildlife Park that’s not to be missed
There is no doubt that Hortobágy offers one of the country's most colourful selections of
activities for animal lovers. The Wildlife Park in Hortobágy-Malomháza also offers the
opportunity to travel back in time! Inside the park, you can learn about the indigenous
species of animals that lived in the area before civilisation took hold.
Please note: the Wildlife Park can only be visited in an organised way, with national park
shuttles departing from the Herdsmen's Museum! Tickets for the visit can be purchased at
the Tourinform office, and guided tours are available on request.
If you want something really extraordinary, you can also go on a Puszta safari in the Wildlife
Park! Get up close and personal with the world of wild horses and aurochs in a special safari
vehicle you may have seen in adventure films.
Is your child a real animal lover? A birthday party in a wildlife park might be a great
surprise! If you book ten days in advance and arrive with a minimum of 10 people, you'll be
treated to a scavenger hunt, a guided tour with spectacular animal feeding and a fantastic
playground.