Bugac (Puszta), covering an area of 10,000ha (40 sq.mi.), forms the major part of Kiskunság National Park. It lies some 30km (19mi.) southwest of Kecskemét. Sand-dunes, marshes, meadows covered in wild flowers, areas of reeds and freshwater lakes are the main features of the ever varying landscape. Like
the Hortobágy-Pustza, this strange land form came about during the period of Turkish occupation as the result of good farming land being ravaged and deserted and allowed to fall into decay. After that time Hungarian shepherds used the region as pasture for gray cattle, mountain sheep, crossbred horses and woolly boar. While in the 19th C most of Kiskunság, especially the area around Kecskemét, was restored to fertile agricultural land, some strips of land were kept as puszta and designated as nature reserves. Today the typical puszta animals are bred only as tourist attractions.
Tourism
The entrance to the national park lies a few miles beyond the town of Bugac, about 16km (10mi.) west of Kiskunfélegyháza. As an alternative to taking the car, buses run to Kecskemét and Kiskunfélegyháza and a narrow-gauge railroad operates between Bugac and Kecskemét. Those who wish to ensure that they can enjoy horse-riding demonstrations or trips in horse-drawn coaches should book the one-day program (including the journey there) offered at the offices of Bugac Tours in Kecskemét, as this item on the agenda is subject to sufficient people being interested. Covered wagons bring visitors to the herds of gray cattle and mountain sheep, the working csárda and the stud farms. In the little Herdsmen's Museum can be seen the costumes, folk-art and utensils of the csikós.
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