Hungary - Southern Transdanubia Attractions

Villány is a village in the centre of this region.
The village is bordered by three large geographical regions: the Great Hungarian Plain from the south, Baranya Hills from the north, and Villány Mountains from the west.

A village north-west of Pécs, in Abaliget there are guided tours of the 600m (1980ft) long dripstone cave.

Decs (9km (6mi.) southeast of Szekszárd) with 4300 inhabitants is the largest district in the Sárköz and a center of folk art. The "Folk Craft Museum of the Sárköz Region" contains displays of costumes, furniture" and other craft products. Every two years in Decs the "Sárköz Wedding" is celebrated when the wedding couple and all the guests wear traditional 19th C costumes. The Gothic reformed church (15th C) underwent Baroque decoration in the 18th C.

About 12km (7mi.) east of Szekszárd the Gemenc Forest, 500sq.km (193sq.mi.) of protected countryside, stretches along the right bank of the Danube. The unspoiled meadowland with dead river tributaries provides a habitat for many rare species such as the river eagle and the black stork. The reserve is only accessible from Gemenc (bus to Szekszárd) by narrow gauge railroad or boat. Trips are organized by Tolna Tourist (Szekszárd, Széchenyi utca 38). The train runs all year round, the boats only operate May-October.

Traveling by car from Pécs to Siklós it is impossible to miss the small spa town of Harkány (alt. 101m (331ft); 3230 pop.) 5km (3mi.) west of Siklós. As early as the 18th C it was known for its sulfur springs which feed the thermal baths today which stand in a 12ha (30 acre) park. The open air pool has five large hot water pools and a sports pool.

An excursion to Orfuo northwest of Pécs will be found rewarding. In Orfuo the lakes will prove attractive to bathers and anglers.

Szenna, southwest of Kaposvár, has an open-air museum with several farmhouses and the outbuildings from surrounding regions. A unique feature is the 18th C Reformed Church with a crowned pulpit, coffered and painted ceiling, loft and pews that still functions as a house of worship.