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Castle ride in Hungary with the experience of the magnificent Lippizaners
Fertő-Hanság National Park lies in North-west Hungary, alongside the Austrian border. The one-time world of bogs and marshland now is famous for the unique plants, animals and cultural assets. Celts and Romans lived here. You will ride in their footsteps.
During the trail ride in the North-west part of the country you will ride calm Kisbér Halfbreds.
The old-style Kisbér was developed on the land of the Batthyány estate. The farm in essence is of mixed origin (Arab, Circassian, Spanish, Piber, Norfolk, Percheron, Mecklenburg, etc.), but stock that was carefully selected over several generations for type and appearance was continually studded by English thoroughbred stallions. With the influence of the outstanding thoroughbred stallions, a type of saddle horse close to the English thoroughbred was developed, but it was more prolific, noticeably calmer, had a greater capacity for work and a neater appearance. By the turn of the century these halfbreds had already acquired a name of their own. Around this time the strains of the breed that are still famous today were developed.
During the trail ride in North-west Hungary you will overnight at two different castles. Szidónia Castle looks back to a history that started in the beginning of the eighteenth century. At that time - as a chateau - it served as a hunting lodge. It was turned into a castle in 1750 in a Romantic-Neoclassic style.
You will be in the special world of an age almost forgotten, in fact you can dive into the mood of old times, while enjoying the comforts of this century.
The seven hectare park provides splendid surroundings to relax, while getting acquainted with a "wellness" way of life.
You will spend two nights at Pokvar Castle. Its history goes back to the thirteens century. The last rebuilding took place in neo-Tudor style in 1869 in the form it is today. The castle presents itself as a noble riding establishment.
After riding 3 days in North-west Hungary on Kisbér Halfbreds, you travel through Budapest to the Eastern part of the country. Leaving the flat and hilly areas behind you will arrive to the beautiful baroque town Eger lying between the Mátra and Bükk mountains. On the fourth riding day you get acquainted with the Lipizzaners and take a ride in the Bükk National Park. It is the largest national park of the country with mountains and forests, situated in the Northern Mountains. The area is harder to ride because of the mountain, short trots and canters and longer walks are characteristic.
Lipizzaners are fabulous horses. On May 19th 1580, a decision was made to set up a prince’s farm at Lipizza, which is rocky and situated on top of the Karszt Hill. This is where they tried to produce outstanding, durable horses to display the economy in all its splendour for the Imperial Court. Breeding, in compliance with the fashion of the time, began with Spanish horses, but they searched the whole of Europe for any stallions and mares appearing to meet the required objectives. A total of 8 stallions took part in development of the breed and they founded some lines still recognised today (Pluto, Conversano, Favory, Maestoso, Neapolitan, Siglavy, Incitato, Tulipán).
It is a classical representative of the Baroque style. It is willing to learn, very obedient, ready to work, hard, resistant and not too demanding. Its movement is distinctive, expressed in lithe and active motion.
The most important farms in Europe for this breed, listed by place of origin, apart from the Slovenian Lipizzaner, are in Piber, Austria, in Dakovo, Croatia, in Fogaras, Romania in Kistapolcsány (Topolcsansky), Slovakia an in Szilvásvárad, Hungary.
Riding a powerful Lipizzaner is something that you will remember in your whole life.
Itinerary
Day 1
After the arrival at Budapest airport, you will be transferred to Hotel Sofitel. Overnight in Budapest.
Day 2
From Sofitel, you will be driven to the western part of the country. Your riding guide and the horses are going to welcome you in a little village called Fehértó. The first day you will ride a big circle that takes about 2,5-3 hours. This ride goes along nice meadows, corn, and wheat and sunflower fields, partly through the Fertő-Hanság National Park. The area is rich in game: deer and rabbit can be seen as well as different bird species for example stork, pheasant, heron. For lunch the famous Hungarian Gulyás Soup will be served accompanied with nice red vine.
It takes about a 50 minutes drive till you arrive to Szidónia Castle Hotel. This graceful mansion recalls the lifestyle the nobility of past centuries. After checking in, you have few hours to enjoy the spa facilities of the house, to go for a pleasant stroll in the park or just relax and enjoy your time. Dinner will be served in the homey tavern of a nearby lying, watermill. Here you will be shown the structure of the more than 300 years old Mill and spoiled with delicious local meals.
Day 3
The ride starts around 10 am from Fehértó again, but it will be a progressive ride where in the evening you get off your horse right at the accommodation. In the morning, walk, trot and canter will be varied for about 2-2,5 hours on similar terrain as yesterday: nice meadows, agricultural fields with some forests. You are going to cross some villages as well, where you will have the chance to see local churches and houses with its flowery gardens from horseback. Picnic lunch will be served at a lovely location at a side of a small lake (in case of bad weather it will be served in a roadside restaurant instead).
After having a rest riders leave the lake behind to ride another 2,5-3 hours. This afternoon gives you the opportunity to enjoy long canters with some gallops. You are going to ride over 2 bridges, cross some villages and forests till you arrive to the lordly but welcoming - family owned - Pokvár Castle. Don’t forget your swimming suit at home, because just as Szidónia Castle, Pokvar offers nice spa facilities as pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, and steam bath. Massage can be arranged at each accommodation too.
Day 4
Today you ride about 2,5 hours. The landscape becomes hillier. You will enjoy some more nice long canters today, than finally walk up a wooded hill and have a delicious picnic lunch on the top of it.
In the afternoon you are going to “ride back in time” You will have the chance to visit* the more than 1000 years old Abbey of Pannonhalma, that has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. The first monks arrived to St Martin’s Hill in 996 and raised a church in 1001. During the visit, you will be shown the most interesting parts of the ancient monastery, as well as the Benedictine library and archive, one of the largest ones in the world with 360 thousand volumes of rare books. Dinner will be served at Pokvar Castle.
Day 5
A day off riding – even so dedicated to horses. You will be driven from the western part of the country to the beautiful northern hills. After an early start you stop around 12’o clock at the stud farm of the world champion coach driver Lazar brothers. Here you may attend** a Hungarian horse show, see ancient Hungarian breed animals and after all enjoy a luscious lunch accompanied by folk music. As the Lazar brothers are competing with Lipizzaner horses, in the stables you can see some of the most precious Hungarian Lipizzaner.
You will arrive to Eger around 5 pm. This charming baroque town earned it’s very special place in the Hungarian history on the 10th of September 1552: the Turks lay siege to Eger Castle, 40-50.000 Turkish soldiers surrounded the castle occupied by a garrison of about 2.000 soldiers. The castellan, István Dobó and his troops swore that they would fight to the very and. After a siege lasting 40 days, the Turks retreated, having failed in their attempt to take the castle.
After arrival, you will have the evening free to enjoy the town. Today you will be on your own for dinner.
Day 6
You will be taken to the Lipizzaner farm near Eger. The owner of the farm comes from a traditional carriage-driving family and breeds Lipizzaner horses. You will be told about the history of the horses and showed some of the nice stallions. Than you are going to go for a 2,5 hour ride in the hilly Bükk National Park along vineyards, through meadows and forests. The area of the Bükk National Park is covered by beech and oak woods. Be prepared that the Lipizzaner horses are livelier than the horses you were riding for 3 days before. Those who feel uncomfortable to sit on a more spirited horse, will be offered to follow the riders on carriage.
After a light lunch, you will be driven to Szilvásvárad, the home of the Hungarian Lipizzaner horses. Driven by carriages through the little village located in the heart of the Bükk National Park, you will be shown the stables of the stallions, the stables of the mares, and finally you will see the mares with their fouls running free on the pasture. After the farewell dinner, drive back to Eger.
Day 7
After checking out in the morning you will be driven back to Budapest.
*The price of the ticket to the Benedictine Abbey is to be paid on the spot (2400 HUF or 12 USD/person)
**The price of the horse show is to be paid on the spot (5000 HUF or 25USD/person)
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Castles and taste of wines ride & 5th Equestrian National Festival 2009