The rose collection of dr. Miklós Kovács
Location: 3531 Miskolc, Kõporos u. 34.
Territory: 2000 sqm
How to get there: tram no 1 or 2 (Thököly Street stop) and buses no 1 and 1/A (Aba Street stop)
The collection was founded in 1958. The main focus was on Europe, but other cities like Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Tbilisi and Yerevan are also involved in the collection. Today, the rose garden contains 2000 flowers from 1500 different types of roses. The garden was protected as it is a city landmark, a tourist attraction and it is used for scientific studies. In addition, the rosarium contains valuable flowers that are fundamental for the propagation of dry climate roses; it also functions as a gene bank. The collection is open to the public during blossoming (June and early July); in other periods you have to register by phone (00 36 46 342 852) before visiting.
Dr. Kovács Miklós was awarded the Miskolc Quality Prize for his activity in 1999.
Photo: Ottó Bojtár
Park system of Miskolc-Tapolca
Geographical location: within the boundaries of Miskolc-Tapolca
Territory: 6 acres
How to get there: bus no 2 (terminal: Tapolca)
The arboretum-like area is protected to safeguard the rich autochthonous flora. The park serves tourism since visitors can spend time in a beautiful environment. The well-developed park area – created from the park forest of an Árpád-era abbey bought by Miskolc in 1937 – and its lakes are the pearls of this holiday resort. The park contains hundred-year-old rare plants, flowers and a very diverse fauna (mainly birds). The boating lake is a spectacular part of the park. On its shore the alder plants of the marsh and the surrounding oak trees have remained unharmed.
In 1999, explanatory signs were put next to the plants. These signs help visitors learn about nature while admiring the sights.
Photo: Zsuzsanna F. Nagy
Turkish hazel trees of Vár Street
Geographical location: Miskolc, Diósgyõr, Vár u. 18.
How to get there: buses no 1, 1/A, 101 and 101/B (Diósgyõr bus stop), or tram no 1 (Diósgyõr terminal)
The site is protected to safeguard the life of the two historic trees. They stem from the roots of a 600-year-old tree that was called the “tree of law”. Sentences were announced and executed under the leaves of the tree, hence the name. The dry tree was finally cut in 1935. It was 25.5 meters tall, its circumference was 107 inches, and its diameter 34 inches.
There is a legend about the tree. A page of King Béla III fell in love with Princess Mária, the king’s daughter. The page was waiting for the princess in vain at their meeting, so he fell asleep. Before falling asleep he stuck a hazel stick in the soil to hang his clothes. The stick grew into the famous tree. Queen Mária, daughter of King Louis the Great, also loved the huge Turkish hazel tree and spent much of her time in its shadow. This tree is now common in Hungary; however, under natural conditions it most characteristic of the South Carpathian Mountain’s tract facing the Lower Danube. It is one of the most beautiful park trees with its straight trunk and tapered foliage.
Photo: László Papp
WILD chestnut alley on Vár Street
Geographical location: Miskolc, Diósgyõr, Vár utca
How to get there: buses no 1, 1/A, 101 and 101/B (Diósgyõr bus stop), or tram no 1 (Diósgyõr terminal)
The site is protected to safeguard the alley leading to one of the city’s most important monuments. The alley consists of 46 (originally 52) 100-year-old wild chestnut trees. The street has important aesthetic functions in the cityscape.
Photo: Zsuzsanna F. Nagy
Yellow Lady’s Slipper habitat
Geographical location: Miskolc-Tapolca, close to the Igló Road camping
Territory: 14 acres
How to get there: bus no 2 (Tapolca terminal)
The site is protected to safeguard the habitat of the yellow lady’s slipper. This is one of the rarest plants in Hungary; it has been protected since 1983. Though internationally the plant is not yet endangered, its protection has received priority in the Bern and Washington Conventions. In Hungary the number of these flowers is dwindling; hence it is considered here an endangered species.
The yellow lady’s slipper is the only orchid living in Hungary. It is one of our most beautiful and special flowers. Its name refers to its slipper-like shape. The flower can be found in wet forests, oak woods or cut fields. It blossoms around mid-May.
When it received status as a protected species, there were 200-250 flowers at the Igló Road Camping in Miskolc-Tapolca. This high number of specimens is uncommon in Hungary. In the protected area, unfortunately, there are only a few flowers left, but more can be found elsewhere. An explanation for its dwindling number can be, paradoxically, the protection and its untouched nature. The orchids do not prefer undisturbed habitats. The protected forest should be opened up again to let more sunshine reach the flowers. The specimens in Tapolca should also be conserved as a gene bank. Its protection can only be guaranteed with the protection of the area.
Photo: Zoltán Demeter
KÕSZÁL
Geographical location: Bükk Mountains, North side of the road between Miskolc and Bükkszentlászló
Territory: 45 acres
How to get there: bus no 68 (Mészkõbánya [Lime mine] bus stop)
The site is protected to safeguard the forests, rocky fields, and the slopes and their rocks from corrosion. These represent the natural environment for several animal and plant species. The slopes of Nagy-Sánc and Kõszál are on the northern border of Tatár Ditch. The ditch has a SW-NE direction and took form in the Répáshuta lime in the Tertiary era. The diverse surface is due to the diverse microclimate. This climate also helps the coexistence of species with very different needs, and the area conserves various natural phenomena. Kõszál is extremely rich in autochthonous and other protected plant species: this is the richest area in the eastern Bükk. On the steepest rocky side of the hill there are areas with blue moor grass and smaller areas with hoary alpine grass. In one area, indiogenous Hungarian blue moor grass can be found in masses. It is one of the biggest communities of this plant; hence the area is a gene bank for the species as well. Other valuable species are the yellow sempervivum marmoreum, different gold mosses, dwarf bearded iris, Siberian bellflower and butcher’s broom root. These are the biggest rocky fields in the eastern Bükk; they can be found with similarly rich plant communities around Lillafüred.
The fields on the slopes also hide valuable species: pasque flower, dandelion, brown knapweed, pheasant's eye, periwinkle, Hungarian pea, milkwort, common bugloss and Hungarian iris.
Two-thirds of the southern slopes of the hill are dominated by karst forests and oak trees. The most valuable species is the wild pea of Pilis, which in the Hungary’s northern mountains is only present on the western side of the Bükk. They are present sporadically in the area. The next nearest habitat of the flower is around Kecskevár. Their presence is, once again, due to the conserving character of the Tatár Ditch. Other valuable plants in the area are: Jerusalem sage, burning bush, pale yellow iris, leopard's bane, pyrenees monkshood, barren strawberry, rosary vine, comfrey, as well as the rare wild cherry and common barberry.
On the lower part of the slopes, linden-ash rocky forests can be found in the rocky places under the rock walls. In addition to the species of oak mentioned above, the characteristic sedge and alexanders also appear. On the north side of the mountain ridges zonal communities were created of oak and beech trees. The Turk’s cap lily is an interesting flower from the area.
The Short-toed Eagle, Rock Bunting, snake-eyed skink, green lizard and raven are the most characteristic animals of the area. The biggest insect in Hungary, a special grasshopper, also lives here.
Photo: Zoltán Demeter
