Rock relics of Bükkalja on photos

poster presentation

Bükkalja region

Bükkalja is a transient area between Bükk Mountains and the lowlands of the Great Plains. The region was formed by volcanic activity 16-20 million years ago, covering the land with its typical rock, soft volcanic rhyolite tuff. The area is dominated by ridges tilted to the south, plateaus and parallel valleys of watercourses rushing from Bükk Mountains. Near-natural forests, meadows and cultural landscapes – extensive orchards and vineyards - form a landscape mosaic in the area.

The beehive rocks

The beehive rocks are characteristic, unique landscape values of Bükkalja region. These rock towers formed from the soft rhyolite tuff, demolished by erosion are valuable geomorphological heritage. Into the sides of the rock towers chambers were carved by people from an unknown age. There are still different opinions about the use of the chambers as well as about the people who carved them – which make the towers important memories of cultural history. We have found 473 chambers in 72 towers in the region.

Architecture in the rocks

In the last thousand years rocks have become an integral part of everyday life. Farm buildings were cut into the rhyolite tuff bedrock: small farm buildings, huge sheep-cotes ( an area of 200-300 m²), pig-sties and stables for the animals, cellars for storing wine, which were often several km long on several floors and often even the homes, the cave dwellings, which formed separate underground parts of the villages.

Architecture from rocks

The bedrock was also used as the building material of houses built on the ground. It was used for the walls of the houses, retaining walls and even for the churches. The area was famous of its stone carving: we can still see several carved pillars, rock tombs, sacral statues in the villages of the region.