Blessing Christ Statue

One of the most impressive and striking modern sacred monuments of the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region is the Blessing Christ Statue towering over the Ócsanó Hill above Tarcal. This monumental creation is not only a pilgrimage site for the faithful but also one of the most popular destinations for tourists and active leisure seekers visiting the region, offering unparalleled views of the Hegyalja vineyards and the meeting point of the Great Plain.

Municipal routes Cultural routes

Electric car charging
Free outdoor parking available
Paid parking available
E-bike charging available
Electric car charging available (paid)

The History of the Statue

The idea of erecting the statue was born from the collaboration between the local community and urban development efforts. The artwork was realised thanks to the donation of Attila Petró, a businessman from Szerencs, with the support of the local government of Tarcal.

The eight-and-a-half-metre-tall statue, composed of five elements and weighing nearly fifty tonnes, is the creation of Sándor Szabó, a sculptor from Szerencs. Made of grey granite, the monument’s durability and monumental appearance make it a fitting testament to withstand the elements. Inaugurated and blessed in 2015, the statue depicts Jesus with outstretched arms offering protection and blessings, watching over the village and the entire wine region. At dusk, the statue is illuminated, making it visible from surrounding settlements and distant roads, providing a stunning sight even in the evening light.

Visiting Experience and Accessibility

The journey to the statue is an experience in itself, as visitors gradually leave behind the noise of the village, while the landscape unfolds step by step before them.

The statue can be reached from the centre of Tarcal via the comfortably constructed Promenade and landscaped staircase. The incline is moderate, making it easily manageable for families and older visitors. Cyclists arriving via the mountain-circling bike path can securely park their bicycles in the car park below the statue or along the roadside, and then take a short walk to the viewpoint. From the base of the statue, visitors are treated to a 360-degree panorama, offering views of the village of Tarcal, the emerald-green surface of the nearby quarry lake, the mass of Tokaj Hill, and the vast expanse of the Great Hungarian Plain.

Sustainable Tourism Connections

The Blessing Christ statue and its surroundings perfectly align with the model of responsible and gentle tourism. The statue is directly connected to the cycling and hiking network of the Tokaj Hills, making it an ideal low-carbon stopover for active tourists arriving from Mád or Tokaj.

The hilltop design and the well-maintained environment support the "slow travel" philosophy, encouraging mental rejuvenation, tranquillity, and respect for the beauty of the natural landscape. As the monument and its associated walkway are open to visitors free of charge all 365 days of the year, it plays a significant role in distributing the region’s tourist load over time, offering valuable experiences even during the autumn, winter, and spring seasons.

- Editorial Content -

Target group

Class trips
Families with younger children
Families with older children
Multigenerational programs
Friends
Seniors
Couples

Other services

The Treasure Trove of Bodrogkeresztúr Keresztúr was inhabited already in prehistoric times. This is evidenced by the discovery of the two great artefact assemblages discovered.

Hungary, 3916 Bodrogkeresztúr, Kossuth utca 85

The Acetania Vinegar Museum The word vinegar does not always conjure up images of premium gastronomic value. It more reminds us of the cleaning techniques of our grandmothers, or the taste of bean soup with vinegar added.

Hungary, 3916 Bodrogkeresztúr, Tarcali utca 22

The Rákóczi House The building block with 4 living rooms, served as a residence for the Rákóczi family mainly during the grape harvests. The Baroque house was built in the 17th century but was somewhat rebuilt a century later and can still be viewed in this form. The house is the oldest non-church building in the village and still bears a Latin inscription on its walls: "Peace be within your fortress walls, and quietness in your palaces”.

Hungary, 3916 Bodrogkeresztúr

Places
Berzi Estate - M3 Apartment

Located in Mád, one of the most iconic villages of the Tokaj wine region, Berzi Estate M3 combines modern comfort with the traditional atmosphere of the wine region. The accommodation was designed with families and groups of friends in mind, offering spacious areas and high-quality services for those seeking relaxation.
Mád Mikszáth Kálmán utca 3

View Place
Places
Berzi Estate - Nana's apartman

Nana Apartment is located in the picturesque village of Mád, in the heart of the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region.
Mád Rákóczi utca 14

View Place
Places
The Treasure Trove of Bodrogkeresztúr

Keresztúr was inhabited already in prehistoric times. This is evidenced by the discovery of the two great artefact assemblages discovered.
Bodrogkeresztúr Kossuth utca 85

View Place
Places
Keresztúri Guesthouse

Ideal for both longer and shorter stays for families, small business groups, friend groups. The guesthouse can be reached through a calm, quiet inner garden, and it is guaranteed to be safe, child friendly, and accessible.
Bodrogkeresztúr Kossuth utca 85

View Place
Places
Fülöp the Stork Camp and Event House

The Fülöp the Stork Camp and Event House welcomes guests with 10 comfortable, fully equipped private apartments, communal spaces, and the option to rent water sports equipment.
Bodrogkeresztúr Kossuth utca 66

View Place
Places
Former Synagogue

According to the census of 1723-24, there were already 7 Jewish families living in Bodrogkeresztúr, and their number increased steadily during the 18th century. The strengthening of the community and the religious life is shown by the fact that the first rabbi of the Jewish community of Pest, Israel Wahrmann, was the rabbi of Bodrogkeresztúr prior to 1765, and there are records from the same year that the Bodrogkeresztúr fair was visited by Jewish merchants from Pest county. A few decades later, in 1786, 256 Jewish inhabitants were recorded in the settlement, in 65 households.
Bodrogkeresztúr Kossuth utca 30

View Place
Places
The Acetania Vinegar Museum

The word vinegar does not always conjure up images of premium gastronomic value. It more reminds us of the cleaning techniques of our grandmothers, or the taste of bean soup with vinegar added.
Bodrogkeresztúr Tarcali utca 22

View Place
Places
The Rákóczi House

The building block with 4 living rooms, served as a residence for the Rákóczi family mainly during the grape harvests. The Baroque house was built in the 17th century but was somewhat rebuilt a century later and can still be viewed in this form. The house is the oldest non-church building in the village and still bears a Latin inscription on its walls: "Peace be within your fortress walls, and quietness in your palaces”.
Bodrogkeresztúr

View Place
Places
Philip the stork - stork nests

A few years ago, the main street of the village had many overhead cables, which posed a constant threat to birds in the area. The proximity of the Bodrog river makes Bodrogkeresztúr a popular habitat for storks. However, the death of Fülöp the stork, who had lived in the village for 12 years, in 2018, has also highlighted the problem of overhead cables.
Bodrogkeresztúr Kossuth utca 16

View Place
Places
The Griffin Well

Since 2010, the artwork of Sándor Gyula Makoldi, a resident of Bodrogkeresztúr and creator of several public square sculptures, provided water to tired hikers in the heart of the village. An important motif of the Hungarian Conquest chieftain graves found in the Bodrogköz region is the griffin bird, a mythical creature known from the White Horse’s son tale, a powerful and fearsome force that can lift you to heights you cannot otherwise reach. That's why the statue is designed in a way so that people can sit on its back while it gives thirsty people the gift of life-giving water from its own body.
Bodrogkeresztúr Kossuth utca 73

View Place
Places
Greek Catholic Church

The Greek Catholic parish of Bodrogkeresztúr was founded in 1766.
Bodrogkeresztúr Iskola köz 19

View Place
Places
The former Széchenyi-Wolkenstein Castle

Oszvald Wolkeinstein, a descendant of Julianna Rákóczi, built the mansion at the foot of the Dereszla hill in the last quarter of the 19th century.
Bodrogkeresztúr Kastély köz 18

View Place
Places
Bodrog river

The Bodrog river is one of the most distinctive floodplain rivers of the Carpathian Basin, shaping the everyday life of communities along its banks for centuries. Settlement patterns, transport routes and traditional livelihoods have long adapted to the river’s water regime: older village centres were typically established on higher ground to avoid floods, while floodplain meadows, gallery forests and oxbow lakes formed a diverse and dynamic landscape closer to the river. The Bodrog represented not only a challenge, but also a vital resource. Its fish-rich waters, riverside orchards and meadows, and its humid microclimate contributed to local livelihoods and, in several areas, indirectly supported the unique climatic conditions of the Tokaj wine region.
Bodrogkeresztúr Kossuth utca 16

View Place
Places
The Calvinist Church

The Louis seize style church was built in the late 18th century. At that time, the present Felső street was the main street of the village, and according to Joseph II's decrees, Protestants were only allowed to build the church 30 metres further down the street, with its back to the main street. History has served justice to the Reformed community in such a way that the lower street, closer to the river Bodrog, became the main route for the wine merchants, and eventually the lower street, going by the river, took over the role of the main street.
Bodrogkeresztúr

View Place
Places
Village Hall

The current Village Hall used to be the property of the Hohenlohe princes that was purchased by the municipal management in 1929.
Bodrogkeresztúr Kossuth utca 85

View Place
Places
The viewpoint

If you walk up to the viewpoint above the village, you can not only enjoy the spectacular view, but also get a sense of the mystical nature that the people of the area attributed to their natural environment for centuries. The local tales – told by the admiring and humble people - present a world where people do not dominate nature, but submit to its laws, and in return, nature gives them all the good things they can imagine.
Bodrogkeresztúr

View Place
Places
Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic church dedicated to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross dates back to the 13th century.
Bodrogkeresztúr Iskola köz 11

View Place
Places
The Rabbinic House

The rabbi died in April 1925, and on the day of his funeral 12,000 train tickets were sold at the Bodrogkeresztúr train station. On the anniversary of his death, hundreds of pilgrims came to Bodrogkeresztúr in the following years - and today pilgrims come not only on the anniversary, but at any time of the year.
Bodrogkeresztúr Kossuth utca 67

View Place
Places
The statue of the Hungarian prince Ferenc Rákóczi II.

In 1648 Ferdinand III donated Bodrogkeresztúr to György Rákóczi. Half a century later, in 1699, Ferenc Rákóczi II and Julianna Rákóczi agreed on the allocation of the estates, as part of which Julianna Rákóczi became the owner of the properties in the village. At the same time, the Rákóczi War of Independence determined the fate of the whole Tokaj-Hegyalja region - thanks to this, a life-size bust of Rákóczi, cast in bronze by sculptor Géza Balogh based on a painting by Ádám Mányoki is now featured in the centre of the village.
Bodrogkeresztúr Kossuth utca 79

View Place
Places
World War I Memorial

The monument is a memorial of the heroes of the First World War.
Bodrogkeresztúr Kossuth utca 21

View Place
Places
Csicsörke Manufactory

Confitures, jams, syrups and other specialities, made of locally grown fruits, following family recipes, without preservatives.
Bodrogkeresztúr Kossuth utca 114

View Place
Places
Tarcali Sea Eye

One of the most unique natural wonders of the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region is the sea eye, born from a quarry lake, located on the edge of Tarcal. The turquoise and emerald green hues of the water, nestled within steep rock walls, offer a breathtaking sight that showcases the renewing power of nature and the geological richness of the wine region.
Tarcal

View Place
Places
Mád Synagogue

Tokaj-Hegyalja is not only renowned for its world-famous wines and unique cultural landscape but also for its rich religious and cultural diversity. One of the most outstanding and internationally recognised monuments of the wine region's architectural and intellectual heritage is the Mád Synagogue. This stunning neoclassical monument, built in the copf style, serves as a fitting tribute to the once-thriving Jewish community of the region, their economic role, and their intellectual centre, while also being a key site for cultural remembrance and responsible tourism for today's visitors.
Mád Táncsics utca 38

View Place
Places
WineBike Centre

Located in the heart of Tokaj-Hegyalja, in the picturesque village of Mád, the WineBike Centre is the region's primary hub for active tourism and sustainable mobility. This modern, comprehensive service centre connects the unique cultural landscape of the Tokaj wine region, its vineyards, and local heritage with the joy of eco-friendly exploration.
Mád Rákóczi utca 5

View Place
Places
Blessing Christ Statue

One of the most impressive and striking modern sacred monuments of the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region is the Blessing Christ Statue towering over the Ócsanó Hill above Tarcal. This monumental creation is not only a pilgrimage site for the faithful but also one of the most popular destinations for tourists and active leisure seekers visiting the region, offering unparalleled views of the Hegyalja vineyards and the meeting point of the Great Plain.
Tarcal

View Place