Bükkszék

Bükkszék is located at the meeting point of the Mátra and Bükk mountains, 20 kilometers from Eger, in the Tarna Valley. This historic settlement was already known in the Middle Ages and was first mentioned in a 1275 document under the name "Sceek." In 1937, oil exploration began in the area known as the “Bükkszék Dome.” Although the extracted oil quantity was modest, a 39-40°C thermal spring was discovered during these explorations. In 1939, a small bath was established, which is now known for its SALVUS medicinal water. One of Bükkszék’s notable landmarks is its towerless church, originally built in the Árpád era. It was later enriched with Gothic features, but during its reconstruction after the Turkish occupation, no tower was added, making it a unique architectural relic. The village's only manor house belonged to the Práff family and was built around 1820 in a Classical style. Today, it functions as a community center. The area is also ideal for hiking, with the Park Forest recreation area offering a rich diversity of flora and fauna for visitors to explore. In August 2007, to mark the 70th anniversary of the oil explorations, a permanent exhibition on the history of oil drilling was opened at the local spa. Additionally, five commemorative plaques were erected along the “Path of the Oilmen” at the sites of the former drillings to preserve the industrial heritage of the village.