Kishartyán

The settlement is mainly famous for the stone hole within its boundaries. The cave was formed in Lower Miocene (Egri-Eggenburg) sandstone (Pétervására Sandstone Formation) along tectonic fissures, stratification, and bedding planes due to freeze-thaw fragmentation, collapse, weathering, and possibly deflation, as well as human intervention. In its current state, it appears more like an artificial cavity than a natural formation. The cave is horizontal, single-leveled, and typically has a square sectional type. It consists of three to four smaller to larger interconnected rooms, most of which are square and clearly shaped by humans. The original natural cavities can be observed at the entrance and windows, where their rounded, oval shapes suggest their origin. Locals tell a story that a very rich, but very cowardly baron from nearby Karancsság hid in the cave with his lover for a long time because he was afraid to duel another baron. His serfs brought them food at night. He only dared to emerge from his well-protected, secret hideout years later upon hearing of his rival’s death. The authenticity of this story is uncertain, but it is certain that the originally narrow rock ledge cavity in the steep cliff above the valley’s well was not expanded into a spacious living cave by the people of ancient times without purpose, at this excellently defendable and well-hidden location. It is possible that it was also inhabited during prehistoric times, but it was definitely inhabited during the medieval period. The comfortably expanded cavity, which had a good well providing water in the valley below, might have also served as a hermit's dwelling in medieval times. The residential cave, castle-like situated in the steep cliff, certainly provided refuge for the village's people during the Tatar and Turkish invasions. Since 1982, the cave has been referred to as "Kőlyuk" in the literature. It also appears under various names in literature: Kishartyáni Kőlyuk (Eszterhás 1988), Kő-völgyi-kőlyuk (Szathmári 1982), Kő-völgyi Kőlyuk (Eszterhás 1989), Kő-völgyi Hermit-cave (Eszterhás 1988), Kővölgyi Hermit-cave (Eszterhás 1989), Kő-völgyi-hermitcave (Eszterhás 1989), and Hermit-cave (Szathmári 1982).