Avas
Avas, the iconic hill of Miskolc, has long been a defining feature of the city’s landscape.
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Avas, the iconic hill of Miskolc, has long been a defining feature of the city’s landscape. Rising beside the Szinva Creek, which flows from the Bükk Mountains, its name likely derives from the Hungarian word “óv,” meaning “to protect,” hinting at the time when its slopes were covered with forbidden forests. However, from the 14th century onwards, vineyards were established on the southern slopes, and for centuries, viticulture shaped the life of Miskolc. This flourishing winemaking era ended in the 1880s with a devastating phylloxera epidemic that destroyed the vineyards, leaving the area desolate.
The cellars on the northern side of the hill, however, endured and became gathering places for literary societies and friendly gatherings throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. After the decline of viticulture, Avas took on new roles: the hanging gardens of Horváth Hill and the Calvary Chapel became popular spots for relaxation. Avas saw its most significant transformation in the 1970s, when a housing estate was built on the former vineyard lands to accommodate the city’s growing population, primarily workers from the Diósgyőr steelworks.
Today, Avas is one of Miskolc’s symbolic areas. Its rows of wine cellars, Horváth Hill, and the famous lookout tower make it a popular gathering place for both locals and tourists. Like the youngest son in folk tales, the hill has come a long way to secure its place at the heart of the city and remains a defining part of Miskolc’s identity.
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