"
  • Kilátópont
  • Kilátás
  • Kilátás

Viewpoint

Those who hike up to the viewpoint above the village can not only enjoy the unparalleled view but also sense some of the mysticism that has shaped the locals’ relationship with their surroundings for centuries. With admiration, yet also humility: the local tales depict a world where people do not dominate nature but instead submit to its unique laws, and in return, nature rewards them with every conceivable blessing.

More information

Looking to the left from the viewpoint, we can see the Szegi castle hill. According to local folklore, a fairy-tale castle once stood on the hill, home to fairies who often passed the time playing ball. Sometimes the ball would fall, and the fairies would cry. Their tears formed the Bodrog River. This beautiful, tear-born river continues to captivate visitors to this day. In spring, during the flood season, the river appears as a single, vast expanse of water stretching for kilometres, with only the tops of trees and branches of bushes breaking the surface here and there. At this time, approaching the floodplain by boat offers a chance to see unique birds and plants characteristic of this region. In summer, the river becomes calmer, providing excellent opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, boating, and fishing. While fishing is no longer common, there was a time when some 20 fishing families lived in Bodrogkeresztúr. They would set out for the Bodrog at dawn and often return only late at night or the following morning. Their tales often feature water demons and will-o’-the-wisps. In one story, for instance, a child suddenly appeared on the surface of the water, splashing about, and then disappeared. From the middle of the river, a massive log suddenly emerged, striking fear into the fishermen. Looking to the right, we can marvel at the Nagy-Kopasz Hill, which, according to legends, was a meeting place for the witches of the area. One story tells of the blacksmith’s wife in Bodrogkeresztúr, who was said to be a witch. Her husband noticed that she often disappeared in the evenings, so he asked his apprentice to follow her and find out where she went. After dark, the witches would gather at the cross before continuing their night on Tokaj Hill. The blacksmith’s wife threw a stirrup onto a barrel, which instantly turned into a steed, allowing them to ascend Nagy-Kopasz. Meanwhile, the apprentice hid inside the barrel. At midnight, when the witches’ gathering ended, they returned to the cross, where the stirrup was removed, and the horse turned back into a barrel. However, the apprentice jumped out of the barrel and threw the stirrup onto the witch, turning her into a horse. He led the horse to the blacksmith’s workshop, where the blacksmith shoed it the next day. When the witch turned back into a woman, she had horseshoes on her hands and feet, revealing what she had been doing at night. The region’s folklore can be explored in greater detail at the Keresztúr Treasury, while the aquatic world of the Bodrogzug can be experienced up close from a SUP or canoe.

Sights, programs

All
The Calvinist Church 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.
3916 Bodrogkeresztúr
Philip the stork - stork nests 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.
3916 Bodrogkeresztúr, Kossuth utca 16
Former Synagogue 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.
3916 Bodrogkeresztúr, Kossuth utca 30