Out of Budapest, part2

Happy New Year for everyone!

Now we are going further into Northern Hungary, for a daytip out of Budapest.
We finished last time in Mezokovesd, so if we go further to Miskolc, which is the third largest city in Hungary.
Miskolc offers several good things to do around, like the famous thermal cave bath in Miskolctapolca, which is an unique attractions. It is an in and outdoor thermal spa. The indoor is inside a cave, fully renewed, with underwater lights, waterfalls, great family fun.
The downtown of Miskolc also worth a walk, through the new Szinvaterasz and the old Theatre. If you catch a tram, you can go through the city to the Castle of Diosgyor. The castle was built in the 14th century, and served as a hunting castle for the queen. There are many medieval events, knight training during summertime.
Only a couple of kms and we are in the Bukk hills, which surrounds the city of Miskolc. The karst mountains offers many caves, some of it easy to climb and reach, like the Szeleta cave, which is only around 1hour walk from Miskolc. Prehistoric cavemen lived there for over 10000 years from the end of the iceage. From the Szeleta caves, you can reach Lillafured, to see the lake of Hamor and the waterfall of the Szinva creek (which is flowing through miskolc than), theere you can also see the famous Palota hotel which looks like a castle , but was built as a hotel in the 19th century. You also can take guided tours to the two open caves there, the St. Stevens and the Anna caves. And you can take the narrow gauge train back to Miskolc , which takes around 40mins through the hills and forest of the Bukk, or go to see Omassa, which is around 12kms away, where you can see the first steel mill in hungary, and the famous trout farm, where you can buy fresh, grilled fish.
From Miskolc, we go to see the wonderful fortress of Boldogkovaralja. which is partly rebuilt, other in ruins. The view is magnificent from the fortress and the medieval restaurant is also worth a try in the cellar.
From Boldogkovarlja we can go two ways,
the one is to north to see the
Aggtelek caves.

There are actually several caves, all is a World heritage site. But if you are there choose a normal 1hour guided tour to see the magnificent underworld. The caves are beautiful, cold and amazing to see the many different stone and karst creature. There are a long way which ends in Slovakia as well.
from Aggtelek is good to take the road through the Zemplen mountains, which is a young volcanic mountain, offers many wonderful fortress ruins, like Fuzer, and a nice porcelain manufacture in Hollohaza.
You can end up in Sarospatak, which is part of the Tokaj wine region, and where from we will continue our trip next time...