Holloko

This is perhaps Hungary's most photographed village, for it was a favourite destination even before it was discovered by the world at large. Redolent of a much earlier age, with its whitewashed, wooden framed houses complete with cellars, decorative verandahs and exposed beams, the entire village was placed in 1987 on a world list of places of outstanding cultural and natural significance.

The village owes its preserved state at least in part to its relative isolation; new architectural styles couldn't easily reach it. On the other hand, the high risk of damage by fire - the thatched roofs being particularly prone - meant that it had to be completely rebuilt on a number of occasions. The last of this was in 1909, when adobe was used for the walls for the first time and tiles for the roofs, yet still in the old Palóc fashion. (Paloc is the name of the ethnic group of people whose folk culture is associated with the region.)

The village centre Ofalu is its nineteenth century wooden-towered church, surrounded on the hilly streets by no fewer than sixty-five listed buildings. The majority of these form part of the village museum, but it is important to say that Holloko is not a museum or "skanzen": village women dressed in folk costume seen hurrying down the street or working quietly in a shady courtyard are not members of some hired troupe but genuine village residents. Altogether 380 people live in Holloko and although it is true most are retired there are also some young families.
Also of interest is Holloko Castle, which rises above the village. According to local legend some well-meaning little imps disguised as ravens built it, stone by stone. This explains the name of the place (in Hungarian Holloko means "raven stone").

Getting there:
From Budapest take the M3 motorway as far as Hatvan, then take route 21. Before Paszto the road branches off towards Holloko.

Source: Nr. 1. hungarytourism.hu

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