Among all the cities of the world only 137 settlements are considered to be an International City of the Grape and Wine, and Tokaj is one of them. And one can hardly find a person, who has never heard of probably the best known of wines, Tokaji Aszu ('old Tokai').
The former volcano Tokaj Mountain (height: 514 metres) or, using its more familiar name Kopasz ('bald') Mountain, is the birthplace of the world-famous aszu; the long and sunny days nurture the grape and the noble rot of the cellars of Tokaj educates it.
The former volcano Tokaj Mountain (height: 514 metres) or, using its more familiar name Kopasz ('bald') Mountain, is the birthplace of the world-famous aszu; the long and sunny days nurture the grape and the noble rot of the cellars of Tokaj educates it.
The Hungarian national anthem mentions the wine steeped vine-shoots of Tokaj, the town at the intersection of the rivers Tisza and Bodrog. Monarchs and famous men have lavished superlatives on the old Tokaji, among them Louis the 14th, the Sun King, Peter the Great, tsarina Catharine the 2nd, Friedrich the 2nd, Beethoven, Voltaire, Goethe and Schubert.
Among the owners of the town were the first Magyar settlers, the members of the family Hunyadi (the family of the great Renaissance monarch Mathias Rex), Janos Szapolyai, who became a king here and the Rakoczi family, who are for ever remembered for their struggles for liberty. Historical sources mention the name for the first time in 1074.
The flora and fauna near Tokaj mix the elements of mountain and plain. Forests, abundant in strictly protected rare species, cover the hillside of Kopasz Mountain. Those who are fond of undisturbed nature and bird life can enjoy rare moments if they visit the neighbouring Tokaj-Bodrogzug Protected Nature Zone, known as the ""land of marshy tracts"". For fans of angling and water, this active part of the Tisza is a Paradise. The same goes for the river Bodrog, which is low and with a very gradual fall. It has especially beautiful scenery with beautiful old trees alongside. This river has not been regulated by barrage yet. Pinewoods, beeches and oak-forests cover the neighbouring hills and, at their feet, vine-roots ripen the grape.
The fame and hospitality of Tokaj are centuries old. But its inhabitants continue to want their visitors to have an unforgettable experience. They await those who are longing to leave the noisy cities, who like good wine and the cordial atmosphere of provincial towns, the clear-watered rivers, the wonders of undisturbed nature and open-hearted people.
The fame and hospitality of Tokaj are centuries old. But its inhabitants continue to want their visitors to have an unforgettable experience. They await those who are longing to leave the noisy cities, who like good wine and the cordial atmosphere of provincial towns, the clear-watered rivers, the wonders of undisturbed nature and open-hearted people.
ikonnal bővítheti túráját.
