Seven wonderful open air museums near the health-resorts

During the wellness weekends or family holidays the question often arises: what to do after coming out of the spa. The programs can vary from cycling and mountaineering to visiting the zoo, but if you are looking for something the whole family can enjoy regardless of age, sex and physical condition, you should visit one of the wonderful open air museums of Hungary. Termalfurdo.hu introduces some of them near the health-resorts.

Relaxing in Budapest or Esztergom, it is a shame not to visit Hungary’s largest open air museum, the Open Air Museum of Szentendre. The collection founded in 1967 is qualified for representing the architecture of the significant regions of the Carpathian basin and the living conditions and life style of the villages and market-towns. The open air museum shows the models of places, architecture and economy of 10 ethnographic regions with the help of around 400 structures, which contain mainly original buildings and objects from the end of the 18th century until the middle of the 20th century. Exhibitions, artisan and folklore shows and theatrical performances are held in the houses representing the regions. The open air museum of Szentendre celebrates its 50th anniversary of establishment, to the delight of which a special exhibition and birthday programs are held in the village museum.

The Old Village of Hollókő being on the World Heritage List is nearest to the spas of Bogács and Eger. The village survived in almost its original condition, thus it authentically represents the image of the Palots village of the early 20th century. A wonderful small church stands in its centre, while over against we can look in an authentic house serving as a museum since 1964. Restaurants, craftsmen and artisans are working and selling their goods in the houses of the little Palots village under the ruins of the castle of Hollókő. The atmosphere of Hollókő carries tourists away at the very first sight. If you can, visit the place on a weekday when it is less crowded.

Nyíregyháza-Sóstó is not far away from Debrecen or Hajdúszoboszló, where a nicely shaped village museum is waiting for the visitors with regular programs on the weekends. The genuine ethnographic village contains nearly a hundred buildings, which are located next to the woods of Sóstó on a 7.5 hectares territory since its opening in 1979. It is really exciting how it represents the various local architecture and living conditions of the regions Szatmár, Rétköz, Nyírség, Nyíri Mezőség and Bereg as one “village museum”. Public buildings can also be seen in the village centre shaped like a bobbin, some of the artisan places, the school, the storehouse of firefighters, the campanilen, the church and the mill are working occasionally, while the grocery and the pub are working according to their original functions during the open hours of the museum. The vicarage and the granary host various programs and receptions.