Touristic attractions

Sulfur Cave from Puturosu Mountain

The 14 m long cave (an old brimstone quarry) is Europe’s largest hydrogen sulfide mofetta, from where approximately 3000 m3 gas evaporates daily. The grotto is an extreme environment, unique for displaying life in a gas chemocline. The lower part of the cave is filled with CO2, CH4, and H2S of mofettic origin, while the upper part contains air that floats above the heavier volcanic gasses. The gas limit is marked on the wall by a petrified sulfur yellow line. It is open to the public, but for safety reasons its lower back part has been sealed off with iron bars. The therapeutic use of the mofetta is recommended for people suffering from rheumatism and vascular diseases.

Buffogó Peat Bog

The Buffogó peat bog is situated on a one-hectare-area North from the Büdös/Puturosu peak. It is a botanical reserve, having a proper habitat for plants characteristic of eutrophic bogs. The maximum thickness of the peat is around 4 metres. There are smaller and bigger pools of water girded with grass and flossy sphagnum. Carbon-dioxide gas emissions can also be recognized as continuous bubbling.

Apor bath

A territory with a large number of mineral water baths with gas emissions and also a large number of springs of various compositions, with a pH value between 1,82-4,28. These springs are considered unique in Europe, due to their content of small amounts of alum and sulphuric acid (vitriol). A unique feature of the Apor Baths is the noise that is produced by the sulfuric hydrogen and CO2 gas emissions. Water springs of similar composition can only be found in Colombia and Java Island.

Birds cemetery

The Birds Cemetery is in fact the crashed gallery of an old sulfur mine, now filled with sulfuric hydrogen.

Birds flying below these pits, rodents and other small mammals are killed by the gas, but do not decompose, for a long time, due to the sulfur.

 

 The healing springs

Due to their chemical composition, these healing springs are remarkable in treating various ailments. There are curative programs designed around drinking the water, useful for treating stomach problems, and the steam baths help those with heart and vascular system problems.


Balvanyos fortress

The fortress situated on a 1020 m high mountain top overlooking Bálványosfürdő/Baile Balvanyos dates from early middle ages and according to the legend used to be a pagan worship place during St Istvan’s reign. The fortress built in the 11th or 12th century used to belong to the Apor family, having received it most probably as royal gift. Its past is filled with legends and tales, according to which the builders were giants and fairies and there was also a golden bridge which connected the fortress with the Budos/Puturosu mountain. Nowadays only the ruins of the tower and of some bastions are still standing.