in Balaton-felvidéki National Park
The most important goal of environmental education for us is to create a positive attitude towards nature protection in pupils and students, to show them nature and bring nature closer to them, and to help them become better acquainted with the values of nature. Nature trails and study sheets developed by the Balaton-felvidéki National Park Directorate await groups and other interested visitors. Informative lectures provided by our official in charge of environmental education, in classrooms, give insight into the following topics:

Informative lectures
General introduction to the Balaton-felvidéki National park:
Flora
Fauna
General briefing about nature preservation
National Parks in Hungary

Forest School Programmes

Tihany peninsula
The Balaton-felvidéki National Park Directorate provides guided tours for school groups visiting Tihany Peninsula, as part of their forest school schedule. The professional guide introduces the geological history of the region, its geological and geomorphic structure, flora and fauna, habitats. We offer two itineraries through which the students become acquainted with the sights. One tour is about 3-4 hours long.

Hiking routes:
A). Eastern side of the Peninsula: departing from Tihany boat harbour - along the shore of Lake Balaton - Cyprián Spring - Medeival Home of Monks - Óvár Ancient Fortress - arriving to the old village.
Fee: 10 000,- HUF/group, 3-4 hours
More Information: Réka Vers +36 30/316-9541
B). The inner part of the peninsula: along the Kiserdő Peak - Belső-tó (Inner Lake) - Aranyház (Golden House Geyser Cone) - old village route.
Fee: 10 000,- HUF/group, 3-4 hours
More Information: Réka Vers +36 30/316-9541

II. Become acquinted with Tihany village on your own!:
The professional guide does not take the groups to the village, because the high number of tourists and shops would take their attention off the guided tour. It is better to learn more about the village on their own, with the help of our worksheets (in Hungarian). The worksheets contain many interesting questions about sights of the village (Culture Center, Church of the Benedictine Abbey, Spring Cave, Pottery House, Calvary, Echo Hill, Pisky Promenade, Folklore and Fishing Museum).
One pack of worksheets costs 200,- HUF.
Each program day can be chosen independently as well.
More Information: Réka Vers +36 30/316-9541

Bakony Forest School
The forest school programme and accommodation provided by the National Park Directorate can be reserved in Bakonybél village, High Bakony Protected Landscape Area. The Educational Base is developed adjacent to the House of Forests, one of our demonstration sites.

Programmes of the forest school:
Natural values of the High Bakony
General forest knowledge
Flora and fauna
On-site geological knowledge examination
Examination of wetland habitats
Cultural values of the region

Nature Trails developed
by the National Park Directorate

Csopak - Dormouse Circuit
In the shrinking green patches of our dwelling environment, the only elements of fauna and flora to survive are those adapted to man. This nature trail was intended to present the fauna leaving detectable traces in our close environment. The site of the adventure is the park surrounding the centre of the Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate, established in 2005 in the former summer resort building of the Congregatio Jesu. The symbol of the trail is the dormouse, familiar in our gardens and attics. Interactive elements make the short nature trail joyful for both adults and children.

Tihany
Lóczy - Geyser Nature Trail
The first nature trail of the country was developed here, drawing the visitor's attention primarily to the unique geological formations of the peninsula. The boards along the trail provide information about the area's zoological, botanical and landscape values in English and Hungarian. The booklet entitled "Tihany" - published by the Tihany Mayor's Office,available at Tihany Tourinform Office - can be your guide during your excursion. The area was awarded the European Diploma in 2003. The altogether 18 km long nature trail includes many shorter routes. The trail can be visited freely, and professional guided tours can also be required at the Directorate. Stops of the trail are the following:
1. Nyereg Hill
2. Csúcs Hill
3. Geyser field
4. Aranyház (Golden House Geyser Cone)
5. Kiserdő Peak
6. Óvár (Ancient fortification)
7. Medieval Home of Monks

Tapolca Basin
Badacsony, Geological and Botanical Nature Trail
The Hungarian-English information boards tell us about the geological, botanical, zoological values of the volcanic hills and the local land usage methods. Walking along we can study the diverse basalt forms and the former quarry walls. The scenic geomorphic features reveal moments of the bygone events of geological history. Booklets about the nature trail are available in Hungarian and English. The trail can be visited freely, and professional guided tours can also be required at the Directorate. The 4 km long trail loops back into itself. It starts from the Kisfaludy House on the southern side of Badacsony Hill.

Szent György Hill, "Basalt Organ Pipes" Nature Trail
The trail follows the most frequently visited tourist routes of the Hill, showing many of its natural values. The nearly 4 km long trail looping back into itself is made up of seven stops, with Hungarian and German information boards. The trail starts from the former basalt quarry at Raposka (approachable from Tapolca). The first stop provides information about the geology of Szent György Hill, the following stops draw your attention to the flora of the hill and the "ice cave". The trail takes you to the 414 m high summit along the probably most well-known and most interesting sight of the hill, the "basalt organ pipes". At the top another information board helps you to identify the elements of the unforgettable panorama of Keszthely Mountains, the wittness mountains of the Balaton Uplands and the Somló Hill. The protected fauna of the area is presented at the last stop of the route, taking around 1,5 hours to cover. The symbol of the trail is the Saga pedo ("saw-legged grasshopper"), a protected animal species that lives on the hill and is characteristic of the area. This symbol can be seen at each stop, always referring to the actual topic of the information board.

Szigliget, Kamon-kő Nature Trail
The pdf file can be downloaded here.

High Bakony Protected Landscape Area
Boroszlán Nature Trail
Located a few kilometers away from Bakonybél village, at the elevation of 240 m, the trail starts from the valley of Gerence Brook that crosses the High Bakony area and leads to the upper region of Kőris Hill. It turns back at the elevation of 520 m and descends back to the starting point, a car park, through the Öreg-Szarvad Valley. The total length of the trail is 7 km, the shorter route covers 2 km: turning back at Odvaskő Cave it leads back to the valley on stairs. The trail, built in the side of the Kőris Hill provides information about the natural values of the area. The trail can be visited freely, and professional guided tours can also be required at the Directorate. It can be approached from the road section between Bakonybél and Bakonykoppány, from the Odvaskő bus stop, Hotel and Restaurant Odvaskő. www.tetraalap.hu

The Boroszlán Nature Trail in the side of Kőris Hill was established by the Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate in High Bakony Protected Landscape Area ten years ago. The walking trail starting from the car park of Odvaskő in the Gerence Valley reveals the natural values of the area. The trail welcomes visitors throughout the whole year with free entrance. The shorter version of the 7 km long trail is 2 km long. The suggested track is adjusted to the existing tourist trails and to their most interesting parts. Visitors can learn about the strictly protected natural formations, habitats and living forms (Odvaskő Cave, Hungarian meadow saxifrage, Black stark etc.). During the previous years the stations of the nature trail have become damaged to such an extent that their renovation coud not be postponed. In 2003 our directorate managed to renovate and modernize the nature trail. The major part of the works were financed by the sum (600 000,- HUF) that was provided by the Tetra Foundation, via our successful applicaton. Apart from changing some of the already existing information boards, the Directorate set up eight new ones and repaired the trail-steps and the indicator signs. Morover, a rope helps people to proceed at less easily accessible parts. The new boards illustrated with colourful pictures give information about the flora and fauna and rise people's attention to the protection of ant's nests and insects.

The renewed trail can be a refreshing and interesting programme for the guests of the region who seek for a good hiking route. Walking along the trail one can learn a lot about natural values, and this way the nature trail contributes to the nature friendly attitude of the visitors. The national park directorate provides more information about the nature trail on e-mail of telephone (see Contact). We wish you pleasant hiking days!

Keszthely Mountains,
Balatonederics-Balatongyörök
Grandpa Dormouse's Nature Trail
This nature trail, consisting of several shorter and longer routes, was developed espesially for children. The total length of 8,5 km can be found between Balatongyörök and Balatonederics, in the Keszthely Hills. Grandpa Dormouse helps us to learn about the forest habitats of the surrounding area. He tries to give advice on life in the forest to his grandchild. The trail routes start from popular sites such as Africa Museum in Balatonederics, Szépkilátó ("Beautiful Panorama"), Balatonederics and Balatongyörök Bélap Valley. The information boards of the trail are written in Hungarian and English. A Hungarian guide booklet is available about the trail and the natural treasures of the area.

Kis-Balaton,
Balatonmagyaród
Kányavár Island, "Great Crested Grebe" Nature Trail
This nature trail was developed on Kányavár Island, Kis-Balaton region, one of the most visited areas of Balaton Uplands National Park. It can be approached from the road section between Zalavár and Balatonmagyaród. The nearly seven km long trail has 13 information boards, giving information about the bird fauna of Kis-Balaton. Each information board presents a bird group (shorebirds, songbirds, predators, etc.). Walking along the trail the visitor can read about the bat fauna of the area and the water management of Kis-Balaton. The symbol of the trail, the Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) can be often seen in the area.

Somló Protected Landscape Area
Kitaibel Nature Trail
Somló, the lonely giant rising from the flat region of Tapolca Basin, has preserved numerous natural values up until today.The special basalt forms provide home to rare plant and animal species.The once flourishing settlements of the Bronze Age on the top of the hill and the viticulture of the slopes, with famous wine production, which also looks back to a millenium-long history, are ranked among the relics of the Hungarian cultural history.The nature trail named after the botanist Pál Kitaibel (1757-1817) introduces the sights of the Somló Protected Landscape Area, which was founded in 1993 and has unique beauty. The trail is 3 km long with 9 stations and leads back onto itself. (Booklets about the walking trail are available in Hungarian.)
Stations: 1. Starting Point, 2. Erosion of Basalt, 3. Life in the Scrub Forest, 4. Hay Meadow, 5. Fauna of the Grasslands, 6. The Fortress of Somló, 7. Basalt Tuff, 8. Forests of the Northern Slopes, 9. Fauna of the Forests.

The trail is easy to reach: turn off from road No. 8. at Somlóvásárhely to the sideroad leading to Somló Hill, and head for Margit chapel where the Starting Point can be found.