Őrség National Park

The Örség National Park (Hungarian Őrségi Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság ) was opened as a European National Park on 8 March 2002 and is located in Vas County. It has a total area of ​​43.933 hectares and is part of the three-country nature park Raab - Őrség - Goricko, with the nature park Raab (founded on 12 September 1998) and the Slovenian Natural Park Goricko (founded October 9, 2003 ).

Location

The area Őrség ( = station ) located in the triangle between Körmend in the north, Zalaegerszeg the east and the Hungarian-Austrian border in the west. The population of the border territory made ​​the Hungarian rulers in the 11th and 12th centuries, guarding services, resulting in the countryside Name " guard " is derived. For these voluntary services the residents were rewarded with privileges and greater autonomy.

Characteristic of the Őrség are small settlements, groups of houses and hamlets, called the Hungarian szer that formed a chain of border posts. In many villages of Őrség Examples of these types of settlements and traditional design are still preserved and maintained.

Environment

Northwest of Őriszentpéter, the county town of the region, with a natural history museum, located 5 km further is an open air museum Pityerszer, which is open during the summer months daily. In Pankasz near Kisrákos you will find a well-preserved typical " guard " the church tower from the 17th century.

In the village Velemér on the Hungarian- Slovenian border, a well-preserved church from the 13th century with frescoes of the Austrian Johann Aquila from the year 1378, which already at that time the so-called " International Style " hinted. The painter has been immortalized on the northern wall itself.

Flora and Fauna

The Őrség has a number of rare species of animals and plants such as the black stork, the three-toed woodpecker or the honey buzzard and a variety of rare butterflies and dragonflies. Orchids are found as often as angelica, rare irises and gentian plants.

Awards

( - EDEN European Destinations of Excellence ) Excellent Hungarian region Őrség of the top ten destinations in rural tourism in Europe on 26 October 2007 by the Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen in Portugal with the EDEN award was. She was a character landscape in harmony with nature, the mountains and valleys, deciduous and coniferous forests, meadows, swamps, springs and rivers connect harmoniously with each other. Visitors also fascinated by the authentic traditions and customs, arts and crafts, the products of the farmers who are self-sufficient, as well as the lifestyle of the region.