Ascent to Prédikálószék (639 m)
The most beautiful view of the Danube
The second highest mountain in the Visegrád Mountains is Prédikálószék (639 m). It is interesting mainly because it offers a famous view of the Danube River, or rather from the Prédikálószék-kilátó lookout tower, which stands on its top. The ascent itself starts in the town of Dömös, which is the starting point for a number of beautiful hikes, so in good weather and on weekends there are really crowds of tourists. By Hungarian standards, we have a decent climb to the top and also a very nice path with lots of rock formations. Thanks to the final view, we can say that it is definitely one of the most interesting hikes you can do in Hungary.
Dömös
Dömös is the starting point for this hike. It lies right next to the Danube on road 11 connecting Esztergom with Budapest via Visegrád. There are several parking lots here, of which the largest at the entrance to the Szöke-forrás-völgy valley is the most convenient. We head up the valley, initially along a narrow road past low, relatively picturesque houses.
Path through the valley
After you leave the building, you can continue along the road or just a little further along the edge of the forest. The local beech forest is full of skinny saplings. Along the way you will come across several educational boards, unfortunately they are only in Hungarian. It is clear from them that many protected bats live in the local caves. After a while, you will reach a refreshment point – a small chapel, where there is also an intersection of hiking trails. From there we will continue along the red trail and start climbing the ridge.
Exit trail
The trail is comfortable and wide in this part of the ascent, the views are quite limited due to the dense forest
Haunted forest
A less pleasant passage follows, where the slope is significantly steeper and you have to follow the signs more because there are many alternative footpaths and not all of them have an ideal route. The surrounding forest is suddenly full of variously twisted trees. With increasing height, views of the surrounding ridges also finally open up.
The most beautiful part of the climb
We finally reach the edge of the rock massif. We are high above the valley and there are beautiful rocks around. Most of them have names: Nagy-tuskó (Big Block), Széles-torony (Wide Tower), and probably the most beautiful Bunkó (Idiot).
Beautiful views from the rocks
In this passage, it is definitely worth slowing down the ascent and enjoying the individual views. Some rocks can be climbed comfortably and the views will immediately take on a different perspective.
The end of the comb
About half way through the rocks, pay close attention to where the sign leads, you can get confused by the wide footpath approaching the final part of the ridge.
Flowering forest below the peak
Now the road changes character again. The last half-kilometer climb awaits us, but only less than 90 meters in height. The surrounding forest literally blooms (in spring)
Prédikálószék peak (639 m)
Finally, the top lookout tower appears in front of us (the top of the hill itself is some 30 meters south of the lookout tower)
Famous view of the Danube
Even from the base of the observation tower there is a relatively nice view, but you have to climb all the way to the top to get the best view.
View to the east
The national park here is quite vast and the hills stretch to the horizon.
Of course, you can go back the same way, but you can think of at least two other alternatives.
