There are two distinct ways to get to know Egyek: as a place with protected marsh and wetland landscapes, and as a setting for distinctive architecture and commemorative heritage. When choosing where to stay, you can first consider whether nature or architectural and local history should shape your visit.
Landscape: Protection, Marshes and Wetlands
Most of the Ohat-erdő TVT lies within Egyek’s administrative boundaries. The protected area is under strict protection and may only be visited with a permit. If you are considering a visit, check the permit requirements in advance. The remaining parts of the Pusztakócsi Marshes have been protected since 1973. In the Egyek-pusztakócsi Marshes visitor area, you can get around on foot or by bicycle; check for any restrictions on your chosen route before setting out.
The bodies of water can also be described specifically: part of the Ohati Fishponds is supplied by the Nyugati-főcsatorna, and Egyek is also home to the Ohat IV fishing lake. Göbe-erdő, also known as Göbe-morotva, covers 173 hectares. It lies mostly in Tiszadorogma and only partly in Egyek—an important geographical detail to bear in mind when choosing where to stay.
Church, School and Places of Remembrance
A late Baroque-Empire-style Roman Catholic church stands on Egyek’s main square. Stone statues of Saints Peter and Paul adorn it. On the green in front of the church is a First World War memorial created by Horváth Béla, depicting Christ holding a fallen soldier in his arms.
Another architectural feature is the school building of Újtelepi általános iskola, built in 1925. Designed in the Székler style, its façade depicts the Blood Covenant scene with Árpád and the Hungarian coat of arms at the centre. Kálváriás Cemetery is located on a double kurgan on Bartók-Béla Street. It is the only exclusively Catholic cemetery in Hajdú-Bihar County.
This gives you a clear choice of focus: the marshes, protected areas and wetlands offer a connection with nature, while the church, school façade, memorial and cemetery reflect architectural and local history. You can tailor your search for accommodation in Egyek to the subjects that interest you most during your stay.
Hajdú-Bihar: A Broader Perspective on the Puszta
Within the wider destination of Hajdú-Bihar, the Hortobágyi Nemzeti Park – the Puszta World Heritage site offers a broad perspective on the landscape. It covers nearly 75,000 hectares in the Great Hungarian Plain in eastern Hungary. As a cultural landscape, it preserves visible evidence of more than 2,000 years of traditional pastoralism.
For walks in the wider destination, the Hortobágyi-halastó nature trail offers routes of 3.6, 5.4 or 10 kilometres, with no difficult sections. The three distances let you choose how far you want to walk. The Hortobágy Wildlife Park offers another way to experience the landscape, with a bookable Land Rover safari and an expert guide who introduces visitors to wild horses and aurochs. As booking conditions may change, it is advisable to check them in advance.
Discover more destinations: Tiszacsege, Balmazújváros, Hortobágy.
View the wider travel guide: Balmazújvárosi.
