Medieval wine cellars carved into volcanic tuff: along the Tokaj Wine Route, winemaking is set against a striking geological backdrop. In Slovakia, Trebišov is considered the gateway to the Tokaj wine region. The route passes through Bara, Čerhov, Černochov, Malá Tŕňa, Slovenské Nové Mesto, Veľká Tŕňa and Viničky, as well as Borša, Ladmovce and Zemplín, places historically associated with the Tokaj micro-region. River branches, floodplains and the birdlife of the eastern lowlands offer another way to experience the area.
Tokaj Routes, Views and Experiences
The Tokaj Lookout Tower stands among the vineyards between Malá Tŕňa and Černochov. Modelled on a wooden barrel, the 12-metre-high tower offers views of the Tokaj region and its vineyards. Its facilities include a shelter and a children’s playground; it serves as a rest stop for tourists, cyclists and families with children. Check the condition of the facilities on site.
A boat trip on the Bodrog can start from the harbour behind Viničky and continue to Sárospatak or Tokaj in Hungary. Check before travelling whether the trip is currently available. Borsi Rákóczi Castle features an interactive exhibition, an escape room, a virtual reality game and panoramic projections. As individual offerings may change, check which formats are available before your visit.
The wine cellars themselves also give the region its distinctive character: their medieval chambers, carved into tuff, make volcanic rock part of the Tokaj winemaking tradition. The places along the wine route and the communities historically associated with the micro-region offer different points of reference in this wine country, without implying that Trebišov is the route’s starting point.
Castle, Church and History in Trebišov
The museum in Trebišov is housed in a Baroque-Classical castle in the town park, which includes a French garden. Its permanent exhibitions cover Tokaj viticulture and winemaking, including an archive of Tokaj wines; the history of agriculture in eastern Slovakia; and folk costume and crafts in Zemplín. Other exhibits include historic tractors and internal combustion engines, steam ploughs and cable ploughs, the development of threshing, and archaeological monuments from Trebišov District. Cultural history, technology and agriculture come together under one roof. The themes of the permanent exhibitions may change.
Another historic building is the mausoleum of Count Július Andrássy. It was built in 1893 in the Neo-Gothic style to a design by German architect Arthur Meining. The sarcophagus dates from 1893–1895 and was created by Budapest sculptor Juraj Zala.
The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary has been a national cultural monument since 1963. The 63 panels of the Gothic net vault in the choir and nave feature Rococo paintings. The interplay between the Gothic vaulting and the later Rococo paintings makes the interior design a subject in its own right, alongside the history of the mausoleum and museum.
River Landscapes and Protected Species
Medzibodrožie is characterised by a network of river branches, periodically flooded habitats, adjoining riparian forests, floodplain meadows and pastures. Protected breeding birds found there include Ferruginous Duck, Black Tern, Purple Heron, Eurasian Bittern and European Bee-eater. The Východoslovenská rovina has a different landscape character: it consists predominantly of intensively farmed agricultural land, and its steppe character benefits several bird species.
The Tajba National Nature Reserve is a former branch of the Bodrog and is subject to the fifth and strictest level of protection. The critically endangered European pond turtle breeds there regularly; waterbirds are also present. Follow the reserve’s protection regulations when visiting.
The Boršiansky les protected area lies within the cadastral territory of Borša. Covering 7.93 hectares, it preserves a habitat of European importance: lowland-type willow-poplar riparian forests of type 91E0. Species of European importance identified in the area include the stag beetle, thick-shelled river mussel and fire-bellied toad; protection levels 2 and 3 apply to the area.
Borsuk has a protected habitat of thermophilous vegetation with rare plant species such as Dictamnus albus and Iris pumila. An obsidian deposit was also discovered in the andesite area above the vineyards. These nature and geology features add another perspective on regional habitats alongside the floodplain landscapes.
Two Cycling Routes with Different Characteristics
The Dolnozemplínska cycling route runs for 22.5 kilometres from Čerhov to Viničky. A 3.5-kilometre section runs between Borša and Viničky along the Bodrog embankment towards Zemplín. The Lesíkom cycling route is shorter, at 10.2 kilometres, and leads from Čerhov to Veľká Tŕňa through the forests of the Zemplín Hills. Forest roads connect the two wine-growing villages. The routes differ both in length and in the landscape described. Check current surface conditions before setting out; unpaved sections of the Lesíkom route may be weather-dependent.
Discover more destinations: Trebišov, Veľká Tŕňa, Viničky, Dobrá, Čierna Nad Tisou, Veľký Kamenec, Biel, Sečovce, Veľaty.
See the broader travel overview: Košice.
