holloko

Hollókő is a village in Nógrád county, on the hilly country of Cserhát, has just 300 inhabitants. It can be approached by turning off the road Nr. 21 before Pásztó, after 17 km. The village was first mentioned written in the 14th century. The Kacsics family had the castle built on the rock above the village.The little fortress lost its strategical importance by the 18th century, it was demolished in 1711, rebuilt by 1996. Exhibitions of the castle's history, in summer knight shows, performances evoke the old times. It has beautiful view of the Cserhát and the village in the valley. The old village is a live museum of Palóc traditions. The subsistence of the village's old shape is unique in Europe. There were often fires. The white farmhouses were built after the fire in 1909 with white walls, porch, banister, pitched roof. The Roman Catholic church stands in the village centre, was built in 1889 with shingled roof and wooden tower. The Landscape Protection Area of Hollókő was established in 1977 to preserve the unique natural, historical and ethnical values. The UNESCO registrated Hollókő in 1987 as part of the World Heritage. We can get to know the rich decorated national dress and traditions of Palóc people on the Easter festival, pentecost and on the grape harvest procession. These are connected with the meeting of dance groups in Palóc Homespun Festival when tourists can see the old professions and performances. Visitors can find some accomodations in the village as well.