Tokaj
Tokaj
The wine-growing area of Tokaj is a geographically closed area of viticulture and winery in the Bodrog river basin, in the north of Slovakia bounded by the Zemplínske vrchy hills, the Rozhľadňa hill, and in the south, in Hungary, it is bounded by the confluence of the Tisza and Bodrog rivers. It is both a historical and a territorial part of the large Tokaj region.
Although the Slovak Tokaj vineyard is area is small, it is one of the five areas in the world where it is possible to grow grapes for the production of natural sweet wines. This area is also our most valuable wine-growing region. The beginnings of vineyard cultivation at Tokaj fall as late back as the time of the Romans domination.
A visit to the Tokaj wine-growing region with its old wine cellars, where you can taste the real Tokaj wines maturing in wooden barrels for several years, is an experience that is not so easy to forget. Gradually, foreign tourists also come to know that area. There are several family-owned Tokaj wine growers in the neighbourhood, so visiting their wine cellars is not an issue. It is most desirable to arrive there at the end of the summer or in autumn when crops are harvested. In addition to wine tasting, you may also be witness to the birth of a new Tokaj wine.
In this unique site of Slovakia, you may admire the historic tuff pubs, picturesque villages with rich history, and the magic vineyards. Traditional local food and pleasant rural accommodation enchant anyone who visits the Tokaj area. There are more than enough opportunities for spending one’s free time there. The largest attraction is the 12-metre-high Sightseeing Tower shaped as barrel and a boat cruise along the Bodrog river. More and more popular cycling adds to this place and your experience a new dimension. From the bicycle saddle, you may explore the surrounding area, visit protected areas and reservations, national cultural monuments, archaeological sites, as well as unique Tokaj wine cellars.
Route description
The trail starts in the centre of the village of Malá Tŕňa. You can park your bikes here without any problems. On the square, there is a marking, a map of the surrounding trails, and tools for repairing your bikes with even a tire pump! Take the red sign towards the viewing tower. On the Y crossroad, hold on to the left.
When you have had enough of the views of the vineyards and the surrounding countryside from the tower, continue along the red sign to the inconspicuous intersection between the vineyards where you turn right to the black sign.
The black sign is a pleasant shortcut along the vineyards to village of Bara.
You will arrive to the big crossroads in the village. Turn left here to green and yellow signs that are almost parallel. You will cross the village of Malá Bara, behind it, the green and yellow signs diverge. After a while they merge again, so it does not really matter which of them you take. Just before the village of Viničky, keep on the yellow sign on the field crossroad and continue straight ahead.
You will arrive at a wine cellar, which you for sure should not miss and taste what is a symbol for this region! Then continue down the yellow sign to the left and down the main road again. You will ride a bit to the bridge across the Bodrog river. There is a red sign ahead of the bridge, along which you will continue to the right on the dam. Following the red signs, you will arrive in the village of Borša. The red signs will take you through it and you will continue to the village of Malá Bara.
In Malá Bara, you will now know it well. You have already been to the crossroads of biking labels. Turn left to Bar following the green sign. This time, however, you will not turn to the red one, but you will continue on the green one, which from the beginning is doubled with yellow, but that one is a little bit off our way. A slight ride down is ahead of you under the hill where there is a viewing tower, back to the beginning of the village of Malá Tŕňa.
The trail ends again in the centre of the village of Malá Tŕňa.
