Hölgykő Castle is a hidden ruin tucked deep in the Bakony forests, between the villages of Csehbánya and Városlőd. It's a rewarding destination for hikers who enjoy combining a forest walk with a bit of medieval history and solitude.

The ruins sit atop a small hilltop measuring just 30 by 30 meters, perched on the steep northern spur of the ridge known as Csigahegy (or Schlossberg), half-encircled from the north by the eastern branch of the Torna stream. The surrounding landscape is thickly wooded and quiet, giving the site a wild, almost forgotten atmosphere — especially beautiful in autumn when the leaves thin out and reveal glimpses of the terrain. Little remains of the fortress itself beyond fragments of walls, remnants of earthworks, and a striking 5-meter-deep cistern, but the old entrance is still recognizable, and the approach through the forest ridge adds to the sense of discovery.

How to get there

• Csehbánya or Városlőd — forest trail along the Csigahegy ridge, moderate difficulty

Practical information

• Surviving features: wall and rampart fragments, a 5-meter-deep cistern
• The original castle entrance is still visible

The fortress likely dates to the second half of the 13th century, following a royal land grant in 1270. In 1364, King Louis the Great ordered the castle demolished so its stones could be used to build a nearby Carthusian monastery.