Cycle the Great Plain
Discover the Great Plain by bicycle!
About the Project
The organization submitting the application: Székkutas Municipality. Székkutas is located in the northeastern part of Csongrád County, on the border of Csongrád and Békés counties, approximately 45 km from Szeged and about 50 km from Békéscsaba. The village is intersected by Route 47, which connects Szeged and Békéscsaba.
The implementation of the project involves not only Székkutas Municipality but also 17 other regional settlements. These are: Ambrózfalva, Apátfalva, Csanádalberti, Csanádpalota, Földeák, Királyhegyes, Kiszombor, Kövegy, Magyarcsanád, Makó, Maroslele, Mártély, Mindszent, Nagyér, Nagylak, Óföldeák, and Pitvaros.
The project, prepared with the involvement of numerous affected towns, has significant regional impact and support, enabling the realization of a comprehensive cycling tourism development in the eastern part of Csongrád County.
The area affected by the development is characterized by prominent natural values such as the Maros and Tisza rivers, Körös-Maros National Park, Maros mudflats, and Mártély Landscape Protection Area. The region is interwoven with hiking and cycling routes, and the flat terrain typical of the Great Plain makes pedestrian and cycling tourism easy.
Active recreation is becoming increasingly popular, but its infrastructural background needs to be established. Most of the pedestrian and cycling paths are developed, covering the region network-wise. Towns are increasingly attracting visitors with appealing attractions, and more and higher-quality accommodations are being built.
Cycle the Great Plain - Project Aim
The primary goal of the project is to develop the cycling infrastructure in the region between the Tisza and Maros rivers. An indirect aim is to seize the opportunity to showcase the natural values and sights of Csongrád County, between the Tisza and Maros rivers, which in many cases are still virtually untouched, to as many people as possible, including younger, family, and older generations.
To encourage them to engage in outdoor activities, actively relax, explore the beauty of the landscape, visit nearby attractions, and stop by a local specialty restaurant or café in the town square.
Cycle the Great Plain – Cycling Rest Areas
As part of the application, we will establish 18 cycling rest areas within our construction activities. Information boards will be placed at these rest areas, thus achieving the development of a cycling route direction signage system in 18 cases.
At the rest areas, we will also provide space for the secure placement of bicycles, meaning the cycling parking infrastructure will be developed.
Great Hungarian Plain
The Great Plain is the westernmost part of the Eurasian steppe region, covering an area of approximately 100,000 km² (of which 52,000 km² falls within present-day Hungary). The current landscape of the Great Plain was shaped by rivers and wind. The rivers deposited alluvial cones and thick sediments along their abandoned channels at the foot of mountain ranges. Examples include Nyírség, Kiskunság, Mátra foothills, and Bükkalja. From the alluvial cone material, the wind accumulated sand (e.g., Kiskunság; Nyírség) and spread a thick loess cover elsewhere (e.g., Mezőföld; Bácskai loess ridge; Hajdúság; Maros-Körös plain; Nagykunság).
Climate
Generally, in flat terrain, the average temperature decreases by about 1°C for every 145 kilometers traveled north. Therefore, the average temperature in Baja is 1°C higher than in Budapest.
Flora and Fauna
The Great Plain is home to many birds, reptiles, and amphibians, with vegetation predominantly consisting of grains and plants found around lakes and in wetlands. The region is particularly famous for the Grey Cattle, which is mainly bred in the Great Plain, especially in Hortobágy.
Festivals and Events
The portfolio of Great Plain wines is composed of three regions: the 14,000-hectare Csongrád wine region, the 15,000-hectare Hajós-Bajai wine region, and the 104,000-hectare Kunsági wine region. These regions are characterized by a varied and extreme climate, with drought-prone summers and harsh winters. The soil composition is uniformly calcareous sand, originating from the Danube.
In the Csongrád wine region, loess and drifting sand are common, with very low humus content. These conditions had a beneficial effect during the phylloxera epidemic of 1875, as they helped preserve the local vines from the disease. Originally, the vines were planted in these areas to stabilize the drifting sand.
The characteristic grape varieties of this region include Kövidinka, Cserszegi Fűszeres, Kékfrankos, Olaszrizling, and Kadarka. Wines made from these varieties are generally known for their softness compared to wines from other regions in the country, featuring milder acids and appealing to consumers with their spicy and floral aromas.
Great Plain Gastronomy
The Great Hungarian Plain is the largest geographical region in Hungary, covering 56 percent of the country’s total area. As a result, there are significant variations across the Great Plain in terms of dialects, customs, and gastronomy. In this vast area, not only do the ingredients used differ, but so do the cooking techniques and the names of the dishes.
Application
The map, available in both online and offline modes, marks attractions, service providers, shops, dining establishments, and accommodations along the 18-town connecting cycling tour route with precise addresses and opening hours. By downloading and using the application, users can explore the tourist attractions of the towns along the cycling route, and it also helps find grocery stores, accommodations, gas stations, and service centers.
You can also record your tour or capture your current location. If you get slightly lost and are unsure of which way to go, the compass feature can assist. Additionally, you can measure your speed. The application also includes program and tour recommendations alongside these features.
