Hungary - Eastern Europe - page 363

Alternatively, you can take a bus from Árpád híd bus station in Budapest
( & 1/412-2597 ) to Szécsény or Pásztó, where you switch to a local bus to Hollók ó ,
of which there are four daily.
If you're driving from Budapest, take the M3 motorway to Hatvan, the M21 from
Hatvan to Pásztó, and local roads from Pásztó to Hollók ó .
VISITOR INFORMATION The best information office is the Foundation of
Hollók ó , at Kossuth Lajos út. 68 ( & 32/579-010; www.holloko.hu). It's open in
summer Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and weekends 10am to 6pm; in winter, it's
open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and weekends 10am to 4pm. You can also get
information through Nograd Tourist in Salgótarján ( & 32/310-660 ) or through
Tourinform in Szécsény, at Ady Endre u. 12 ( & 32/370-777; www.szecseny.hu).
SEASONAL EVENTS
At Easter time , villagers wear national costumes and participate in a folk festival.
Traditional song, dance, and foods are featured. On the last weekend in July, the Palóc
Sz ó ttes Festival is held in Hollók ó . Folk dance troupes from Nógrád county as well
as international folk dance troupes perform on an open-air stage. Folk art by local arti-
sans is also on display. In the winter, groups visiting Hollók ó can participate in a wild-
pig hunt and subsequent roast.
EXPLORING THE VILLAGE
A one-street town, Hollók ó is idyllically set in a quiet, green valley, with hiking trails
all around. A restored 14th-century castle is perched on a hilltop over the village.
In the village itself you can admire the 14th-century wooden-towered church and
the sturdy, traditional peasant architecture and observe the elderly women at work on
their embroidery (samples are for sale). You can also visit the Village Museum at Kos-
suth Lajos u. 82, where exhibits detail everyday Palóc life starting in the early 20th
century. Official hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm; closed in
winter. Like everything else in town, though, the museum's opening times are flexible.
Entry is 100 Ft (50¢/25p).
WHERE TO STAY
In Hollók ó , traditionally furnished thatch-roofed peasant houses are available for
rent on a nightly or longer basis. You can rent a room in a shared house (with shared
facilities), or rent an entire house. The prices vary depending on the size of the room
or house and the number of people in your party, but 8,500 Ft ($43/£22) for a dou-
ble room is average. Standard private rooms are also available in Hollók ó . All accom-
modations can be booked in advance through the tourist offices in Hollók ó or
Salgótarján (see “Essentials,” above). If you arrive without reservations (which is not
advised), the address and phone number of a room finder are posted on the door of
the Foundation of Hollók ó at Kossuth Lajos u. 68 ( & 32/579-011 ).
WHERE TO DINE
Dining options are limited in tiny Hollók ó . The Vár Étterem, Kossuth Lajos u. 95
( & 32/379-029 ), serves decent Hungarian food at very low prices. Try a dish prepared
with the “treasure of the local forests,” porcini mushrooms. There is indoor and out-
door seating. The menu is available in English, and the waiters are patient. The restau-
rant is open daily noon to 8pm, except Christmas Day.