Hajós

Wine, Swabian heritage, and nature in the heart of the Danube–Tisza region Hajós is located in Bács-Kiskun County, halfway between Baja and Kalocsa, in the unique world of the former floodplain of the Danube. The town’s character is shaped by its viticulture and winemaking traditions, as well as its vibrant community identity rooted in Swabian (German ethnic) heritage. Hajós is one of the key settlements of the Hajós–Baja wine region, making it a natural gateway to exploring the area's culinary delights. The most famous attraction is the Hajós Cellar Village: a unique network of wine cellars and press houses, preserving folk architectural heritage. With over 1,200 cellars carved into the loess soil, it offers a distinctive “village structure” for wine tastings, cellar visits, and events. The development of the cellar village is closely tied to the region’s unique natural conditions: the soil and topographical features were ideal for both viticulture and the creation of cellars, making wine here not just a product but a landscape-shaping tradition. In the town itself, Baroque and ethnic heritage are tangible. The Hajós Baroque Castle (formerly an archbishop’s hunting lodge) now serves as a museum and a venue for community and cultural events, while the German Ethnographic House provides insight into local identity through the everyday objects of Swabian life. Among the town’s landmarks, the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Emeric holds a prominent place, naturally complementing the wine tourism offer with built and cultural heritage. For those seeking active or nature-based experiences, the Hajós area is an excellent choice. The protected “Hajós Meadows and Loess Banks” offer scenic landscapes and natural phenomena, such as the world of bee-eaters, known for their nests carved into loess walls. The South-Őrjeg Natura 2000 area spans several settlements, including Hajós, highlighting the region’s ecological significance. Here, hiking, birdwatching, and cycling can be combined into a seamless chain of experiences. From a sustainability perspective, Hajós boasts several mutually reinforcing attributes. A significant part of its tourism appeal is based on the responsible utilisation of existing cultural heritage (such as the traditional press houses and cellars of the Cellar Village, and the Baroque castle’s current community and museum functions), following the “preservation–utilisation” principle and reducing the need for new developments. Additionally, the surrounding area is home to nationally and internationally protected natural assets (Hajós Meadows and Loess Banks; South-Őrjeg Natura 2000), providing a framework for the development of eco-friendly, outdoor, and interpretive tourism. Sustainable mobility is further supported by the development of cycling tourism connections in the region, linking the Hajós Cellar Village with neighbouring settlements via the Natura 2000 area, offering low-impact ways to explore (cycling, walking) as realistic alternatives.