Lookout Point
Those who climb to the lookout point above the village can not only enjoy the unparalleled view but also sense some of the mysticism that the local people have felt towards their surroundings for centuries. With admiration, but also humility: the local legends depict a world where people do not dominate nature but submit to its unique laws, and in return, nature rewards them with every imaginable blessing.
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Looking to the left from the lookout point, you can see Szegi Castle Hill. According to local folklore, a fairy castle once stood on the hill, home to fairies who often passed the time playing with a ball. Sometimes the ball would fall, and the fairies would cry. Their tears formed the Bodrog River. This beautiful, tear-born river continues to captivate visitors to this day. In spring, during the flood season, the river appears as a single, vast expanse of water stretching for kilometres, with only the tops of trees and branches of bushes breaking the surface here and there. Approaching the floodplain by boat during this time offers a chance to observe unique birds and plants characteristic of this region. In summer, the river calms down, providing excellent opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, boating, and fishing. While fishing is no longer common, there was a time when around 20 fishing families lived in Bodrogkeresztúr. They would set out for the Bodrog at dawn and often return only late at night or the following morning. Their tales frequently feature water demons and spirits. In one story, for instance, a child suddenly appeared on the water's surface, splashing around, only to vanish as a massive log suddenly rose from the river's depths, terrifying the fishermen. Looking to the right, you can marvel at Nagy-Kopasz Hill, said in legends to be the meeting place of the region's witches. One story tells of the blacksmith's wife in Bodrogkeresztúr, who was also a witch. Her husband noticed that she often disappeared in the evenings, so he asked his apprentice to follow her and see where she went. After dark, the witches would gather at the cross before continuing their night on Tokaj Hill. The blacksmith's wife threw a stirrup onto a barrel, which instantly turned into a steed, allowing them to ascend Nagy-Kopasz. The apprentice, however, hid inside the barrel. At midnight, when the witches' gathering ended, they returned to the cross, where the stirrup was removed, and the horse turned back into a barrel. At that moment, the apprentice jumped out of the barrel and threw the stirrup onto the witch, turning her into a horse. He led the horse to the blacksmith's workshop, where the blacksmith shod it the next day. When the witch turned back into a woman, she had horseshoes on her hands and feet, revealing her nocturnal activities. The region's folklore can be explored in greater detail at the Keresztúr Treasure House, while the aquatic world of the Bodrogzug can be experienced up close from a SUP or canoe.
Sights, programs
AllAudio guide
Listen to the history of the location