Gyöngyök útja / Via Margaritarum Nyugat
The place
The Pearls' Path – Via Margaritarum West recalls the route taken by medieval pilgrims and merchants from Baranya to the Danube, running some 400 km and 20–25 stages between Pécs and Győr. The trail sets off from the Mecsek hills, then heads north across the plains and hills of Transdanubia to the seat of the Diocese of Győr. It is marked by wine regions (Villány, Szekszárd, Pannonhalma), abbeys, and Romanesque churches.
Why go
Pécs Cathedral and the Early Christian Necropolis (UNESCO). Szekszárd and its wine region. Pannonhalma Archabbey (UNESCO). The baroque old town of Győr.
A bit of history
The Via Margaritarum ("Pearls' Path") is part of a European pilgrimage network that follows the routes of medieval penitential journeys. In western Hungary it embodies the link between the Pannonian dioceses along the Pécs–Győr axis.
Getting there
Pécs: train from Budapest (3 hours). Győr: train from Budapest (1.5 hours) and from Vienna (1 hour).
Recommended gear
Lightweight hiking shoes. Rain jacket. Pilgrim's passport.
Best season
April–October. September–October is especially atmospheric during the grape harvest.