The Memorial Park in the western part of Legyesbénye combines a terraced sacred site with an open-air Stone Library. The statues depict religious figures, while the granite slabs bear poems and quotations about the landscape and winegrowing. The park thus brings together figurative art and written references to the region.
Memorial Park and Stone Library
Four-metre-high statues depict Saint Stephen, Saint Ladislaus, and Mary. The terracing is also part of the sacred site, providing a tiered spatial setting for the figures. Both the three named figures and the layout of the ensemble shape the character of the Memorial Park.
The open-air Stone Library consists of granite slabs. They bear poems and quotations that refer mainly to Tokaj-Hegyalja, the landscape, and the wine-growing region. While the statues depict religious figures, the texts draw attention to the landscape and winegrowing. The park thus brings together two distinct perspectives: sacred motifs and a written interpretation of regional themes.
The Mária Pilgrimage Route passes near the Memorial Park. If you plan to follow it, check the current route and trail markings in advance. Its proximity to the park is a useful point of reference; for planning your hike, the route itself is what matters.
Regional themes in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén
The wider destination of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén offers another perspective on winegrowing. The Tokaj Wine Region is legally protected as a wine-growing area; its climate, soil quality, and slope exposure are suitable for growing grapes. This complements the Stone Library’s references to Tokaj-Hegyalja and winegrowing with the landscape conditions that support cultivation.
The wider destination of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén also offers a range of historical cultural attractions. The Reformed College in Sárospatak preserves treasures of Hungarian Protestant culture. The Szent Erzsébet Basilica and the Szent Erzsébet House bring the medieval world to life. Diósgyőr Castle flourished during the reign of King Louis the Great in the 14th century and later served as a residence and a wedding gift for six queens. These regional themes differ from the sacred motifs of the Memorial Park: the focus here is on Protestant culture, medieval heritage, and castle history.
The natural attractions of the wider destination of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén include caves and themed trails. The Baradla-Domica Cave System is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Caves of the Aggtelek and Slovak Karst. The short Aggtelek Cave Tour is one kilometre long, takes 60 minutes, and is considered easy. It differs from an educational trail that connects the Aggtelek and Jósvafő entrances to Baradla Cave and presents the area’s natural and cultural heritage. Thus, a short cave tour with a clearly specified length and duration sits alongside a trail whose focus is connecting the two entrances and interpreting natural and cultural history.
Another way to explore the wider destination of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén is the Lillafüred nature trail. It introduces local historical sights and natural attractions, offering a different focus from the cave tours: the connection between local history and nature.
Discover more destinations: Tállya, Szerencs, Bekecs, Rátka, Mezőzombor, Mád, Golop
Back to the regional travel overview: Szerencsi.
