The village centre of Körösszakál brings together two very different discoveries: the Reformed church, with its multi-stage building history, and an artesian well in the public park. Here, local history meets a distinctive water feature. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing these local attractions from the broader offerings in the wider destination of Hajdú-Bihar.
Church and Pianino: Several Chapters
The Reformed church was built by the congregation in 1742; they also erected a wooden bell tower beside it. The church burned down in 1819, and the present building was completed in 1891. The three dates tell a story of construction, destruction and later rebuilding—the church as it stands today is part of a longer building history. The church also houses a Viennese pianino, which is considered to be still in working order. The instrument adds a distinctive cultural detail to the architectural interest.
Artesian Well in the Village Centre
The artesian well is in the public park in the centre of the village. Its water has an average temperature of 14 °C and rises to the surface from a depth of more than 100 metres. Unlike the church, the focus here is on the properties of the water: its temperature and depth give the well its own distinctive character. Together, the two sites can be seen as different facets of the village—its history on the one hand and artesian water on the other.
Walking Stage to Körösszakál
Another option in the surrounding area is the Bihar-Sárrét section of the Alföldi Kéktúra. The stage from the Sebes-Kőrös-Gróf-Tisza-István Bridge to Körösszakál is listed as 1.5 km long, with a published walking time of 20 minutes. This provides a specific short route option, distinct from the sites in the village centre. Check the route information before setting out.
Hajdú-Bihar: Puszta, Trails and Shepherd Culture
The wider destination of Hajdú-Bihar offers a distinct focus in the Hortobágyi Nemzeti Park – the Puszta World Heritage site. It covers nearly 75,000 ha in the Great Hungarian Plain in eastern Hungary. The cultural landscape preserves visible evidence of more than 2,000 years of traditional pastoralism. The Hortobágyi-halastó is also part of the regional landscape: the fishpond system is a Ramsar site, an Important Bird Area, part of the World Heritage site and a Natura 2000 site. This landscape perspective differs from the local architectural and water features of Körösszakál.
For walks along the Hortobágyi-halastó nature trail, you can choose routes of 3.6 km, 5.4 km or 10 km; none has any difficult sections. The different lengths provide a clear choice of distance. Here, too, it is a good idea to check the route information before setting out.
The Hortobágy Wildlife Park offers a bookable Land Rover safari with an expert guide to see wild horses and aurochs. As booking conditions may change, it is advisable to check in advance. The Shepherd Museum explores shepherd life, as well as handmade clothing, tools and decorated personal items. It is housed in a former coach house that was part of the Hortobágyi-Csárda complex.
Discover more destinations: Ártánd, Berettyóújfalu, Mezőpeterd, Furta
Go to the main travel overview: Berettyóújfalui.
