Hajdúbagos can be understood through three distinct themes: a structural transformation at the Reformed Church, distinctive landforms in the Földikutya Reserve, and the broad range of activities at Élő Tájház. Together, they raise different questions about the town—from its church history and landscape to crafts and creative work. For a broader selection of nature and cultural themes, Hajdú-Bihar is a wider travel destination to explore.
Church history, landscape and crafts
During its reconstruction, the Reformed Church of Hajdúbagos was converted into a Reformed church. The sacristy on the south side was demolished. The openings between the sacristy and the chancel also changed: the door and window were bricked up. These specific alterations make it possible to trace the structural transformation—not only the conversion itself, but also changes to individual parts of the building.
The Földikutya Reserve in Hajdúbagos lies on the edge of the town. On higher-lying meadows, flat, molehill-like mounds indicate the presence of blind mole rats. Some are about one metre wide and are usually arranged in rows. The landscape is shaped not only by individual mounds, but also by their recurring pattern. If you are planning to visit the reserve, check current access arrangements in advance.
At Élő Tájház, the range of activities extends from painting and drawing to woodcarving, rope-making, felting and bead weaving, as well as embroidery, tapestry work, stained glass and making traditional folk toys. The range thus includes visual arts, textile techniques, working with materials and toy-making. This gives the Tájház a cultural focus distinct from the structural changes to the church. If you would like to experience a particular activity, check in advance which of those listed are currently open to visitors.
More nature and cultural themes in Hajdú-Bihar
The wider travel destination of Hajdú-Bihar opens up a broader landscape: the Hortobágyi Nemzeti Park – the Puszta World Heritage Site covers nearly 75,000 hectares on the Great Hungarian Plain in eastern Hungary. As a cultural landscape, it preserves visible evidence of more than 2,000 years of traditional pastoralism. The Hortobágyi-halastó pond system is a Ramsar site, an Important Bird Area, part of the World Heritage Site and a Natura 2000 site. These designations offer another way to explore the nature-related themes of the wider travel destination.
For walks along the Hortobágyi-halastó nature trail, you can choose routes of 3.6, 5.4 or 10 kilometres; there are no difficult sections. The three distances let you choose the length that suits you. For a different kind of nature experience, the Hortobágy Wildlife Park offers bookable Land Rover safaris with expert guides to wild horses and aurochs. The park also showcases the original wildlife of the Hungarian Puszta, including wolves, Przewalski’s horses, vultures and pelicans. If you are planning a safari, check the booking conditions in advance.
The region’s themes in Hajdú-Bihar also include shepherd culture. The Shepherd Museum presents the lives of shepherds, along with handmade clothing, tools and decorated personal belongings. It is housed in a former coach house that was part of the Hortobágyi-Csárda complex. Alongside the landscape and nature themes, everyday history and the story of a historic building offer distinct cultural perspectives to explore.
Discover more destinations: Mikepércs, Derecske, Hosszúpályi.
View the wider travel overview: Derecske-Létavértesi.
