Hungary through the eyes of chefs: a weekend in Őrség with István Akács

The forest itself is the program

There are few trails in the area that are known only to locals, but according to István, this is one of the greatest virtues of Őrség: almost any trail is worth taking. The dense forests offer ideal terrain for hiking, mushroom picking or a longer walk, while the landscape shows a new face with every kilometer traveled. “In some places, beech and pine forests alternate, in other places small streams or meadows break the forest.” For the chef, these excursions are as much a part of Őrség as the local hospitality.

Unmissable lunch

When it comes to lunch, István’s choice is clearly the Két Szilvafa Vendégastál. Family guest tables have long played an important role in Őrség, where the hosts prepare their own ingredients and welcome guests in small numbers. Két Szilvafa also represents this approach: seasonal ingredients, local producers and dishes that are closely connected to the landscape are served on the table. According to the chef, this is the place where the gastronomy of the region is easiest to understand.

Cheese, pottery and Árpád-era churches

One of the greatest assets of the area is that gastronomy, crafts and cultural heritage meet in many places within a few kilometers. István recommends Velemért for the second day of the trip, where visitors can enjoy cheese tasting at the Tündérke Handicraft Cheese Factory, and a few hundred meters away there is an Árpád-era church, known for its medieval frescoes.

“It is also worth visiting the coffered ceiling Reformed church in Szentgyörgyvölgy, which is one of the most beautiful church monuments in Őrség.”

There are many pottery workshops in the area, many of which allow you to try your hand at disc throwing without prior registration. István says this is a great program for those who want to return home with a local experience or a souvenir they made themselves.

Among bison

The bison reserve next to Szalafő, which the chef would also like to visit during a weekend, provides a good overview of the fauna and traditional farming of the Őrség region. The nearby Őrség Folk Monument Complex shows how the inhabitants of the so-called szeres settlements lived in the region for centuries.

Closure at Lake Vadasa

The final stop on István's weekend itinerary is Lake Vadása. The lake, located next to Hegyhátszentjakab, has been one of the most famous hiking spots in the Őrség for decades, yet it has preserved the quiet, close-to-nature atmosphere that characterizes the region. With the shore nestled in the forest and the easy-to-navigate walking paths, it's easy to arrive here and end up leaving hours later.

The recommendations of the Pajta chef clearly show what makes a weekend in Órség different. It's not about constantly changing locations or checking off attractions, but about the fact that within a few kilometers you can go on a nature walk, have a family dinner, have a cheese tasting or go to a pottery workshop. Here, the experiences are not connected by roads, but by the landscape itself.