Aggtelek (meaning "Old plot" in Hungarian) is a village in the county of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hungary. It is known for the vast

stalactite A stalactite (, ; from the Greek 'stalaktos' ('dripping') via ''stalassein'' ('to drip') is a mineral formation that hangs from the ceiling of caves, hot springs, or man-made structures such as bridges and mines. Any material that is soluble an ...

caverns of the nearby Baradla-Domica cave system, part of the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

of Aggtelek and Slovak Karst. Hungary Aggtelek

Location

Aggtelek is located northwest of the county seat of

Miskolc Miskolc ( , , ; Czech language, Czech and sk, Miškovec; german: Mischkolz; yi, script=Latn, Mishkoltz; ro, Mișcolț) is a city in northeastern Hungary, known for its heavy industry. With a population of 161,265 (1 Jan 2014) Miskolc is the ...

, near the

Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...

n border.

History

Aggtelek is known to have been first identified in 1295, when it was called ''Ogogteluk''. Following the Mongol invasion of Hungary during the 13th century, it remained deserted for many years. In 1858, a fire destroyed the village. During World War II, the Eastern Front passed close by, causing further damage. Hungary Baradla

A few Jews lived in the village and there is a Jewish cemetery where two gravestones and a memorial plaque remain. Jewish residents of the village were murdered in the Holocaust and commemorated in a monument in

Ózd Ózd () is a town in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Northern Hungary, from the county seat of Miskolc. Ózd is the second largest municipality in the county. History The area has been inhabited since ancient times. The village of Ózd was fir ...

.The memorial to Ózd and Surrounding Communities in the Avas Hill Cemetery
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Aggtelek National Park

The Long Tour of Baradla Cave is a 7-kilometer walking tour along the main section of the stalactite cave; shorter tours are available for unscheduled tourist visits in various parts of the cave system. The entire cave is nearly 24 kilometers long, of which 5.6 kilometers go under Slovakia. The average height of the cave is 8 meters and the average width 10 meters. The cavern called the Giants' Hall is 125 meters long, 55 meters wide and 30 meters high, making the cavern one of the most spectacular tourist attractions in the world - even though it is one of the least known and least visited.

Picture gallery

Image:Civertanlegifotoaggtelek2.jpg Image:Civertanlegifotoaggtelek3.jpg Image:Civertanlegifotoaggtelek4.jpg Image:Civertanlegifotoaggtelek5.jpg

References

External links

UNESCO WHC listingHungarian Tourism Office listing

Official site of the Aggtelek National Park

Aerial photographs
World Heritage Sites in Hungary Populated places in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County {{Borsod-geo-stub