It is a more or less well-known fact that, like Rome, the city of Kaposvár was also built on seven hills. On the first day of February, the members of Group 3 had the opportunity to experience this firsthand by participating in the Seven Hills Hike organized by the Meteor Nature-Friendly Hiking Association. The group, joined by parents and grandparents, gathered at the bus station in the morning to travel to the starting point of the hike—the ruins of the Benedictine Abbey in Kaposszentjakab. Here, we attended a short guided tour and historical presentation, learning about the history of the abbey, the customs of the Benedictine monks, and even taking part in a museum education session showcasing burial practices of the era.
After this, we set off on our journey. Although the weather was not ideal, our spirits remained high. Walking along the outskirts of the city, our first stop after Szentjakab was Ivánfa Hill. The locals refer to the hills of Kaposvár as “mountains,” each of which has either a chapel or a bell tower on top. Our route touched almost all of them. The third hill we climbed was Róma Hill, where we passed by the Rippl-Rónai Villa, though unfortunately, we could not enter this time. Next came Lonka Hill, from where we descended through the Heroes’ Cemetery, the resting place of many fallen soldiers from World War I.
Skirting around Kapos Hill, we climbed back up through the fairytale-like gorges of the Gyertyános Valley, heading toward Körtönye-Bükk. We had time for a short rest, allowing the thirsty hikers to refill their bottles with the cool water of the Four Brothers’ Spring, and we even spotted a few brave snowdrops emerging from the leaf litter.
Our hike concluded at the double cross at the top of Kecel Hill. By the end of the 15-kilometer trek, we were all quite exhausted, but we gained countless experiences along the way. We are already eagerly looking forward to the next adventure!
