Grand Hotel Balvanyos

GUIDE
to the qualiy attractions & activities

G r a n d H o t e l B a l v a nyo s

B a l va nyo s, R o ma n i a
Grand Hotel Balvanyos
Tel : 40-267- 360700
Fa x: 40- 267- 360310
Te l : 4 0 - 2 6 7 - 3 6 0 - 7 0 0
E m ai l: o f f i ce@ h o tel ba l va nyos. ro
 Off road tours

Explore the beautiful forest on our

4x4 off road tours that promise an
adrenaline-rising adventure.

Folk music and dance

Relax on our folk dance shows

performed to traditional
Hungarian or Romanian music by
professional groups.

Wine tasting

Learn the secrets of wine on

our special tasting events in a
fun, sociable and modern
environment.

Gym

The hotel has a fully equipped gym

for those who like to keep in trim
whilst on holiday.
 Cart journey to the St.
Ana lake
Join us on a short but lovely
adventure trip to the mysterious
surroundings of lake Saint Ana.
Savour local delicacies on the road
such as palinka, kurtos kalacs.

Organized excursions

We organize day trips to the most

popular tourist destinations of the
country: Bran Castle, Parajd Salt
Mine, Red Lake, Bekas canyon,
Corond.
Grand Hotel Balvanyos
Organized ATV trips Tourist Attractions

Our ATV trips offer you a lot of

Nestled in the middle of the forest, Grand Hotel Balvanyos,
excitement and diversity in one
now fully refurbished, offers an elegant, friendly and
of the finest landscapes of the
relaxed environment for rest, incentives, meetings or just a few
Carpathians with endless forest.
days off.

The hotel is conveniently located at walking distance to the most

Rafting
We organize rafting tours for
those of our guests that enjoy
challenging recreational activities.
popular tourist attractions in the area such as the Stinking Cave,
Gyilkos Cave, Bird Cemetery, Buffogo Swamp, the ruins of Balvanyos
fortress, numerous mineral water springs and mofettes.
The protected area of Saint Ana Lake and Mohos Swamp is unique in
Eastern Europe and shouldn’t be missed.

Bálványos
Bálványos Spa
page
The Spa was formed thanks to postvolcanic
activities that resulted in the formation
of numerous mineral water springs and
natural mofettes highly appreciated for their
therapeutic properties.
Because of their unique composition, the
mineral water springs are used to treat the
disorders of the digestive system while the
gas emissions of the mofettes show great
results in treating cardiovascular diseases.
Grand Hotel Balvanyos
Activities & Entertainment
With its excellent facilities and convenient location,
Grand Hotel Balvanyos offers guests the opportunity to experience
a range of activities during their stay.
Campfire
Sitting around the campfire can
be very relaxing, especially after
04
a visit to the great outdoors. So
try something different and put a
twist on some of the traditional
activities on your next vacation.
Tasting traditional
specialities
Whether it be barbecue, ox
roasting, kurtos kalacs or csoroge
(hungarian crispy crullers) baking,
mulled wine or brandy tasting,
there is something for everyone.
Gelence
Saint Imre Catholic Church
page
The medieval church of Gelence was built
in gothic style and dates back to the 13th
century.
This church is one of the most valuable
architectural monuments of the entire
region and contains priceless frescos about
the legend of the great Hungarian king
Saint Laszlo.
Its casette ceilings date back to the 13th and
15th centuries.
Bálványos
16
05
page Bálványos fortress
This is one of the early medieval castles found
in the area. It is estimated to have been built
between the 10th and 11th century.
The ruins of the Bálványos fortress are at
a short walking distance from Balvanyos
Bath, on a 1029 m high hilltop. There is a
wonderful view from its only square shaped
tower to the resort.
Bálványos Zabola
Stinking Cave 06
page 15
page Mikes Castle

This is the largest natural mofette in Europe The castle is nestled at the foot of the
and it is succesfully used in the treatment of Carpathian Mountains right next to hundreds
cardiovascular diseases. of hectares of untouched wilderness.

Strong emissions of hydrogen sulphide and The Park with its special microclimate
carbon dioxide emanate from the cave, as a and century old trees and ponds offers a
result of the volcanic activity a million years magnificent view to the mountains with its
ago. century old trees and ponds.

The yellow coloured sulphur deposit on the The house has been carefully restored and
wall indicates the level of the lethal gas. operates as a guesthouse.
Kézdizentlélek Bálványos
Perkő 14
page 07
page Buffogó Swamp

The Perkő hill that rises above the Buffogo is a sour watered swamp with a
village Kézdiszentlélek is the most 1 hectare surface located on the left side of
important pilgrimage site in Covasna county. Balvanyos stream.

On the peak of Perkő there can still be seen
the remains of Szentlélek fortress.
A chapel was built in the honour of Saint
Stephen, the first christian king of Hungary.
It is a natural reservation where rare plants
grow such as moor grass, bog berry, bog
rosemary, marshberry.
Bálványos
Killer Cave
page
The biggest and most dangerous cave on
the Pucioasa hill, because the level of the
killer gas is not indicated by yellow coloured
sulphur deposit.
Just like the Stining Cave, it once worked as a
sulphur mine.
Inside the cave the level of the killer carbon
dioxide gas is high because of the refuse that
accumulated at the entrance.
Csernáton
08
13
page Haszmann Pál Museum
It is an open-air exhibition presenting the
folk architectural heritage of Covasna county,
traditional crafts tools, grave cravings, and
an important collection of ethnographical
and historical artifacts.
It gained reputation thanks to its unique
agricultural equipment park, technical
history repertory, spectacular collection of
cast-iron stoves and due to the folk craft
workshop-camps.
Kézdivásárhely
City Centre 12
page
page
The town is unique in Europe due to its
yard space centre and its secessionist styled
buildings built in the 18th and 19th
centuries.
The reformed church in the centre is one of
the biggest churches in Transylvania.
The Guild Historical Museum Kézdivásárhely
gives the factual reality of the town’s past.
This institution gives home to the periodic
exhibitions of the fine arts.
Bálványos
09
Bird Cemetery
It is an open gallery of a surface sulfurous
mine, having the accumulated volcanic gases
at the bottom.
Birds flying below the level of the gas fell
dead on the ground, that is where its name
comes from.
The poisonous gas is mostly carbon dioxide
but also contains carbon-monoxide.
Ciomatu natural conservation area
Saint Ana lake
page
The lake was formed in the twin crater of the
Ciomatu massif. It is the only lake in Eastern
Europe with a volcanic origin.
The lake is not fed by any brook or stream,
the only water supply is the rain, therefore
its water is nearly as pure as distilled water.
The Saint Ana lake is surrounded by
legends, mysteries and miracles. Even the
shape of the lake is not usual; it looks like a
large tear-drop.
Ciomatu natural conservation area
10
11
page Mohos Peat-Bog
In the secondary crater of the Ciomatu massif
another lake was formed but it got filled up
with decaying remains of old trees, dry leaves
and the area turned into a bushy, lightly
forested, boggy land, called the Mohos.
Only a few smaller lakes remind you of the
existence of the former Mohos lake.
It is a florist reservation covered with pine
and various rare plants dating from the ice
era.