European Geoparks Week in the Palóc Geopark

06/01/2024 9:00 AM - 06/02/2024 5:00 PM

IPOLYTARNÓC FOSSIL NATURE RESERVE AND PRESENTATION PLACE

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European Geoparks Week in the Palóc Geopark

The 20 year-old Global Geoparks Network's regional member, the European Geoparks, commemorate the geological heritage of our old continent every year at the end of spring and beginning of summer. Between May 18 and June 2, 2024, the Ipolytarnóc Fossils, which were declared protected 80 years ago, will join them. But there will also be interesting programs in the heart of the Palóc Geopark, in Hollókő and Szentkút.

The Slovak-Hungarian, transnational Novohrad-Nógrád UNESCO Global Geopark celebrates its geological and cultural heritage and traditions with many interesting programs. Its gateway is our Miocene Park, where traces of former seas and volcanic disasters can be seen during tours led by experts from the Bükki National Park Directorate. In addition to the dynamic life of our earth and climate changes, participants can also learn about the latest paleontological discoveries of the Prehistoric Pompeii on the geological trail. But in honor of the European Geoparks Week, the area also organizes other special thematic programs that are worth participating in. At Pentecost, thinking of families with children, in addition to treasure hunts, face painting and crafts, woodcarving, the Site also holds a local fair. There will also be giant pancakes, millinery cakes and paloc gulash for diners at the Lombkorona café.

On May 25 at 11:45 a.m., on the Miocene World themed tour starting from the reception building, participants will dive into the past from the Bükkábrány trees of Lake Pannon, through the volcanic disaster, to the sharks of the ancient sea, experiencing the trials of old climate changes. Only those who have pre-registered can participate in the thematic tour (HUF 3,000/person), the intention to participate can be indicated in a letter received by May 24 to the email address ipolytarnoc@osmaradvanyok.hu.

On June 1, two special programs will be held at the Fossils. In addition to the shark pond of the Lombkorona café, pancakes and millinery cakes will be baked, but they also offer pot goulash and local garlic bread.

That's when the county children's hunting day will take place in the kingdom of primitive creatures: in addition to nature and hunting lectures, skill competitions, dog shows, archery and handicrafts, there will also be a bouncy castle to release the energy of the little ones. The detailed poster of the invitation can be downloaded here..

On the 1st of June, Volcano Day is celebrated all over Europe, which has a tradition with the Fossils. (Link to a previous report)) On this day, guided tours along geological trails and a special thematic outdoor program are focused to detailing the diverse volcanism of the Geopark spaning 20 million years. At 10:45 a.m, the volcano tour starts from the Ősfenyő Belépő reception building, and one can take part in it with a geological trail ticket.

The guided program comes back to the reception building, where a film about volcanism will be introduced. The tour itself, which lasts 2 hours, is a 2.3 km long, easy cross-country walk, for which, due to the limited number of people, is worth registering in advance, in writing until May 30 to the email address of the ipolytarnoc@osmaradvanyok.hu.

Our National Shrine of Szentkút is among the key spiritual partners of the Geopark. The geological past also contributed to the spiritual radiance of the area, it is no wonder that the established educational trails there also cover that fact.

Hermitages carved into 15 Million-year-old shallow sea sediments (kalkarenite), special geological formations and fresh water springs, the educational trail that explains the natural assets in a chain, connected with the Franciscan values, can give a special experience to get to know the unique environment of the shrine. A playful smartphone application, called Digitális Vándor is available for personal discoveries there, it is worth to install it.

The Ancient Village of Hollókő is part of the World Heritage, no wonder, it lies in the heart of the Geopark. As a partner of our Geopark, the Site is a true caretaker of our Palóc heritage, It is preparing several programs for the Geopark Week's Pentecost whirlwind. On May 19, Pentecost Sunday, it will be worthwhile to walk the streets of the village, in connection with a colorful folk costume program, not just any sight can make women's and men's hearts beat faster, just look at the picture below.

And on May 20, Castle Games will be held to capture the Hollókő Castle towering over the Ancient Village. It is worth taking part in it, the Hungarians have had little experience of success recently. But caution is important, and not just because of the gunpowder air. The Castle Hill is an andesite dike, a root zone of an extinct volcano! (Its nature trail was created by the Bükk National Park Directorate.)

On May 28, in Baglyaskő visitor center, a large-scale study competition on the values of the geopark will be held for students from Slovak and Hungarian elementary schools.

But it is also worth looking beyond the boundaries of our geopark, as a special series of programs and competitions related to our geological heritage and the living planet have started in the collaboration of UNESCO Global Geoparks, so take part and join them.

GGN versenykihívás 2024

The celebration of the memory of our old continent and geoparks is also held in the other two UNESCO Global Geoparks of our country, the Bakony-Balaton and the Bükk-region Geoparks, it is worth visiting their website.

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5 Ipolytarnóc

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04/19/2023 2:21 PM
Ronja:Das Naturschutz Gebiet Ipolytarnóc wird vom Bükk Nationalpark Direktorat verwaltet, hier durften wir vom 21. bis zum 27. November helfen und lernen. Das Naturschutzgebiet ist eine Fundstätte für eine Vielzahl von Fossilien, wie Haifischzähne, Blattabdrücke, versteinerte Bäume und Tier-Fußabdrücke. In unserer Zeit in Ipolytarnóc durften wir viel über die Geschichte des Naturschutzgebietes erfahren, eine Vulkankatersstrophe vor etwa 20 Millionen Jahren bewahrte die Fauna und Flora im Gebiet. Auf verschiedenen Naturlehrpfaden ist es möglich viel über die Relikte der geologischen Vergangenheit des Naturschutzgebietes zu lernen.Die Zeit in welcher wir in Ipolytarnóc waren liegt in der Nebensaison, weshalb weniger Ökotourismus stattfindet, trotzdem konnten wir bei verschieden Aufgaben helfen. So haben wir nicht nur viel gelernt, sondern beim Laub fegen, Zaun reparieren und Häcke schneiden geholfen. Beim Laubfegen in Ipolytarnóc haben wir einige der Arbeiter:Innen kennen lernen dürfen, von welchen wir etwas über die Pflanzen und die Vergangenheit des Naturschutzgebietes lernen konnten. Aber auch das Häcke schneiden und Zaun reparieren war eine spannende Erfahrung, bei der wir einiges lernen konnten. Weiterhin haben wir viele Lehrpfade besichtigt und viele Fossilien anschauen dürfen, Imre welcher in Ipolytarnóc arbeitet hat uns die verschiedenen Teile des Besucherzentrums gezeigt und so konnten wir beispielsweise den versteinerten Baum betrachten, welcher auf dem Foto zu sehen ist. Durch die Kiefer mit einem Durchmesser von acht Metern und einer Länge von fast hundert Metern, wurde das Naturschutz gebiet bekannt. In dem Besucherzentrum gibt es viele interaktive Möglichkeiten für die großen und kleinen Besucher die Geschichte des Naturschutzgebietes kennenzulernen. Es gibt beispielsweise ein 4D Kino über die Tiere, welche früher in der Region gelebt haben und eine spannende Ausstellung mit verschiedenen Fossilien.
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