The Global Geoparks Network celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The members of its regional branch, the European Geoparks Network commemorate the geological heritage of our old continent every year in late spring and early summer, to which the Ipolytarnóc Fossils, declared protected 81 years ago, also joined between May 24 and June 9, 2025. But in the heart of the Slovak-Hungarian Palóc Geopark, which has been a member of the Global Geoparks Network for 15 years, in Hollókő and Szentkút, there were also be interesting programs, partly related to Pentecost. What is outstanding news is that the Bükk National Park Directorate has introduced an extraordinary discount for the residents of the geopark to visit the geological educational trail in Ipolytarnóc!
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 catastrophes can be seen during tours led by experts from the Bükk 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 educational trail.
On that geological trail, where the Bükk National Park Directorate is providing residents of the Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark with a discounted entrance fee in honor of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of UNESCO Global Geoparks. From the beginning of Geopark Week until the end of the year, they can participate in guided tours on the world-famous geological nature trail with a specialist ticket (500 HUF/person).
In honor of the European Geopark Week, the Miocene Park is also organizing other special, thematic programs that are worth participating in:
On Saturday, June 7th, from 10:00 to 15:00, the Vidra Verda rolling nature diver will open a window to the aquatic wildlife of the Miocene forest with its free "Swamp Tour" program for interested individuals, families and groups alike. At Pentecost, families with children are invited to enjoy treasure hunts, face painting, crafts, and wood carving, as well as a farmers' market. Lombkorona Café is preparing special dishes for the holiday weekend.
On May 24, the staff of the 3 Hungarian UNESCO Global Geoparks opened the event series with an online discussion. It is worth listening to their informal introduction.
On May 25 (Sunday) at 11:45 a.m., the Miocene Prehistoric thematic tour started from the Ipolytarnóc reception building. Participants dived into the past, from the Bükkábrány trees of Lake Pannon, through the volcanic catastrophe, to the sharks of the ancient sea, experiencing the trials of climate change. Only those who registered in advance could participate in the thematic tour (3,500 HUF/person). The intention to participate had to be indicated in an email to the ipolytarnoc@bnpi.hu address by May 24.
On May 27, representatives of the Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark also participated in the online meeting of the transnational UNESCO Global Geoparks working group. On May 28, MTVA filmed for the program On June 1st, two special programs were held at the Ipolytarnóc Fossils. Next to the shark pond of the Lombkorona Café, there was a pancake and millet cake baking, but they also offered a cauldron-style palóc goulash and local garlic bread langos. in Kishartyán and Ipolytarnóc, with the geopark and BNPI providing on-site experts. On that day, the Central Danube Valley Water Management Directorate also filmed at the Ipolytarnóc Fossils.
On May 31, in honor of Volcano Day the next day, Professor Szabolcs Harangi held an interactive volcano program in the reception building. At 11 a.m., a Volcano Show, the Palóc Volcano Observatory role-playing game, began on behalf of the Pannonian Volcano Research Group, and at 1:30 p.m., the volcanologist who was chosen as last year's popular scientist gave a lecture entitled The Beauty and Danger of Volcanic Eruptions: Volcanology in the 21st Century. His Volcano Day role-playing presentations were also noticed abroad, and his images were separately projected at the April meeting of the European UNESCO Global Geoparks at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris.
On June 1st, two special programs were held at the Ipolytarnóc Fossils. Next to the shark pond of the Lombkorona Café, there was a pancake and millet cake baking, but they also offered a cauldron-style palóc goulash and local garlic bread langos.
On June 1st, Volcano Day is also celebrated throughout Europe, which has a tradition with the Fossils. (Link to a previous report) On this day, the Geological Nature Trail guided tours focus on the extremely diverse volcanism of the geopark spanning 20 million years. The interactive scientific presentation on volcanoes on May 31st is also linked to Volcano Day.
One of the Geopark's key spiritual partners is our National Shrine, Szentkút. The area's geological past has also contributed to its spiritual aura, so it's no wonder that the established educational trails also touch on it.
Hermitages carved into shallow sea sediments (calcarenite), special geological formations and fresh water springs, a nature trail that describes natural values in a continuous sequence, combined with Franciscan values, can provide a special experience for getting to know the unique environment of the shrine, for which the Digital Wanderer program is also available, it is worth downloading it to your smartphone.
The Old Village of Hollókő is a World Heritage Site, also located in the heart of the Paloc Geopark. As a partner of our Geopark, it is a faithful guardian of our Paloc heritage, and is preparing a number of programs for the Pentecostal bustle of the Geopark Week. On June 8, Pentecost Sunday, it will be worth walking through the streets of the village, in connection with a folk costume program, not just any sight can make the hearts of women and men beat faster, just look at the picture below.
On June 9th (Monday), Castle Games will be held to capture the Hollókő Castle towering above the Old Village. It is worth registering for it, as the Hungarians have had little success recently..
It is worth looking beyond the borders of our geopark, as the results of the special program series and competition related to our geological heritage and the living planet, announced last year by the UNESCO Global Geoparks, are expected to be announced at the end of the European Geoparks Week.
Between June 2-4, the UNESCO Global Geoparks of the Visegrád Four will have a meeting in Poland, so the networking activities of our geoparks know no borders.
The celebration of the memory of our old continent and geoparks is also held in our country's other two UNESCO Global Geoparks, the Bakony–Balaton and Bükk-vidék Geoparks; it is worth visiting their websites.
