Picture this a sprawling sanctuary nestled just outside Budapest. This is Medveotthon.
Medveotthon the Bear Sanctuary is Central Europe’s only one. It was built with help from the World Organization for the Protection of Animals. The Municipality of Veresegyház also helped. The bears arrived in 1998. They’d lived in poor conditions at Gödöllő before.
The sanctuary’s design is clever. Visitors see the bears safely up close. The bears are undisturbed. The animals at Medveotthon change. New bears arrive from across Hungary. They even come from other countries and private farms. Veresegyház’s Municipality owns and runs Medveotthon.
Medveotthon became very popular. It’s now Hungary’s third most visited zoo. Around 200000 people visit every year. It became officially certified as a zoo in 2009.
In 2000 Medveotthon expanded. A wolf enclosure opened. A large forested area gives them a natural habitat. A new wolf enclosure was built in 2015. Another followed in 2021.
The birdlife is also amazing. Ravens crows and mallards live on the lake. Gray herons and starlings visit too. It’s exciting especially during feeding time.
Fifteen artificial caves were built for the bears. Two 160-square-meter lakes provide water and play areas. The wooded area lets bears climb and hide.
Medveotthon is always changing and improving. It’s a must-see attraction. It’s only 25 kilometers from Budapest. Children love the playground the small train and the teddy bear lift. They can even press coins into special machines.
Three lynxes arrived in 2017. A lion house opened in 2019. It’s home to twelve lions. In 2022 new enclosures opened. Fallow deer mouflon and Hungarian rack sheep now live there. Visitors can also see gray cattle nearby. Medveotthon’s continued success is thanks to a foundation established in 2004. This foundation ensures the sanctuary’s continued development and growth. It’s a testament to the dedication and hard work that’s gone into making Medveotthon the incredible place it is today a true gem just outside of Budapest.