How did Petneházyrét get its unique name? Let’s step back to 1847. Before that time this area was called Sonnenwirthswiesen. That’s German for “Sunny Inn Meadow”. But during a wave of Hungarian national pride, names were changed. The poet Döbrentei Gábor suggested new Hungarian names for places around Buda.
The city council agreed and a special naming ceremony was held. This meadow officially became Petneházyrét. It was named after Petneházy Dávid. He was a brave captain. Legend says he was the first to raise the Hungarian flag. It happened on the Buda castle walls in 1686. Buda was being retaken from the Turks.
But there is another story. Toperczer Oszkár tells a tale of a battle. Turkish troops were trying to outflank the forces preparing to besiege Buda. A force of 9000 Ottoman soldiers emerged from Hidegkút. They tried to attack the rear. Petneházy Dávid’s hussars fought them off. This victory is also said to be why the area got its name.
Petneházyrét itself has transformed over time. It once was primarily grazing land. Later a horse riding center and hotel were established. Now houses dot its northern edge. These houses are near Fekete-fej. A fancy villa area has grown on the southern tip. This is along Szépjuhászné Road.
Today Petneházyrét is a popular spot. Locals come here to hike. People walk their dogs. You can see beautiful views of the Buda hills. Look east to see Fekete-fej. You can also spot Nagy-Hárs-hegy and János-hegy. Their lookouts make them easy to recognize. To the south you will find the flat ridge of Hárs-gerinc. Finally Kecske-hát closes the panorama to the west.
A tourist trail passes by the meadow’s edge. It connects Dömös with Budaörs. If you head towards the city you’ll reach Nagy-rét. It passes over the peak of Fekete-fej. The Kis-Ördög-árok stream also links these spots. It winds through the hills.
Who was Petneházy Dávid? He was once a colonel for Imre Thököly’s Kuruc army. The story goes that he gathered his ten-thousand strong army here. They marched to Buda. He raised the victory flag in 1686. However sources disagree about who actually raised the flag. Some say it was Petneházy others say it was Fiáth János.
Sadly Petneházy did not enjoy his triumph for long. He died from poisoning. Some say jealous German soldiers killed the hero. These stories and legends have made Petneházy a romantic figure. He appeared in several 19th-century literary works. Gyula Benczúr even put him in the center of his painting. The painting is called “The Recapture of Buda Castle”.
The Petneházy Aparthotel is located here. It offers a blend of nature and comfort. The hotel has 77 apartments on 9 hectares. It is a green area in the Buda hills. It is near Budapest but feels far from the city. The hotel welcomes dogs. It has rescued animals like Dagi the cat and Difi the dog.