Have you ever wondered where Budapest meets the Buda Hills? That place is Szépvölgy. Szépvölgy is a part of Budapest in the second district. We are at the gateway to Szépvölgy now.
Once known by its German name, Schöntal, Szépvölgy officially received its Hungarian name in 1847. This name translates to “Beautiful Valley”. The name came about due to a translation by Gábor Döbrentei. He did it on the occasion of a font christening. The area was named after the valley. The city part was named after it later.
Szépvölgy lies nestled between Látó-hegy and Remete-hegy. It is actually a section of Pál-völgy. It marks the upper part of Pál-völgy.
Until 2014, public transport did not reach deep into Szépvölgy. Only bus 65 connected it to the city. This bus traveled to Fenyőgyöngye Vendéglő. That is at the very beginning of the district. In 2014, bus 65 was extended. It now runs to the Szépvölgyi dűlő in the Felső-Szép-völgyi basin. Now buses travel through the area on certain days. The 65A bus serves Fenyőgyöngye during those times.
Today Szépvölgy is known for its tranquility. It is near the inner city. There is no through traffic here. Because of this, mostly luxury homes are built here now.
Szépvölgy is essentially at the end of a dead-end street. It sits within the Buda Hills.
Close to Szépvölgy is the entrance to Hungary’s longest cave system. It is the Szepvolgyi System. This includes Pál-völgy cave. The entrance is only 3 to 4 km from the Hungarian Parliament Building. Tourists have been visiting the first 450 meters of this cave for almost a century. The true extent of this giant cave was discovered only in 2011.
Budapest has around 100 known caves. The hills of Budapest are formed from limestone. Heated water flows through this limestone. The stone dissolves, and caves form. The water also creates stalactites and stalagmites.
The Szepvolgyi System was formed by thermal waters in the Eocene limestone. Streams of warm water have left the cave. They most likely flow somewhere deeper now. Eight species of algae still live in the cave. They generally grow in thermal waters.
The entrance to Pál-völgy cave is in an abandoned quarry. The cave was discovered in 1904. John Bagyura was the son of the quarry owner. He was looking for a lost sheep or goat.
The cave opened to the public in 1919. Electric lighting was installed in 1927. During World War II, the cave served as a bomb shelter. People damaged the cave formations. After the war, tourist facilities were restored. The 450-meter tour is still available today. Tourists descend 42 steps down. Then they pass through several cave rooms.
Szépvölgy offers a unique blend of city access and natural beauty. It is a place where luxury meets tranquility. A place where underground wonders meet hillside vistas.