Hímesháza: Traces of Everyday Life and History
Accommodation in Hímesháza
Hímesháza offers a variety of points of interest for anyone interested in everyday history and historic sites. A collection tells the story of work and household objects, while churches, a grave cross and a Székely Gate each add their own character. The focus is therefore not just on a single building, but on a varied picture of local cultural traces.
Everyday Life, Crafts and History in Hímesháza
The Német Nemzetiségi Tájház Himesháza (German Nationality Local History House) displays historic tools and household objects. The collection introduces seven different occupations and also focuses on the weekly market, viticulture, the harvest and mining. These topics show different aspects of work and daily provisions. A Székely room with embroidered bed linen and brightly coloured woven textiles adds a concrete glimpse into the design of living spaces.
The local buildings and memorials also offer insights into different historical themes. The Roman Catholic church in Hímesháza was built in 1754 by Bishop György Klimo in honour of Kisboldogasszony (the Nativity of Mary). A grave cross dating from 1775 in the church square marks the final resting place of Johann Michel Ahn. A Calvary Chapel dating from 1798 is also one of the village’s attractions. A Székely Gate stands on Hősök tér.
The dates give each building and the grave cross its own historical context. Together with the objects in the local history museum, they offer two distinct perspectives: the collection focuses on occupations, the market and everyday life, while the church, chapel and grave cross recall religious and personal history. The Székely Gate adds a striking feature of its own to the village landscape.
Further cultural and natural attractions in the wider destination of Baranya
The wider destination of Baranya offers a range of distinctly different highlights. In Pécs, the Early Christian Necropolis of Sopianae includes decorated tombs from the 4th century. They were constructed as underground burial chambers with above-ground memorial chapels and adorned with richly detailed Christian murals. The Zsolnay Cultural Quarter in Pécs turns the spotlight on another aspect of culture: its exhibitions include “Golden Age of Zsolnay”, “Pink Exhibition” and an exhibition on the family and factory history.
The Zsolnay Cultural Quarter also offers children outdoor playgrounds, an interactive lab, a planetarium, the Bóbita Puppet Theatre, a ceramic painting workshop and courses at the Hercules Workshop. The freely accessible outdoor area can be entered and used free of charge during opening hours; check the opening hours when planning your visit.
Nature and traditional agriculture are the focus of the Ős-Dráva Visitor Centre near Szaporca. Its interactive exhibition and demonstration farm with practical farming activities complement three themed educational trails. They provide information about traditional agriculture, the Ős-Dráva Programme and the wildlife along the Drava. Native Hungarian domestic animals are featured in the agricultural area, including Hungarian Grey cattle, Mangalica pigs, Hutsul horses, and old breeds of sheep and poultry.
Another landscape highlight is the Wilderness Trail along the Old Drava. Its facilities include a birdwatching and bird-ringing station, a viewpoint, a photography hide, a covered activity area and several rest areas. These nature attractions in Baranya are distinctly different from the historic collections and buildings in Hímesháza.
Architecture and outdoor art offer their own highlights, too. Siklós Castle is one of Hungary’s best-preserved military complexes and one of the country’s most significant Renaissance buildings. Modernising the museum wing made the Gothic section, previously inaccessible to visitors, accessible. The Kikerics Panorama Trail allows visitors to move safely along the cliff edge while protecting the park’s plant life from trampling. The “Art in Nature” programme at Nagyharsány Sculpture Park includes a guided tour. Anyone looking for a culinary highlight can visit the wine-cellar row in Villány throughout the year, moving from cellar to cellar to sample wines and tasty dishes.
When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide on the focus of your trip: the cultural traces in Hímesháza or selected destinations in the wider region of Baranya. Set your search destination according to the places and themes you would like to focus on. This way, your choice of destination reflects your travel plans without combining different places into a single excursion itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Szajk, Belvárdgyula, Feked, Szederkény, Véménd, Görcsönydoboka, Majs, Mohács
Go to the wider travel overview: Mohácsi.
