Discover Körösszakál: Church and Artesian Well

Körösszakál can be discovered through two distinctive local landmarks: the Reformed Church, with its history of construction, and the artesian well in the public park in the village centre. The well adds a special feature to the village’s appearance; the history of the church stretches back several centuries.

The Reformed Church and its long history

The congregation built the Reformed Church in 1742 and erected a wooden bell tower beside it. The church burned down in 1819; the present building was completed in 1891. These dates trace a clear sequence of early church construction, destruction and the later building that stands today. The church also houses a Viennese pianino, described as still being in working order. The story of the village therefore includes both the development of the building and this distinctive musical detail.

The artesian well in the village centre

The artesian well is located in the centre of Körösszakál, in the village’s public park. Its water has an average temperature of 14 °C and rises to the surface from a depth of more than 100 metres. Its temperature and depth make the well a vivid natural feature alongside the village’s historic landmarks. Together, the church and the well offer two different ways to explore Körösszakál: the transformation of a historic building and the distinctive characteristics of the water.

A short route nearby

In the surrounding area, a section of the Alföldi Kéktúra on the Bihar-Sárrét route runs from the Sebes-Kőrös-Gróf-Tisza-István Bridge to Körösszakál. This section is listed as 1.5 km and a 20-minute walk. You can allow 20 minutes for your day’s itinerary. Check the route information before setting out.

Nature and cultural experiences across the wider destination of Hajdú-Bihar

Across the wider destination of Hajdú-Bihar, the World Heritage site “Hortobágyi Nemzeti Park – the Puszta” offers a very different sense of scale. It covers almost 75,000 hectares in the Great Hungarian Plain in eastern Hungary. As a cultural landscape, it preserves visible evidence of more than 2,000 years of traditional pastoralism. The Hortobágyi-halastó fishpond system is a Ramsar site, an Important Bird Area, part of the World Heritage site and a Natura 2000 site. The vast landscape and important protected areas thus provide complementary themes for a region-focused trip.

At the Hortobágyi-halastó nature trail, you can choose walks of 3.6, 5.4 or 10 kilometres; none of the routes has difficult sections. The different distances help you decide how far you would like to walk. During the crane migration in Hortobágy, around 1,500 visitors watch the birds at feeding sites during the day and at their roosting sites at sunset. Visitor numbers may vary depending on the season. This nature experience offers a different focus from choosing a route: here, wildlife watching and the time of day shape the visit.

Culture and crafts are also part of the wider destination. The Shepherds’ Museum is dedicated to the lives of shepherds and displays handmade clothing, tools and decorated personal items. It is housed in a former coach house that was part of the Hortobágyi Csárda complex. At the visitor centre, the “Nature of Hortobágy” exhibition introduces the region’s diverse flora and fauna. “The World of Cranes” offers interactive learning and entertainment for all ages, including a diorama, tactile objects, quiz questions, a magnetic puzzle and a digital drawing board. These examples bring nature themes to life through engaging exhibitions.

The Hortobágy Wildlife Park showcases the native wildlife of the Hungarian Puszta, including wolves, Przewalski’s horses, vultures and pelicans. A bookable guided Land Rover safari takes visitors to see wild horses and aurochs; check booking options in advance. The regional offerings therefore include a range of experiences: walks of different lengths, wildlife watching and exhibitions about the landscape and traditions.

Choose the right focus for your holiday apartment

When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide what you would like to focus on during your trip. Would you like to centre your stay on Körösszakál’s Reformed Church and artesian well, or would you prefer to shape your trip around the landscape and cultural experiences across the wider destination of Hajdú-Bihar?

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Berettyóújfalu, Ártánd, Furta, Mezőpeterd.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Berettyóújfalui.