Introduction
You don’t even need to get in the car for this little adventure.
Step through the gate of Bon Villa, head from Mitterdomb Street towards the hills, and within just a few minutes you will find yourself surrounded by the vineyard landscape of Zalaszentgrót. Quiet vineyard tracks, old and beautifully renovated wine press houses, vines, orchards and views across the Zala Valley accompany you along the way.
This is not a classic hiking trail lined with signposts – and that is precisely what makes it special. Think of it instead as a slow walk through the Zala countryside, perfect for an early morning, just before sunset, or perhaps combined with a local wine tasting.
Walk into the vineyards straight from your accommodation
Bon Villa is located close to Mitterdomb Street, from where you can quickly reach the country lanes of the Aranyod vineyards.
As you make your way uphill, you gradually leave the town behind and enter a completely different world.
Walk among rows of vines, gardens, fruit trees and wine cellars while increasingly wide views open up across Zalaszentgrót and the Zala Valley below.
Not a tourist attraction – a real Zala vineyard
And that is exactly what makes it so appealing.
There is no purpose-built visitor centre and no information board around every corner. This is a living vineyard landscape where grapes are still grown, wine is still made and old cellars and press houses are still cared for.
The walk is therefore much more about the atmosphere than any single attraction.
Look out for the old wine press houses, vineyard tracks, roadside crosses and rows of vines, and notice how quickly the landscape changes within just a few hundred metres.
Especially beautiful at sunset
If you don’t feel like a long hike, this is also an ideal evening walk.
Set off from Bon Villa in the late afternoon, walk up towards the higher vineyard tracks and watch the sun slowly disappear behind the rolling hills of Zala.
It requires very little preparation, yet offers a completely different experience from an ordinary evening stroll through town.
You can even taste some local wine along the way
Close to the accommodation you will find Tóth Pince on Mitterdomb Street.
The winery produces wines from grapes grown in the Aranyod vineyards. Its selection includes Cserszegi Fűszeres, Olaszrizling, Kékfrankos rosé, Merlot and a Cabernet Franc–Merlot blend. Through the Nyitott Porták – Zala Valley Open Farms network, multi-wine tastings accompanied by homemade local specialities can also be arranged in advance.
This makes it easy to turn a simple vineyard walk into a local wine and food experience.
Want to go further? Head into the Zala Valley
If you would prefer a longer active day rather than a short evening walk, there are several marked walking and cycling routes around Zalaszentgrót.
Recommended cycling routes through the Zala Valley, for example, connect wine cellars, churches, mills and members of the Zala Valley Open Farms network.
Guided walks are also organised in the area, offering opportunities to visit local producers and farms. Walking and cycling experiences of this kind are also part of the current Nyitott Porták programme.
Continue towards Csáford for more local farms
If you are planning a longer outing, there are more interesting places to discover towards the Csáford vineyards.
One of these is LídRind Porta, another member of the Nyitott Porták network. The farm raises cattle and produces its own meat products, while food experiences can also be arranged in advance.
A simple walk can therefore be transformed into a full “from wine cellar to farm” day in rural Zala.
What should you know before setting off?
Some of the vineyard tracks are not officially marked hiking trails.
For longer walks, it is therefore worth using an offline map or hiking navigation app.
Some unpaved tracks can become muddy after rain, while in summer you should take water and sun protection with you. If you expect to return after dusk, a head torch or your phone’s flashlight can also be useful.
Visits to wine cellars and members of the Nyitott Porták network should always be arranged in advance, as these are not conventional hospitality venues with all-day opening hours.
Bon Villa tip: Don’t plan anything too ambitious for your first evening. Unpack, relax for a while, then simply walk from Mitterdomb Street towards the Aranyod vineyards. Go as far as you feel like, watch the sunset and, if you have arranged it in advance, stop at a local wine cellar. There can hardly be a simpler way to discover the authentic character of Zalaszentgrót on the very day you arrive.
You don’t need to drive anywhere from Bon Villa to discover the Zala countryside – the vineyards practically begin at the gate.
