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Veloregio Cycling routes: Route Roman aqueduct (small loop)

For cyclists visiting the capital of Vas County, seven routes have been put together that follow historic monuments, some of which also cross the Austro-Hungarian border. 

Route Roman aqueduct (small loop)

Length 48 km

Ancient Savaria received fresh drinking water from the Günser Gebirge through a brick water conduit, and walkers can follow its former course. Alongside Bucsu and Rechnitz (and later on the outskirts of the village of Dozmat), excavated sections of the aqueduct, which is more than 2000 years old, can be seen. As the route follows roads with little traffic, it is also suitable for families. It starts on the western outskirts of Szombathely, passes through the villages in the valley of the Goldbach (Arany-patak), and then returns to Hungary via Austria.

The first settlement on the route is Sé. To the south of this village there was already an important settlement 6000 years ago, in the Neolithic period, reinforced by a ring-shaped earthwork castle, the rich finds of which were brought to the Savaria Museum in Szombathely. The most significant piece of this is a small clay sculpture called Venus of Sé, which is unique in the region.

The night town on the route is Torony. According to tradition, the village was once covered with forest. The forest began to be cleared and the woodcutters built their huts on the site of the present village. Between the huts they erected a bell tower to signal the woodcutters working in the forest. The present name of the village (Torony = tower) is said to derive from this. In addition to its architectural heritage, the village is famous for its good bread, a reminder of the old days. It is sold in a speciality shop near the village centre, among other places, and the round, classically shaped bread tastes best when freshly baked and warm - like a good book, you just can't stop reading.

In Dozmat, we recommend visiting the Muzsla spring, the reservoir and the Krisztina lookout tower on the hill above the village.

On the outskirts of Bucsu, a section of the Roman aqueduct has been excavated and can be visited, and a traffic memorial on the same site commemorates the former Szombathely-Pinkafeld railway line (in Austria, a cycle path is being built on the railway embankment between Rechnitz and Großpetersdorf).

Rechnitz is situated on the southern slope of the Günser mountains. The town was one of the founders of the Írottkő-Geschriebenstein Nature Park and is an important centre for cyclists. Numerous hiking and cycling trails start in the surrounding area; there are 40 km of mountain bike routes; various services are available (e.g. car transport).

More info: https://trails.burgenland.info/.

The crystal-clear Rechnitz bathing lake is 300 metres long, 100 metres wide and 7 metres deep. The barrier-free bird tower next to the bathing lake is also worth a visit: an aviary is integrated into the 22-metre-high tower.

The highest point of the Günser Gebirge and also of Transdanubia, the 884 m high Geschriebenstein, belongs to the municipality of Bozsok. The lookout tower on the summit plateau, built in 1913, stands simultaneously on the territory of both countries. On a clear day, the view from the tower extends to Lake Balaton and the Buda Mountains, and in a north-westerly direction to the Schneeberg and the Rax. From the Hungarian side, the shortest access is from the car park near the Hörmann Spring.

In the village, the Sibrik family castle is well worth a visit. It was built in 1614 on the foundations of a Roman castrum or medieval manor house. The surrounding beautiful park of 7 hectares is a protected area. There are several restaurants nearby, of which we particularly recommend the Kerekes patisserie.