Bél-kő

Bélkő Mountain is the defining leading element of the so‑called “rock chain” of the rock mass surrounding the Bükk plateau, on the western side of the central part of the Bükk region. The mountain’s whitish rocks are composed of limestone formed in the Middle and Late Triassic periods.

In the foothills of the high, sharp‑edged rocks rare, protected plants hide. In our country the highly protected *szereti* (Serratula) is found only here, and Bélkő Mountain is also one of the locations of the nationally known highly protected early carnation, known from only two other sites, and of the Hungarian *husáng* (Hussar) – a pre‑glacial Pannonian relic endemic that occurs in only five other areas of the Carpathian Basin. Its name comes from the Bél tribe living here. Its name can be found written in many forms, but correctly (since it denotes a mountain and not a peak) it is Bélkő Mountain, not Bél‑kő. Although the word “kő” appears in its proper name, the hyphenated form Bél‑kő is an incorrect spelling compared to the proper name Bélkő. On maps and in official descriptions it appears as Bélkő Mountain and not as Bél‑kő. Because of the colloquial abbreviation one might think that Bél‑kő is permissible, however grammatically

Bélkő Mountain is the exact proper name of the formation, so this spelling is the only acceptable one. (Thus the -kő grammatical rule does not apply here, as in Írott‑kő, Pes‑kő, only in János‑hegy, Bükk mountain).

The cut mountain

On the side of Bélkő Mountain a limestone quarry operated with a conical excavation until 1963, but then the quarry wall became dangerous, so production was continued at the summit of the ridge. The steps visible from afar were therefore shaped by hand, by the work of miners, into this form. The upper stone quarry operated until 2000, until the closure of the Bélapátfalva Cement Factory. During this time the top of Bélkő Mountain was practically hollowed out; calculations indicate that today 7 million cubic metres are missing from the mountain.

The production of burnt lime was completed in 1998, while cement production was finished in 2000. The mine was closed after the landscape planning, which took place in 2003. Part of the four cadastral parcels containing the mine pits belonged to the so‑called southwestern basin already from 1984 as part of the Bükk National Park. Two mine pits were under cultivation, and the third parcel was transferred to the ownership of the Bükk National Park in 2003, and at the beginning of 2008 the “cap” of the mountain above 550 metres was declared protected by ministerial decree.

The mountain’s original, although flat, summit fell victim to cement production, but from one of the remaining sheer cliffs hikers can enjoy a fantastic panorama. This is an artificially created basin at the end of the Bél‑kő Educational Trail leading to the summit. From here the hilly area surrounding Bélapátfalva, the ridges of the Bükk region’s summit area towards Szarvaskő, the distant blue‑hued Mátra, and the abandoned upper stone quarry spread below are clearly visible. Returning along the trail, after a few hundred metres the northern slopes and peaks of the Bükk region’s summit area can be observed, and in clear weather even the Tisza Lake and the snowy Tatra region are visible from here. The Bél‑kő Educational Trail was handed over in 2003.

The entrances of two larger and one smaller cave, which were bricked up under the stairs, concealed the crushing machines placed in the pit, which from 1908 operated for the old, and from 1979 for the new Bélapátfalva Cement Factory, breaking the rock. Today nothing remains in the excavated mine tunnel, the concrete objects and pit walls that stayed inside were bricked up at their entrances because of accident danger. Later utilization, even by building a lift, was considered, but its implementation may fall to future generations. Plans were made for a cable car lift system between the settlement and the mountain top, and plans were created for a panoramic thermal facility to be built on the site of the remaining buildings of the old lower mine. To this day, because of their high acquisition value, the ideas on the designer's table remain only proposals.

Rock climbing and Via Ferrata

After the cessation of active mining, several attempts were made by local climbing clubs to put the old stone quarry rocks into use. From 2002, several climbing routes were opened on the area still legally registered as a mine. In addition to the artificial climbing routes, the uniquely Hungarian 150 m high and 700 m wide rock wall also offers the possibility to open several sport routes. Among the sport routes the only via ferrata route, the "Nittbetyár", stretches over almost 200 metres across five rope lengths. The massive rock walls and ledges provide numerous possibilities for the construction of Via Ferrata or Klettersteig, iron‑clad routes.

Unfortunately, after the 2008 National Park takeover, all climbing and related development possibilities were prohibited and remain under prohibition.

The massive rock walls still hide many routes to this day, and with a small development they would undoubtedly become Hungary's largest climbing paradise.