Kelet-Mecsek Tájvédelmi Körzet

The Eastern Mecsek Landscape Protection Area is a protected area under the nature conservation management of the Danube–Drava National Park Directorate in Baranya County, located in the most untouched parts of the Mecsek Mountains. Its area is 9,348 hectares, of which approximately 1,180 hectares are intensively protected. Its highest point is Zengő. The region is divided by deep valleys, streams, and broad ridges.

At least 93 protected plant species live here. Its fauna is less explored, but significant animal values can be found here, such as the endemic Mecsek autumn gentian, or the wasp spider.

The area is associated with the Nagymező-Aranyhegy Nature Protection Area, where more than thirty protected plant species occur, including a significant population of the Banát rockrose, rare red‑coloured specimens of the blackberry‑scented cinquefoil, the black stonecrop, the dirty thyme, and the Hungarian gentian.

Legal background

It was established in 1977 (by the decision No. 8/1977 of the President of the National Nature Conservation Office), with the following justification: “Protect and preserve the characteristic landscape and rich natural values of the area, the various rock formations, springs and mountain streams, the layers rich in sub‑Mediterranean flora elements, pastures and forests, the rare plants and natural plant associations, as well as protected animal species. Preserve the cultural values of the landscape, and serve tourism and travel aimed at the appreciation of natural and cultural values.”

The area was expanded by decree No. 10/1993 (III. 9.) of the Ministry of Agriculture, and its protection was reinforced by decree No. 58/2007 (X. 18.) of the Ministry of Environment and Water Management: “Section 3. The reason and purpose of protection is the preservation of the karst processes and landforms characteristic of the area, as well as the communities typical of the Mecsek limestone gorges, the protection of protected plant species and the life conditions of the associated animal communities.”

Formation

The Mecsek is a folded, faulted crystalline (granite) mass mountain range, whose base is an ancient crystalline (granite) mass. This sank at the end of the geological antiquity and the forming basins were flooded by the sea. In these basins accumulated the products of the destruction of the surrounding fragmented slabs. Thus the Permian sandstone and conglomerate were formed, in which uranium ore was also mined. The limestone formed from Triassic and Jurassic marine sediments constitutes the main mass of the Mecsek. In the Jurassic period, coal formed in coastal lagoons. The most significant structural changes occurred in the Cretaceous period, during the folding of the Carpathians. In the eastern Mecsek parts, igneous rocks also formed due to Cretaceous volcanism. Representatives of these volcanic rocks are the characteristic ringing-sounding fonolite and the associated trachy-dolerite. The geomorphology of the Mecsek is extremely distinctive, because from the centre of the range – the basin located near Kisújbánya – valleys radiating roughly circularly divide the crystalline mountain. The varied structure and complex composition of the range can also be studied on the Várvölgy Geological Trail that runs at the foot of the Máré Castle.

Fauna

The abundant sunshine and springs, the plentiful precipitation have created a plant life with unique, Mediterranean influences. In this area lives a large part of the strictly protected Banát buttercup, which constitutes the entire world population. Mediterranean plants include the Caucasian lily of the valley, the Baranya edge iris, in places the spiny wonderberry, the Italian mugo pine, the monkey grape, and the charming barberry. The Giant Carnation grows on Hármashegy. On the Great Meadow above Hosszúhetény the spring hawthorn, the black and the maiden's thistle, and the dog grape grow.

The majority of the area's forests are formed by three forest associations. The beech forest of Mecsek, the yew‑oak forest of Mecsek, and the cherry‑oak forest of Mecsek cover the largest part of the Mecsek K region. In these forests, besides several common but still characteristic protected plant species, rare species that occur only in Mecsek are also found. In early spring the noble liverwort, the hairless crocus, and the now protected fragrant hound’s‑tongue unfold their petals. Large areas are covered by the spiny wonderberry, but the also red‑berry relative, the tongue‑shaped wonderberry, can also be found with its green fruits in winter.

More than sixty bird species nest in Eastern Mecsek, including the blue pigeon, the little flycatcher and the swift flycatcher, the black woodpecker, the green woodpecker, the mountain nuthatch, the black stork, the hawk, the sparrowhawk, the wasp‑hawk and the frog‑eating hawk.