Somló Tájvédelmi Körzet

The area of the Somló Landscape Protection Area is 585 hectares, of which 88 hectares are intensively protected. The landscape protection area falls under the administration of the Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate.

Location

It is located fifteen kilometres west of Somló Ajka, on the eastern edge of the Marcal basin. Around it are ancient villages: Doba, Oroszi, Borszörcsök, Somlóvásárhely, Somlójenő, Tüskevár, Iszkáz, Somlóvecse and Somlószőlős. The history and prosperity of these small villages are closely intertwined with the castle built on the hill, and the inhabitants’ ancient occupation was the cultivation of the Somló vineyards.

Characteristics

After a long preparation, in 1983 the Somló Landscape Protection Area was established. The objectives of nature conservation are in harmony with the aspirations of local farmers: returning to the mountain community traditions, the viticultural, landscape and architectural values of the wine hill must be preserved.

Formation

Somló was formed at the end of the third epoch of geological history. 5–10 million years ago, in the Pliocene epoch, the Pannonian Sea was located in this area, and the large lake’s fauna was very rich. It was inhabited by the goat mussel (Congeria ungula‑caprae) as well as a similar but much smaller shell species: the migratory mussel (Dreissena). At the eastern foot of Somló, near Ferencmajor, in the so‑called Födigödör, well‑preserved shell fragments can also be found.

In the Pliocene period the rivers flowing into the Pannonian Sea slowly filled the area. Afterwards – at the end of the third epoch – basaltic magma bodies deep in the earth emerged in places at the surface. This volcanic activity created the Badacsony, Saint George Hill, Csobánc, Gulács, Tóti, Haláp hills. During the eruptions, when the crater opening formed, first lava fragments and volcanic ash were scattered. This volcanic debris fell back around the crater and, layered, turned into stone, which we call volcanic tuff, and in the case of Somló we call it "basalt tuff". The next stage of volcanic activity was lava flow. The Somló itself was built up from lava masses that poured out through the crater and then solidified.

Flora and Fauna

The heavily protected summit with its famous ruin, the basalt screes lining the cliff, the primeval‑type low‑growing picturesque forests attracts many hikers. At the end of spring the rocky cliff is covered in white flowers, the population of sour cherry that clings to every rock fissure in the molyhos hill forest is densely covered at its base by the fierce gentian. Its basalt screes, like those of Badacsony, are adorned in April by the mountain avens. On the shady rocks and trees of the steep sides, ivy greens everywhere, and at its roots the rare ivy‑broom lichen lives.

Regarding the animal world, the protected vertebrates are represented by a significant species richness. Because of the lack of breeding opportunities, frogs are relatively rare, only the brown frog and the forest frog occur. Reptiles benefit even more from the basalt's heat management, so their species and individual numbers are considerably richer. The agile lizard, the green lizard, the wall lizard and the fragile lizard are also not rare. Among its birds, the most conspicuous are the ravens that regularly nest on the rocks.

Cultural Values

According to the finds, the area around the hill was already inhabited in the Bronze Age, and valuable material also came from later periods, the Iron Age. The local winegrowers are rightly proud of Somló's viticultural heritage that reaches back to Roman times. The idyllic view of the vineyards and oak forests spreading on the cultivated sides of the hill is further enhanced by the small chapels hidden in the hillside and several architecturally valuable wine cellars. Of the four Somló chapels, the most renowned and beautiful is the Saint Margaret Chapel built in the 13th century. Somló's valuable "industrial‑historical" memory is the 18th‑century water‑drawing well, which at one time lifted water from a depth of more than eighty metres. On a smaller summit of the hill stands the famous, much‑lived ruin of Somló Castle. At one time it was given by Matthias to Pál Kinizsi, later it passed to Tamás Bakócz, and then to János Bottyán.