The Bakony Hills
The hiding place of outlaws, the picturesque Bakony was a continuous area of woodland until as late as 19th century. Today the area of high Bakony is a protected nature reserve with lovely beech forests, picturesque valleys and over 1,100 caves (the caves of the Likas and Csatár Hills, Kőlik and Szentgál, etc). Cutting through the hills, the gorges and ravines of the Gerence, Séd, Hódos, Gaja and Cuha streams are popular hiking destinations. Another magnet for tourists is Ördög-árok: there are iron ladders traversing the huge cliffs of Ördög-gát. 150 steps lead to the cave at Odvaskő once inhabited by prehistoric man.
The forests of the Bakony Mountains are a natural habitat for deer, fallow deer, mufflons, wild boar, wild cats and 104 highly protected species of birds. Its highest point is Kőris Hill (709 m) with a lookout tower at its top. The primordial pine forest of Fenyőfő is one of the country's most beautiful pine woods, with 20-m tall trees of more than a hundred years of age. Europe's second largest yew forest can also be found on the outskirts of Szentgál.
