Máriakálnok

The settlement is situated on the left bank of the Moson-Danube, east of Mosonmagyaróvár. By car it can be accessed by road 1, and HighwayM1, by turning off at Mosonmagyaróvár of which the village is situated at a distance of a few kilometres only. The woods alongside the Danube and the Szigetköz Nature Conservation  Area north of the settlement make Máriakálnok a popular destination of hikers. In Máriakálnok there are three riding schools: two of them train adult and junior sportsmen who have very good results  in dressage test and show jumping lately. Tourists should prefer the riding school under the address  Kossuth Lajos utca 5 where they can take riding lessons and ride by the hour.

Máriakálnok is famous for its shrine, the Chapel of Blessed Virgin with the Sickle. The start of the tradition of pilgrimage to  Máriakálnok dates back to the middle of the 16^th century. According to the myth a fisherman caught a wooden statue of Holy Mary by his net in the Danube and placed it near to a stream which he believed was sacred. For honour to Saint Mary, the landlord VICZAY János erected a chapel on the spring. The believers used the water of the spring for healing eye and foot problems. After the elapse of some 200 years the chapel got burned, but not the statue of Saint Mary and the little Jesus: they both escaped, which increased the popularity of the shire even more. The chapel was rebuilt in 1874 and then a crown was placed on the head of the statue of Saint May and a silver sceptre in the hand. Processions take place on the following days: Easter Monday, Whit Monday, Sunday of the Blessed Trinity, Visitation of our Lady, Feast of the Assumption, birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, féte of Virgin Mary.

Sources: http://www.bucsujaras.hu/, http://hu.wikipedia.org/, http://www.vendegvaro.hu/