Szob

Szob is located at the Hungarian-Slovakian border, at the entry of Ipoly river into the Danube. From northern and eastern direction it is bordered by the Börzsöny mountain, which is a part of the Duna-Ipoly National Park. We can approach the settlement by car on route 12, by rail on the line Budapest-Szob-Párkány (Stúrovo). From Vác we can travel to Szob by coach service. On the other bank of the river the settlement Basaharc is situated, which we may approach by ferry. The town is the premises of one of Hungary’s largest syrup and fruit juice producing factories, where – among others – the small fruits of the surroundings and raspberry are processed. Zoltán Kodály, the world-famous composer and folk-music researcher lived in the settlement, whose father was the master of the local railway-station.

Between Árpád street and the Danube the most important monument of the settlement can be found. The castle erected by the Netherlandish family Luczenbacher was finished in the 18th century; it was transformed and extended later several times. The family, which became rich through the rail constructions in Börzsöny, received nobility for the promotion of the industrialization of Hungary. The family’s neo-Gothic chapel in the ancient cemetery of Szob is also a valuable monument. Under no. 14 of Szent László street we can find the Börzsöny Museum. Its two permanent exhibitions present the local historical, folk-art, folk costume and natural (fauna and flora) materials of the bank of the Ipoly river and the Curve of the Danube.

On the marked foot-paths starting at the railway station of Szob we can wander the especially scenic landscapes of Börzsöny mountain. We can climb to the Csák-mountain (379 m) or Nagy-Galla mountain (479 m), from where we can admire the Danube, the Ipoly river, the Garam river and the Carpathian Mountains. From March to November a light railway circulates between Szob and Márianosztra. At Santa Claus, at Christmas and on 31 December seasonal lines with heated wagons are awaiting the visitors.

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