The maintenance and development of the Arboretum is a priority for Vérteserdő Zrt. The tangible result of this is the transformation of the building located in the heart of the arboretum - which in the past also served as staff housing and has recently been out of use - into a tourist lodging. The house on the shores of the arboretum lake has a brand new look and feel for visitors seeking a truly unique experience. The 10-person accommodation is a great opportunity for families, small groups of retirees or students, and hiking groups to spend their free time in a peaceful environment in the Gerecse Mountains, with full-comfort amenities.
With the support of the Active and Ecotourism Development Centre, Vérteserdő Zrt. has developed its key-house in the „Pearl of Gerecse” within the framework of the Téry Ödön National Tourist House Development Programme.
The pearl of the Gerecse Landscape Protection Area, in one of the most beautiful valleys of the mountain range, the Bocsájtó Valley, located a few kilometres from Tata, less than an hour from Budapest. The arboretum presents 30.5 hectares of woody plants. The garden is worth a visit at any time of the year, as it offers a unique aesthetic experience in all seasons.
The special microclimate of the valley - the favourable effects of the local climate due to the topography and the stream - was discovered by Móric Esterházy, who initiated the planting of Slavonian oaks and European larches, which are now the oldest trees in the garden. In the Gerecse Mountains, which are covered with continuous woodlands, groves and rocky hillsides with a thin layer of soil, and cultivated areas in the valley, pine forests do not naturally occur. Yet the larch trees planted here have thrived.
In the 1950s and 60s, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences experimented with planting 300 species of mostly exotic trees, which have now grown to considerable size and are an impressive sight.
A dam was built across the stream that collects the water from the Hidegkút spring, which runs through the valley, and two ponds were created to maintain the favourable climate. Thanks to the Arboretum's specific microclimate, visitors can admire a forest composed of several pine species– something unparalleled elsewhere in the country – most of which are not native to the area. The garden is further enriched by several varieties of cedars, giant sequoias, tulips, birches, ironwoods, alders, ashes, maples, walnuts, and many others, so that the collection of trees and shrubs is now a community of nearly 300 species.
Thanks to the influence of the valley, the arboretum has a pleasant, cool climate even in the hottest summer heat. The whole area of the garden is bisected by the Bocsájtó stream, which has contributed to the Arboretum's designation as a Natura 2000 Special Protection Area for Birds of Community Importance since 2004. So far, 71 bird species have been confirmed to breed and 110 species have been recorded, making it a Natura 2000 Special Bird Protection Area, and from 2022 it will be part of the County Valuables Register, following a decision of the Komárom-Esztergom County Valuables Committee.
The maintenance and development of the Arboretum is a priority for Vertour Kft. In addition to maintenance tasks, the company places great emphasis on environmental education: all year round, informative and exciting guided programmes are offered to nature lovers.
The Arboretum is the ideal place for a health walk, a recharge, an intimate wedding ceremony in a natural setting, a photo shoot, a hike in the Gerecse Mountains or a field trip for a school curriculum.
