THE BUDAPEST TIMES

LLAA

NNDD

&& RR

AAIILL

114429 JULY 25 AUGUST 2011

Visegrd, around 40 kilometresnorthwest of Budapest on theDanube Bend, is best known for itsRenaissance palace and citadel, but thetown also has something to offer thoseseeking an adrenalin rush. At Canopy visi-tors can soar between the trees on zip-lines, stopping at platforms to take in thespectacular views, while at the VisegrdBob Run they can hurtle down the hillside.Between these adventures there is theexcellent Nagyvillm Restaurant. All threeare at the top of the hill, around 500 metresfrom the medieval castle.

Zipping along in thetree tops

The canopy course, which opened sixyears ago, is one of a kind in Hungary. Theidea originated in Costa Rica; researchersbuilt aerial runways in the rainforests so thatthey could observe the flora and faunawithout having to keep climbing up thetrees, some of them towering 50 metres.Zip-lines also dont leave footprints. Thecourse in Visegrd applies the sameconcept.Visitors can take the tour in groupsof six or seven, with two trained guides, butyou must book ahead. The canopy alsospecialises in team-building events forcompanies.

After a short safety briefing, we proceedon foot, kitted out with our seat harnesses,helmets, safety cords and pulleys, to thefirst platform, which stands on a 13- to 14-metre-high supporting pillar and feels ratherwobbly. Reminding us once more to becareful, one of the two guides swingsexpertly along the zip-line down to the nextplatform to await us there. We can onlyguess at where we are actually launchingout to. Looking down at this point is a hair-raising experience; even the lowest point of

the course is six metres up.The wind whistles through our ears and

the height and speed make the heartpound.The course consists of ten stretches,one of which is considerably longer than theothers and allows a speed of around 50kilometres an hour. After the second or thirdgo, fears evaporate and almost everyone isin their element as they swing between thetreetops. The view of the Visegrd Castle,the Danube Bend and the Pilis andBrzsny hills is breathtaking. At the end wefeel euphoric and want another bash.

After the tour we are taken back byminibus to the starting point, and hand backour equipment. Owner Gbor Jrsi andmanaging director Adrienne Molnr arepleased to see our beaming faces and tellus that they are seeking a permit to build an800-metre-long stretch from the top of theski slope. Jrsi and Molnr have hit on theidea of organising night-time tours, althoughilluminating the individual platforms is achallenge. It would be dangerous to letpeople travel between the platforms in dark-ness when, unlike the guides, they do notknow from experience when to slow down.

The course attracts all types: the oldestparticipant has been a 78-year-old woman.Anyone can take part if they feel physicallyfit enough, are older than 12 years andweigh more than 40 and less than 110 kilo-grams. The whole adventure costs HUF3,900 (EUR 14.71) and lasts around anhour. Tours in English and German are alsoavailable.

Fun Extreme Canopy

Open Monday to Sunday 10am to 6pm2025 Visegrd, NagyvillmTel.: Adrienne Molnr(+36 20) 661 7949(+36 20) 661 7950www.canopy.hu

NagyvillmRestaurant

The exhilarating experience in the freshair helps to work up an appetite. A set ofsteps leads up to the NagyvillmRestaurant, with its inviting, shady grillterrace, beautiful view of the VisegrdCastle and wisteria and ivy roof. Bundles ofherbs hang from the beams, which togetherwith the comfortable garden furniture lendthe restaurant a rustic touch. The restau-rants events manager, Kata Tumbsz, tellsus that the terrace is popular with groupswanting to have a barbecue in greatsurroundings, without having to lug all theequipment with them. The restaurantconsists of three main rooms, all in adifferent style. The first is done up like ahunting lodge. The second with a lowerceiling is rather like a cosy cellar. The thirdhas high ceilings and brings to mind a finecountry inn. There is also another smallroom with more modern dcor and asecond, sunnier terrace with a view of theDanube Bend, the castle and part of thecanopy course.

The owner, Tams Titz, and a friendacquired the building after the change ofregime and had it developed. In 2006 theco-owner retired and the present head chef,Jnos Limbert, took his place. Since thenthere have been some changes, says

Tumbsz: We pay even more attention thanbefore to quality, butcher the animalsourselves, produce sausages and keep alarge kitchen garden with plenty of herbs.The herbs are used to marinade the variouskinds of meat, for each of which the restau-rant has a special, and secret, recipe. Themenu is somewhat shorter in winter, whilein summer there are also extra dishesoffered at the weekends. The choicechanges to reflect seasonal produce avail-able. Less popular dishes are taken off themenu and new ones are created or old onesare adapted to current tastes.

The attentive waiter promptly brings usglasses of refreshing lemonade. The starterof cold aubergine cream with grilled vegeta-bles and fresh salad, served with bread thatis still warm and crispy, perked up withoregano and basil, is a light and pleasantlypiquant dish. The only fault is that thevegetables are a little too al dente. Aspeciality of the house is the game soupwith cream, carrots and mushrooms.Despite the name, which makes one thinkof heavy traditional fare, the pleasantlycreamy soup is actually light and the meatis tender as butter.

The main course of wild boar roast withrice and potato croquettes, served with aseasonal fruit sauce of strawberries, black-berries and redcurrants is a winner. Thecomposition is excellent, the meat is sotender that it falls apart on its own and theaddition of herbs gives the rice a certainkick. The well done, mildly lemony salmonfillet with a fresh, crunchy salad is a lighterchoice. The garlic and yoghurt dressing ison the runny side but stops short ofdrowning the salad. Two slices of delicioushoneydew melon complete the combinationand are pleasantly refreshing.

The oven-baked apple with a rum andwalnut filling and custard, pancakes withNutella, quark or jam, the classic chestnutpure and Soml sponge cake are certainlyworth a try. Sweet, and served with perhapsa little too much cream, they are an accom-plished end to the meal.

Price points

Starters:.........................HUF 1,120 2,200Soups: .................................HUF 450 850Mains:............................HUF 1,980 3,880Salads:.................................HUF 480 680Desserts: .............................HUF 500 850Wine (bottle):.................HUF 2,500 9,900

Nagyvillm Restaurant2025 Visegrd, Feketehegy

Open Monday to Thursday 11am to 6pm,Friday to Sunday 11am to 8pmTel.: (+36 26) 398-070 (+36 30) 278-3251 www.nagyvillam.hu

Visegrd Bob RunAfter lunch children and young-at-heart

adults can let off steam at the bob runs onthe opposite side of the car park.

The first, the Summer Bob Run,opened in 1991 and was followed tenyears later by the Alpine Coaster. The liftsfor both are 240 metres long, while theruns themselves are 700 metres and have11 curves with a height difference of 46metres. Those are facts that are difficult totake in fully as the lift slowly makes its wayup the hill, and even more so as youspeed back down afterwards. There canbe no thought of braking, even if there areseveral instructions to do so. But the runisnt dangerous. Over the years the onlyinjuries suffered have been minor grazes,says manager Zoltn Mik. It never putschildren off having another go, he addswith a laugh.

The Summer Bob Run consists of along half tube in which the bob travels onwheels. That means you can really leaninto the curve and influence the journey byshifting your body mass and tucking inyour head. The Alpine Coaster, on theother hand, is on fixed tracks, which limityou more but allow more speed.

The bob run is particularly popular forclass outings and with Hungarian visitors,he says. Mik adds that many foreigners,particularly German and British, find theirway to the run in summer. There is nolanguage barrier and even groups that donot speak English can understand the fewrules. Tickets cost HUF 400 (EUR 1.5) foradults and HUF 300 (EUR 1.13) for chil-dren aged three to 14.There are discountsfor groups and multiple rides. Childrenaged below three can use the runs free,and they do so squealing with delight.

Visegrd Bob Run9am to 6pm (7pm on public holidays)2025 Visegrd, NagyvillmTel./Fax: (+36 26) 397 397www.bobozas.hu

TRANSLATION SERVICE

CAR RENTAL

REAL ESTATE

Services every Sunday at 10:30am

at 1025 Bp. Trkvsz t 48/54

The International

Baptist Church of

Budapest is an

interdenominational

church.All are welcome

to join us for coffee

before worship at 10am.

www.ibcbudapest.info

Beautiful apartment for sale. 14.

district, 32 sqm, 1 room, quiet but cent-

ral, 2 mins from Stadionok metro station.

Price: 10,7M HUF

Tel:+36 70 563 2058 ZS23520000

CCLLAASSSSIIFFIIEEDDSS

Renovated apartment for sale in

Zuglo, District 14. One bedrooom

with amazing architectural details,

cathedral ceilings, clearstory windows

and a

gorgeous

combina-

tion of

real cork

flooring

and real

p i n e

planking.

Including the office in the gallery, the

living space is about 40sqm. Price

60,000 USD. To view online, go to

www.bixlers.org/bixlerlakas/Your_New

_Home.html. Contact Dr Rozsa Kollar

for sales details: (+36) 30 412-6698,

dr.kollar@t-online.hu

OB31350000

Adrenalin & appetitein Visegrd

Canopy, bob track & Nagyvillm Restaurant in one spot

STORY AND

PHOTOS BY

INES GRUBER

For Rent: Semi-detached hou-

se, 12th district, 230 sqm, 4

bedrooms, 2 living rooms, 3

baths, garage, huge garden;

British school, Intern. kinder-

garden, centre within 15 min,

1,700 EUR,

Tel: +36 30/ 749 3315

or marc.hoernig@m6-duna.hu

JM3133000