A tour along the border between Austria and Hungary promises a lot of history and culture. From traces from Roman times to remains of the Iron Curtain. And from victories over the Ottomans to the lavish wealth of the nobility.
Of course you will also be able to fully enjoy the rolling roads through the hills of Burgenland and the Õrségi National Park.

The route starts and ends in Szombathely. This city is the oldest in Hungary and was founded in 43 AD by the Romans. The open-air museum contains a number of excavations from this time, including mosaic floors and temples. A walk in the city center is also worthwhile. Along the way you walk past baroque houses, old synagogue and stately town squares. But that might be for a nice evening after a tour.

Today, a tour is scheduled. From the city you drive north towards Köszeg. This city is slightly younger than Szombathely (11th or 12th century) and is known for its atmospheric car-free center. The route is not too long, so if you like to stroll through old charming towns, then it is highly recommended to spend time here between the colorful houses and lovely terraces. The town has a number of beautiful squares where you can experience the rich history of the place. You will find statues in honor of the 800 soldiers who are said to have stopped 100,000 Ottoman soldiers, a beautiful old synagogue and a beautiful church nearby.

After Köszeg the landscape changes slowly. You leave the plain behind and begin a gentle climb over the rolling hills to the border with Austria. Once you have passed the border (the old traces of customs are still visible) you enter Burgenland. This state owes its name to the many castles in the area.

Lockenhaus immediately lives up to this name. Before entering the village, you can visit the castle. Today it is a hotel and museum in one. Are you a Dracula fan? Then it's best to stop here and look around. Elizabeth Báthory spent time in this castle, among other places. She probably served as inspiration for Bram Stoker's book about Dracula. The castle has also been owned by the Eszterházy family in the past. Further in the village you will find another castle that was owned by this family. Opposite that castle you can take a break at the local bakery (Konditorei).

With a delicious cake and a cup of coffee “behind the molars” the journey continues. A few kilometers outside the village you will find a parking lot. From here you can walk to the Margarethenwahrte. This viewpoint is about a 5 minute walk from the parking lot. Once at the top you have a beautiful view of the valley with Lockenhaus, the castle and the fortress you passed earlier.

After this walk you have to brace yourself for a real climb. You drive to the Geschriebenstein. At the top you will see a modest sign stating that the pass has a height of 802 meters. This immediately makes it the highest pass in the Burgenland! Fortunately, the modest pass still has a number of nice hairpin bends on offer for you, with which you start the descent towards the south and the border with Hungary.
This border crossing would never have been possible in the past. At the time of the Iron Curtain, this border road was closed. In the past, people have been injured several times in this region by roadside bombs lying around. In the museum of the Iron Curtain you can learn more about this period and the strict surveillance of this border by the communists. The museum was set up by a former guard. He can still be found here, bringing the disused guard towers and barbed wire to life with his stories.

The Iron Curtain has influenced the lives of both the Hungarians and the Austrian inhabitants of the Burgenland. The area around the border was heavily guarded, making it almost impossible to move freely in the border area. In the village of Oberbildein you can walk the “Grenzerfahrungsweg”. This (short) route gives an insight into life along the border during WWII and the Cold War. You will find an old Panzer tank, a maze, trenches and a watchtower.
After all these impressions, it's time for a break. In Oberau you can have lunch at Gasthaus Buch.

Burgenland is also known for its many wine producers. One of the smallest regions in the state, where wine is produced, is Naturpark in der Weinidylle. Along the route you will encounter several grape vines and wine cellars.
From small to large nature parks. After crossing the border for the 5th time, you are back in Hungary and in the Örségi National Park. This national park takes its name from the first inhabitants of this region, the Magyars. This population group guarded the western borders of its territory with watchtowers... Örség means guard or watchtower... The park mainly consists of forests and heathland. Because the most rain falls here every year (!) you can pick an abundance of delicious mushrooms here in the fall.

Meanwhile, not only do the miles slip under your wheels, but time does too. Secretly, a few hours have already passed and it is time for a well-deserved break. In the middle of the park you can enjoy a nice drink at Pajta Vendéglő (Pajta guest house). The restaurant is highly regarded in the region, so if you're passing by a little later, consider having an early evening meal here.

With this break you have also reached the southernmost point of your route. Via a number of winding roads through the park you go North, again towards your end point in Szombathely. First along grain fields and alternately small villages. In one of those villages, Ják, you will find a rarity: the local basilica. The construction of the basilica started in 1220. Edelman Ják wanted to have a building built that would remind us of his power and wealth well into the future. The basilica is still there, but is also regularly in the scaffolding. First during the original construction: nobleman Ják found it difficult to make architectural choices. Later due to regular renovations. The building is currently under scaffolding again... So you can only admire it from the outside.

Once back in Szombathely you can reminisce about the ride at Lake Csónakázó. At Deck bistro you can sink into the water. Of course you can also drive directly to the hotel and from there take the aforementioned walk through the city.