Székely Land – On the border of nature and history

Secrets of Székelyland: A journey into its heart

Székelyföld, with its mysterious charm and stunning landscapes, has always been one of the most important destinations for curious travelers. Forests, mountains, historical monuments and the famous Székely hospitality all tempt you to discover this special region, whose history and culture define its identity as much as its stunning landscapes.

Salt Land: From the Heart of the Earth

The salt region, one of the greatest geological treasures of Székelyföld, offers visitors a unique landscape. The past and present of mining can be felt here at every step. Salt mines, such as the Parajd Salt Mine, represent a unique natural and industrial heritage in the heart of Székelyföld. Salt mining is not only an economic factor, but also a cultural one, as salt has become a part of everyday life for the Székely people. If you are there, visit the mine and experience the secrets of the depths of the earth.

Harghita: The Glory of the Mountains

The Harghita Mountains form the heart of Székelyföld, and the panorama here is incomparable. From the peaks, we can not only glimpse the distant landscape, but also a piece of history and traditions. The Harghita Mountains are a hiker's paradise, where after every bend, another spectacular peak or picturesque village awaits us.

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Balvanyos: The infamous castle ruins and spa town

The ruins of Balvanyos Castle are located at the intersection of history and mysterious legends. Balvanyos Bath is not only a famous place for its healing waters, but also an important resting place full of Székely traditions. Arriving at the place, we can feel the energy flowing from the heroic Székelys and local stories while relaxing in the thermal water.

Lake St. Anna: A jewel of nature

The surroundings of Lake Saint Anna, one of the most beautiful and perhaps the most well-known lakes in Székelyföld, enchant us with their stunning beauty. The lake is of volcanic origin and with its fabulous green water, it reveals the wonders of nature to us in every season. According to legend, a forgotten city lies at the bottom of the lake, which gives the place a truly mystical atmosphere. If we set off on one of the tours around the lake, the silence and tranquility enchant everyone.

Killer Lake: The Mysterious Water

One of the most famous natural treasures of Székelyföld is the Gyilkos Lake, which attracts attention with its mysterious history and unique atmosphere. The lake, which was formed as a result of a former forest fire, is characterized by its unique trees that stand out in the water, giving the place an even more mysterious mist. Hikers love to visit this wonderful landscape, which is a special meeting of history and nature.

Gyimesek: The Land of the Szekler

Gyimesek is a true Székely treasure, created from the close intertwining of mountains, valleys and villages. Here, the living spirit of local traditions and culture is present every day. In the countryside, hikers can discover small churches hidden among the mountains and traces of centuries-old traditions preserved by the locals. Gyimesek is a special place for every traveler, not only from a natural but also from a cultural point of view.

Székelyföld, a magical landscape in the heart of Transylvania, is famous not only for its stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, but also for its unique personalities who have been an integral part of the history of this region for decades, even centuries. The people living here are deeply rooted in their traditions and are often surrounded by legends that have become imbued with the essence of the local landscape and stories over time. The famous and infamous Székelys, such as Bence Úz or Pista Hazug, are all figures who have stolen their way into the hearts of locals and visitors alike with their tales, entertaining stories and unique life stories.

Pista Hazug, whose real name is István Köllő, was a former gamekeeper living on the outskirts of Gyergyóalfalu, who became famous for his colorful and overheated stories, forever writing himself into local folklore. The tales of the “hermit of Bactria”, which often exceeded the boundaries of reality, attracted many visitors to his abandoned farm. András Berecz, the Kossuth Prize-winning storyteller, considered him his role model and teacher, and immortalized his stories in a book. Pista Hazug’s tales will live forever in the Hungarian storytelling tradition.

The stories of Uncle Liar have been passed down through generations through oral tradition, and there are countless variations. These humorous, exaggerated tales are part of folk culture, each storyteller passing them on in their own style.

The stories described here are written in my own words, following the spirit of traditional stories. They should not be considered original works or borrowed from others; they merely reflect a version of folk tales as I have heard, interpreted, and passed them on.

My goal is to preserve and pass on the humor and charm of Uncle Pista's legendary stories so that they can reach as many people as possible.

Uncle Pista the Liar and the Miracle of the Flood

One day, when the men in the village gathered in front of the tavern, Uncle Liar Pista started telling his incredible stories again. He said that once there was a flood in the area that was so big that no one had ever seen it before.

"Well, kids, the water was so heavy that it had already covered the bottom of our houses, but even the roofs were barely visible! Of course, we and the family were hiding in the attic."

"So, what happened up there in the attic?" the others asked, laughing.

“Well, what happened was that the fish swam up to the attic too! One morning I woke up to a catfish knocking on the window and saying, ‘Hey, bro, can you let me in to warm up a bit?’”

The others were already laughing at this point, but Uncle Pista continued:

“They not only came to visit, but they stayed there! A carp, for example, hung itself on the beam like a piece of clothing, and a pike nested in my straw bag. But the best thing was when a perch started helping me cook! It said: ‘Bring me some salt, Pista, let the floodwater fish broth have some flavor!’”

The villagers were so laughing they could barely speak, but one of them asked:

“And what happened to the fish, Uncle Pista?”

"Well, what would have happened? When the water receded, they all swam away nicely, but before that they said goodbye to me and promised to visit me next year if the flood was this big again!"

Uncle Pista the Liar and the freezing winter

One day, Uncle Pista the Liar began to tell the people of the village that he had experienced the harshest winter of his life.

"Children, it was so cold that winter that even the words froze as I said them! Once I said 'good morning' to my neighbor, but the words froze in the air, and he only heard them in the spring, when it thawed!"

The audience, of course, laughed at this, but Uncle Pista continued:

"And it wasn't just the words that froze, our dog too! One morning I went out of the house and saw the dog standing there on the corner, motionless. I'm going over there, isn't the poor thing frozen?"

“And what did you do with it, Uncle Pista?” someone asked, laughing.

"Well, what would I have done? I dragged him into the kitchen, put him on the stove to warm him up a bit. When he let him out, the first thing he did was shake himself, then ran back to the corner as if nothing had happened!"

At this point everyone was laughing, but Uncle Pista added:

"But it wasn't just the dog that froze! Our cow's milk came out like ice cream too! I simply broke the icicles off her udder and we could eat the milk caramel!"

Uncle Pista the Liar and the Seven-Headed Dragon

Once, Uncle Lying Pista told the villagers that in his youth he had met a seven-headed dragon.

"You know, kids, I was working in the field when I suddenly saw a huge shadow. I look up, isn't it a seven-headed dragon circling above my head?!"

“And what did you do, Uncle Pista?” the students asked.

"Well, what would I have done? I shouted at him to come down because I couldn't see the sun! And the dragon just laughed and said, 'What do you want, man? I am the master of the world!'"

The others were already laughing, but Uncle Pista continued:

"I told him that if he's such a big man, he should try to beat me! He got down and we started wrestling. He tried to catch me with all seven heads at once, but I was so fast that I tied all seven heads in a knot!"

“And what happened to the dragon?” they asked, laughing.

"Well, kids, I let him go, but only on the condition that he never flies over our village again. He's been avoiding this place ever since, because he knows I'm here!"

Uncle Pista the Liar and the World's Biggest Chicken

Once, Uncle Lying Pista told me that he raised a hen as big as anyone had ever seen.

"Children, my hen was so big that one of her eggs would have been enough for an entire wedding! One day she accidentally sat on a haystack, and by the time she got up, the whole stack had become one huge nest."

“And what did you do with the eggs, Uncle Pista?” the villagers asked.

"Well, what would I have done? I rolled one of them down the hill, and it's been a Greek ever since, because it was so big it didn't even stop in the other village!"

Uncle Pista the Liar and the Miracle Ploughing

Once Uncle Pista told me about how he plowed the land in one day.

"You know, children, my horse was not just any horse, but a gift from a wizard! He pulled three plows at once, and plowed so fast that by the time he reached the end of the field, the grain had already grown behind him!"

“And how did you harvest so quickly?” the others asked.

"Well, there was no need to harvest! The wheat ears jumped into the sacks by themselves, they were in such a hurry!"

Uncle Pista and the Big Fishing

In another story, Uncle Pista told how he caught a fish with his bare hands.

"I went to the river once, kids, but I didn't have a net. I thought, no problem, my hands will do. I jumped in the water and started swimming so fast that the fish just flew ashore!"

“And how many fish did you catch?” they asked.

"Well, the river is dry! Even the fish keeper asked where I left the water!"

Uncle Pista and the windmill fight

Uncle Pista once told me that he fought with a windmill.

"Children, you know, my strength is extraordinary! Once the windmill came to me and said, 'Pista, you will never defeat me!' Well, I grabbed one of the blades of the mill and spun it so that the mill flew away!"

“And where did he fly to?” the others asked.

"Well, straight to the neighboring village, they've been grinding there ever since !"

*Source : Hungarian Treasury