Based on the votes of Hungarian tourists, the structure standing on the highest mountain in the Mecsek Mountains, and named after it, was declared the winner of the Lookout of the Year competition, as announced at a press conference held at the foot of the structure on Thursday, accompanied by the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.
The aim of the sixth public vote organized by Active Hungary and the Active Hungary Development Center was to encourage as many people as possible to get out into nature and visit Hungary’s mountain peaks. This time, the organizers nominated ten lookout towers, among which nature lovers could choose. The structure standing at the highest point of the Mecsek Mountains became the country’s favorite in 2025, with 5,752 votes, winning the approval of more than a third of 15,000 nature lovers.
Mirkó Petényi, managing director of Aktív Magyarország Fejlesztési Központ NKft. (Active Hungary Development Center), pointed out at the event that when they launched the Lookout Tower of the Year competition, one of their main goals was to get as many of these structures as possible on the map.
He emphasized that according to the legend of Zengő Hill, its rumbling and the name it derives from are caused by the cries of treasure hunters trapped inside, but these treasure hunters “could not see the forest for the trees,” as the treasure itself is the Mecsek, and its “crown jewel is Zengő and the Zengő lookout tower.”
In Petényi’s view, there are still plenty of opportunities in the Mecsek, thus they will be launching a number of active tourism-oriented programs in the future in collaboration with the county government and other stakeholders.
László Őri (Fidesz-KDNP Party), President of the Baranya County Council, said that the title is a fitting recognition of the struggle in which the people—both locals and those from other parts of the country—joined forces to prevent the construction of a radar station on the mountain in 2004.
He said that the construction of the lookout tower was intended to commemorate this civil cooperation on the one hand, and on the other hand, they were guided by the preservation and presentation of local values on a “long and bumpy road” – referring to the fact that they had to find a solution that would best guarantee the protection of nature.
János Hargitai (KDNP), Member of Parliament for the region, praised the role of the late László Sólyom, constitutional judge and president of the republic, who made serious efforts together with civilians to protect Zengő, the pride of the mountain, and the habitat of the Peony of Banat (Paeonia banatica).
Krisztián Gál, mayor of the small town of Pécsvárad at the foot of the mountain, emphasized that thanks to Zengő and the lookout tower, many hikers come to their town, and the increased interest may lay the foundation for other ecotourism developments in the future.
László Sándor Csörnyei, mayor of Hosszúhetény (southern Hungary), recalled that the 2004 anti-radar protest by civilians was recognized in an international competition this September.
József Schóber, President of the Baranya County Nature Lovers’ Association, said that the first lookout tower was built on the mountain exactly 130 years ago, but the current one is the largest, and hopefully, the most durable.
Via MTI; Featured image: MTI/Kacsúr Tamás
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