Landscape and Cultural History of Mt. Sas-hegy

Mt. Sas-hegy looks like a bare, rocky “island” surrounded by built-up areas and a greenbelt within Budapest. Sudying its history, its landscape boundaries are identifiable with usage of landscape in subsequent periods of time. Changes in landscape are followed by maps originatting from various time periods and relics ofcultural history. The area has been inhabited for 5000 years. Its history started when neighbouring Buda became settled and it served as the souther gate of Buda, since it was encircled by a rather busy trade route. Evidence for production of typical red wine only originated from the 18th century; however, it probably started earlier. “Sas-hegyi vörös” was the most famous and characteristic red wine in the environs of Buda. Wine production ended in the 19th century when grape phylloxera attacked grapes planted on the steep slopes from the foot to the top of Mt. Sas-hegy. Urbanisation was insignificant until the second half of the 20th century since various fields and buildings for military purposes were kept on the southern slope (also including an extended exercise field) and an education centre was established on the northern slope. Fortunately the area became protected and surrounded by fence very early in 1958, and further urbanisation was not possible. 

Due to the large number of relict species, nature conservation management started, e.g. forest plantation in groves to stop erosion. Public visits were only allowed after 1974 when developments for tourism started. Since the 1990s non-governmental organisations have also increased activities to help nature protection eforts. Spontaneous succession has disadvantageous processes, e.g. spreading of invasive species risks the natural values of the area.
  • Website : http://
  • Project start : 2012
  • Project end : 2012
  • Contact Person : Zsuzsanna Illyés
  • Funding Agency : Corvinus University of Budapest, Faculty of Landscape Architecture, Department of Landscape Protection and Reclamation
  • Project Partners : Attila Balázs
  • Location : Hungary, Budapest, lat : 47.480189499999990000 - lng : 19.017004700000030000 address : Budai Sas-hegy Természetvédelmi terület, 1112 Budapest, Hungary