Cellar Row of
Gomboshegy
The Gomboshegy Cellar Row, located on the outskirts of Hercegkút, is one of Tokaj-Hegyalja’s most beautiful architectural heritage sites. The centuries-old cellars are living reminders of the Swabian traditions, preserving the spirit of the community across generations. The meticulously carved cellar doors, stone walls, and the proximity of nature create a unique atmosphere, offering visitors a journey back in time. Discover the unparalleled beauty of Hercegkút and the Gomboshegy Cellar Row, along with the rich history they hold!
Gomboshegy
The Gomboshegy cellar row is located on the southern side of Hercegkút, right at the entrance to the village from the main road 37. From the cellar row, there is a stunning panorama of Hercegkút and the peaks of the Zemplén Mountains, and even the Kőporos cellar row at the other end of the village is beautifully visible. In 2002, when the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Gomboshegy cellar row—just like Kőporos—was specifically mentioned.
The history of the cellar row is intertwined with the founding of the village. The valuable lands of Tokaj-Hegyalja were previously owned by the Rákóczi family, but after the suppression of the Rákóczi War of Independence, the estates passed to the royal treasury, and later, in 1711, Prince Trautson purchased them from the treasury. Around the 1750s, the Trautsons relocated settlers from the Swabian regions, particularly from the Schwarzwald area, mainly to work in the vineyards. Since the arriving Swabian settlers had no homes initially, they carved their dwellings into the hillside of Gomboshegy, until their houses were built along the village's main street. Over time, an entire row of cellars developed on the hillside. The cellars were used to store vegetables and, of course, the families' own wines. Later, the cellars were sold along with the houses.
In Gomboshegy, the beautifully preserved, triangular-gabled cellars line up in four neat rows along the hillside. The cellars are generally 10 to 40 meters long. The cellars, dug into rhyolite tuff, extend into the earth in one, two, or three branches. Their temperature is usually between 9 and 12 degrees Celsius, with high humidity, which provides the perfect environment for aging and storing Tokaj wines. In 2004, thanks to the efforts of the local community, a Calvary Hill was established at the top of the cellar row, leading up to the Chapel of the Resurrection. Be sure to take the walk up, as the view of the village and surrounding landscape is breathtaking.
Unfortunately, the cellar rows of Hercegkút were endangered in the spring of 2010 when heavy rains caused several cellar tunnels—particularly on the Kőporos side—to collapse. Starting in 2012, thanks to local cooperation and European grants, the cellar rows were beautifully restored, with the streets between the cellars receiving elegant cobblestone paving and the overhead power lines being moved underground.
The Gomboshegy cellar row offers perfect relaxation for those who enjoy the harmony of architecture, nature, and winemaking. Several wineries operate in cellars on both Kőporos and Gomboshegy. If you're here, be sure to taste a glass (or better yet, two) of the wonderful local Tokaj wines and enjoy the hospitality of the locals.
Visiting: The cellar row is open to visitors year-round, at any time. Naturally, the wineries operate according to their own opening hours.
History of Hercegkút
Hercegkút, this wonderful village of Swabian origin, is located in the heart of Tokaj-Hegyalja, on the northwestern border of Sárospatak, at the foot of the Zemplén Mountains.
Previously called Trautsondorf, its origin is connected to the Rákóczi War of Independence. The valuable lands of Tokaj-Hegyalja were once owned by the Rákóczi family, but after their rebellion against the Habsburgs was crushed, the estates were transferred to the royal treasury. Later, in 1711, Prince Trautson purchased the village from the treasury. At that time, the wine region, decimated by the war and cholera, was in dire need of laborers, so the Trautson family recruited settlers from the depopulated area near Sárospatak, specifically from the Schwarzwald region in western Germany, which had been ravaged by the Franks. Historical records indicate that the Swabians settled in the area around 1750. Recruiters had promised the Swabian travelers that upon arriving in Hungary, the Trautson family would provide the stone and timber needed to build their houses and lend them grain during the settlement period. However, the initial house construction did not go smoothly; the promised materials were delayed, and in the first year, the settlers dug their first homes into the side of Gomboshegy to protect themselves from the winter cold. Later, as the village developed, a whole row of cellars was built into the side of Gomboshegy for storing crops, grapes, and aging wine. The Swabian settlers worked tirelessly, clearing forests to acquire arable land on the village's outskirts. Their diligent labor paid off, and within half a century of settling, they had reclaimed 543 acres of arable land from the forested areas.
Initially, the village was part of Sárospatak, but it became an independent settlement after 1876. Soon after gaining this status, the village underwent a name change. In the early twentieth century, all foreign-language settlements in Hungary were required to adopt Hungarian names, so in 1904, Trautsondorf was renamed Hercegkút, referring to the title of the founding prince and the Pogánykút located near the village."
Most of the settlers who arrived from Schwarzwald had not previously worked in viticulture, but upon arriving in their new homeland, they quickly mastered the art of winemaking thanks to their determination and perseverance, and the inhabitants of Trautsondorf soon became sought-after vintners in Tokaj-Hegyalja. They planted vineyards in the Gomboshegy, Kőporos, and Pogánykút areas of the village, and in the early 1800s, they also dug cellars on the Kőporos side, in addition to those on Gomboshegy. In 1908, Hercegkút was incorporated into the closed wine region of Tokaj-Hegyalja. The cultivation of grapes and wine in the village significantly accelerated in the 1970s, when 232 hectares of industrial vineyards were planted, and a cooperative cellar nearly 1500 meters long was built in Gomboshegy.
After World War II, the village suffered greatly due to its German heritage. In January 1945, a terrible blow struck Hercegkút, with 135 people being deported from the village to forced labor in the Soviet Union. In memory of this catastrophe, a memorial was later erected in the village. Despite this, the community's Swabian identity persisted, and Hercegkút preserved the traditions and celebrations brought from the Schwarzwald.
If you are in the area, be sure to visit this wonderful Swabian village. The unity, perseverance, friendliness, and hospitality of the people living here make this beautiful village truly magical.
You can find more information about the village on its website and on the website of Naár János, who has done excellent work researching the local history of Hercegkút.
Read more about the cellars of Kőporos and Gomboshegy below!
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