Cellar Row of
Kőporos
Hercegkút, formerly known as Trautsondorf, located in the middle part of the historic wine region of Tokaj-Hegyalja, has a quarter-millennium history that speaks of perseverance, unity, ingenuity, and, not least, respect for Hungarian and Swabian traditions. Read about the village and the beautiful rows of cellars in Gomboshegy and Kőporos.
Kőporos
The famous cellar rows of Hercegkút, located on the southeastern slopes of the Zemplén Mountains, are rightfully among the symbols of Tokaj-Hegyalja. In 2002, when the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list, they were specifically mentioned. The perfectly preserved and stunningly beautiful Gomboshegy and Kőporos cellar rows within the village boundaries are an important part of Hercegkút's history.
The Kőporos cellar row is located in the northern part of the village, towards Makkoshotyka. Here, a total of 87 almost completely uniform triangular-gabled cellars line the romantically winding cobblestone streets. The Kőporos cellars are generally shorter than those on Gomboshegy, and while the Gomboshegy cellars were built side by side in a soldierly manner, the Kőporos cellars stretch along winding streets. The cellar tunnels often penetrate deep into the ground, overlapping each other.
Historical evidence suggests that the Kőporos cellar row is probably younger than the Gomboshegy one. Early military maps of the area, from 1782 to 1785, already show the Gomboshegy cellar row, while the Kőporos cellars only appear on the third military survey from 1869-1887. However, it is worth noting that the earliest date inscribed on one of the Kőporos cellar doors is 1825, suggesting that the people of Hercegkút likely began digging the Kőporos hillside cellars around that time or even earlier.
In the spring of 2010, unusually heavy rainfall hit the area, causing the tunnels of 31 of the beautiful 87 Kőporos cellars to collapse. Thanks to local efforts and European grants, the Gomboshegy and Kőporos cellar rows were beautifully renovated starting in 2012. The streets between the cellars were paved with stone, and the overhead cables were buried underground. The renovation also included a 3D survey of the cellars, accurately documenting their dimensions and layout. At the top of the Kőporos cellar row, there is a playground and barbecue areas with pavilions.
In 2023, the World Heritage Experience Center was completed on the northern side of the Kőporos cellar row. It functions as an event space, cultural community area, and tasting room, with an infographic exhibition showcasing the process of making the famous Tokaji aszú wines, local winemaking traditions, and the different types of Tokaji wine.
If you are visiting the Tokaj wine region, do not miss this wonderful site, which offers perfect relaxation for those who enjoy the harmony of architecture, nature, and winemaking. Both Kőporos and Gomboshegy have several operating wineries where visitors can taste the excellent Tokaj-Hegyalja wines made on-site."
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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