From forest to table
MISKOLC'S BOLD STEP BEYOND INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE
Presentation of the project
Destination description
Miskolc, the city of the Bükk, is the cultural and economic center of the Northeastern Hungarian region. The city is surrounded by the Bükk Mountains, which have shaped its history and traditions for centuries. The Bükk National Park has been part of the UNESCO Global Geopark network since 2024.
The symbiosis between the Bükk forest and the city inspired the concept of “Miskolc, the City of the Bükk”, which integrates the industrial past and the long tradition of human-nature coexistence into a metropolitan tourist offer. If you travel to Miskolc, you can experience active tourism and gastronomy at the same time through a sustainable experience program.
Gastronomy
The flavors of the Bükk
Miskolc - Lillafüred
Heart of the Bükk
Miskolctapolca
Ellipsum Adventure Bath
City Center
Cellar row in Avasand Culture
Summary of the good practice
Miskolc is the city of Bükk, where nature, gastronomy and spa culture meet.
Bottom-up community
Caterers, accommodation providers, and winemakers united in the Bükki Kör association have launched a bottom-up initiative. Their goal is repositioning: a new identity built on gastronomy and community values instead of old ingrained habits.
Website of the Bükki Kör
"Edible Forest" Program
One of the most innovative elements that directly connects forest managers with local restaurants. The natural gifts of the Bükk are embodied in seasonal menus, strengthening ecological awareness and local value chains.
Strategic breakthrough
In 2024, the Bükki Kör organized Hungary’s first sustainable gastronomy conference, GASTOUR. The power of the community is demonstrated by the fact that one of the members of the Bükki Kör took over the management of the city’s destination management organization, so the bottom-up ideas have now become part of the official city strategy.
Key problems and challenges
Deeply rooted industrial image
For a long time, the public identified the city with environmental pollution and economic decline, ignoring the proximity of the Bükk mountains and its cultural values.
Weak social cohesion
There was a lack of harmony between the bottom-up energy and the top-down strategic support, which hindered the reinterpretation of tourism.
Fragmented sector
There were few connections between the city’s attractions and the natural environment. Gastronomy, one of the region’s strongest assets, remained disorganized and fragmented, lacking a unified narrative.
“It was this context that necessitated the emergence of a committed alliance – the Bükki Kör – which was capable of uniting the fragmented efforts.”
The solution: Cooperation beyond institutional frameworks
In order to change the narrative of the city, a group of proactive local actors initiated the collaboration. Their common goal was to shape a new identity that celebrates the natural environment and gastronomy, while putting local communities at the center.
Creative concept
Connecting forest harvesting and gastronomy as a storytelling tool.
Growing momentum
Successful applications and growing awareness, culminating in a national conference.
Official recognition
A joint planning process between grassroots actors and city leadership has begun.
Methods, steps and tools
A holistic, place-based model that transforms Miskolc’s tourism offering based on sustainability and cultural authenticity.
The Process
1. DIALOGUE
Resource mapping
Professional workshops with chefs, winemakers and foresters to lay the foundations.
3. QUALITY
GTS Certificate
The Palace Hotel joined and obtained sustainable gastronomy certification.
2. EXPERIMENTATION
Living Laboratory
Integrating wild ingredients into gastronomy in the experimental kitchen of Végállomás Bistro.
4. FUTURE VISION
Global Geopark
Exploiting the UNESCO status of the Bükk and experiences inspired by the Szeleta culture.
Featured Innovation: The “Edible Forest”
The essence of the ecosystem-based approach is to connect gastronomy, nature-based tourism and social inclusion.
“The kitchen of Végállomás Étterem became an experimental living laboratory, where forest-based, plant-centric menus were born.”
Tools for implementation
The pillars of success are cross-sector partnerships and innovative experience formats.
EXPERIENCE
Forest GastroExpress
Nature education mini train tour with tasting stations.
TOOL
Public events
Themed dinners, visual tools to engage visitors
PARTNERSHIP
Szimbiózis Foundation
Social sustainability through the work of people with disabilities.
GASTOUR
Lillafüred
Bükki National Park
Results and impacts
The initiatives of the Bükki Kör have brought tangible changes in the city’s tourism perception and management.
New urban identity
The outdated industrial city image was replaced by a natural abundance and gastro-cultural center in the national media.
National media presence
Economic recovery
Longer stays and higher spending thanks to integrated packages from accommodation providers, tour guides and producers.
Growing local demand
Social cohesion
Cross-sectoral network with over 30 active members and successful national conference (GASTOUR).
30+ active partners
Ecological awareness
Responsible collection ethics and knowledge of biodiversity have been incorporated into the local gastronomic culture.
Value-preserving approach
long-term strategy
Institutionalized sustainability
The most important result is that the new direction has been institutionalized through the coordination of local initiatives and the urban tourism development strategy. The integration of the “Bükk City” program ensures a flexible and scalable future.
Lessons learned and recommendations
Travel tips for other destinations
01.
It starts with people
The most powerful resource is the local community. Early stakeholder involvement ensures that tourism reflects community needs.
03.
Creative value creation
Not copying, but our own narrative: previously neglected values have become a major tourist attraction thanks to the “Edible Forest”.
02.
A bridge between grassroots initiatives and governance
Real impact is created when grassroots credibility meets local government stability and resources.
04.
Starting small, dreaming big
Change doesn’t need a huge budget. Small achievements and local stories can, over time, transform the entire perception of a city.
“Let’s make sustainability not just a strategy, but the story we tell the world.”
Acknowledgements and further references
The pillars of success are cross-sector partnerships and innovative experience formats.
GASTOUR conference(2023)
The first national sustainable gastronomy conference was organized by the Bükki Kör with EU support, attracting national experts and making Miskolc a pioneer of sustainable gastrotourism.
Bükki Kör Association
A network of local gastronomy and tourism professionals, an example of sustainable destination development.
Media appearances
Miskolc’s new tourism identity, the “City of the Bükk” campaign, is receiving attention in both national and international press.
“Destination brand campaign: “Miskolc, the city of the Bükk” – the official launch of Miskolc’s new tourism image, which is based on the city’s natural assets and sustainable development goals.
Miskolc’s new tourism concept: https://turizmus.com/cikk/podcast/miskolc-midmar-elmenykozpontu-kinalat-digitalizacio-fenntarthatosag-kassay-tamas-podcast
Green Destinations TOP 100
The project was named one of the top three sustainable tourism programs in the world in the Green Destinations Top 100 Story Awards 2025.
Good Travel Seal
Palotaszálló, a member of the Bükki Circle, was the first to receive such a sustainability certification in Hungary.
Additional awards
Miskolc has won the title of “Marketing Capital” several times, several city marketing diamond awards, and the Miskolctapolca Cave Bath was named Bath of the Year.