The Visitor Center provides an extension to the already existing and exciting programs around Kő-Hill of Tatabanya. The project includes the design of a new open-air facility, which will envelope the forest area around the building, where new fire and picnic sites will be set up for visitors. There will be a playground for children, two new ferrata routes, and an outdoor gym for sports enthusiasts. Moreover, the already existing geological nature trail will be rebuilt under the project, as well. This means the construction of a 7 station-millennial nature trail honoring the Turul Monument, and a biosphere trail featuring the wildlife of Gerecse. The Turul Monument will also receive new safety railings, as part of the project.
Nature trails
Ranzinger Vince Nature Trail and Lookout
The Ranzinger Nature Trail leads to a 30-meter high observation tower on top of Csúcs-Hill, which offers an excellent panorama of the beautiful landscapes of the area. The signposts to the trail display the typical wildlife of Gerecse. Visitors can find interesting and useful information about animals and plants on this 10 station-trail. The lookout tower and its surroundings are approximately 1300 meters from the visitor center on the trail. The uphill trail is about 55 meters long, which is approximately a 20 minutes walk.
Szelim-hole and geological nature path
The Szelim-hole is a highly protected cave, which is also an important archaeological site, with many fables connected to it. This geological nature path leads to the cave, and it presents the minerals typical to the area, and also shares many legends surrounding this place with the visitors. The Szelim-hole is located approximately 400 meters from the Visitor Center; it can be reached on a slightly sloping footpath in about a 5 minutes walk, by following the plain red and then the red cave hiking signs.
Turul Monument and Millennium nature path
The Turul Nature Trail connects the Visitor Center and the Turul Monument. It presents the history of the seven national millennium memorials. The trail was designed under the plans of Kálmán Thaly. This nature trail also shares information about the villages surrounding the monuments. The uphill on this trail is not significant. It is a 5 minute long, and comfortable walk.
Turul Monument
The creator of the Turul monument is Gyula Donáth, a sculptor, who was asked to sculpt his striking work of art in 1896; however, the monument was only revealed in 1907.
This bronze bird sits on a stone foundation, and it has a significant in The Gate of Gerecse project. Its wings spread out to almost 15 meters, so this monument can be admired from a distance, even by passer-byers of the motorway below the hills. This beautiful bird is an honorary decoration of the coat of arms of the city.
Szelim Cave
The cave can be found on Kő-Hill, about few hundred meters away from the Turul Monument, and it can be reached through one of the nature trails. This 45 meters long, 25 meters wide, and 12 meters ceiling-high cave is located at the height of 198 meters on Tatabánya-Hills, on the rocky cliff of Kő-Hill. It is not only a major prehistoric site, but also a legendary area of local mysteries.
Ranzinger Vince Lookout Tower
The 30-meter lookout tower on Csúcs-Hill in Tatabánya was built from an elevator shaft of the former XII mine, honoring the memory of the miners who died in the 1978 mining tragedy.
This tower is named after Vince Ranzinger, a mining engineer (1856-1933), a member of the Hungarian General Coal Mining Company (MÁK Rt.). There have been several technical solutions contributed to his name, which have escalated developments in coal mining.
The lookout tower can be reached from the Turul Monument by the following of the red hiking sign, and then by turning on a hiking trail marked by a red triangle.