Mária-út, M01-32 (Hernádkércs – Mád)

The Mária-út M01-32 is a 22-km point-to-point pilgrimage trail in northeastern Hungary, part of the International Walking Network. Rated moderate, it gains roughly 280 m of elevation as it climbs from the Hernád River valley through quiet farmland and vine-covered hills to Mád — a gateway village in the UNESCO-protected Tokaj wine region, completable in a single comfortable day.

About the Mária-út, M01-32 (Hernádkércs – Mád)

The Mária-út (Way of Mary) is Hungary's contribution to one of Central Europe's great spiritual trails — the Via Maria, a Marian pilgrimage corridor stretching from Mariazell in Austria to the Transylvanian heartland of Romania. The M01 designation marks the main east-west axis, totalling roughly 1,350 km across several countries and classified as an International Walking Network (IWN) route — a designation reserved for long-distance trails of global significance.

Segment M01-32 covers the 22-km stretch between Hernádkércs and Mád, two points whose names alone tell a story: Hernádkércs sits in the broad floodplain of the Hernád River, a landscape shaped by water and agriculture, while Mád is one of the most storied wine villages in the Tokaj-Hegyalja region — a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape since 2002. The trail connects these two worlds along a route that is, at once, a pilgrimage, a cultural journey, and a walk through some of Hungary's most distinctive countryside.

The path is waymarked with the distinctive purple M01 markers of the Mária Út Közhasznú Egyesület (Mária Út Public Benefit Association), the non-profit that maintains and develops the network. Signage is reliable through this section, and the trail can be walked in either direction, though the westbound tradition follows the pilgrimage toward the great Marian shrines of western Hungary and beyond. Most hikers approaching from the east walk Hernádkércs → Mád as part of a multi-day westward journey.

This section passes through a Hungary rarely visited by international hikers: no dramatic mountain ridgelines, but a succession of quiet agricultural villages, gentle vineyard slopes, and the kind of rural tranquility that pilgrimage routes do best. If you are planning a longer stretch of the M01, choosing the right ultralight backpack makes a significant difference on consecutive days — the overall route can take three to four weeks to complete end-to-end.

Route Overview & Stages

The M01-32 segment is suitable as a comfortable single-day walk or a relaxed two-day stage for those who prefer shorter daily distances with more time in local villages. The terrain is largely flat to gently rolling, with the most notable ascent coming as the trail rises into the vine-covered slopes approaching Mád. Total elevation gain is approximately 280 m, spread across the route rather than concentrated in one climb.

The first stage from Hernádkércs to Szerencs (~12 km) is straightforward riverside and rural walking — ideal for warming up the legs on what is an easy, mostly flat track. Szerencs offers a natural mid-point stop for lunch or an overnight before the second stage. The section from Szerencs to Mád (~10 km) gradually introduces the vineyard scenery that makes this corner of Hungary famous, with the trail gaining most of its 200 m elevation in the final 4 km as it enters the wine hills above Mád.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Hernád River Valley — The opening kilometres follow the broad valley of the Hernád River, one of northeastern Hungary's defining waterways. The floodplain landscape is wide and quiet, populated by waterbirds and the occasional fisherman. In spring and early summer, white storks nest on village chimneys and grey herons fish the shallows alongside the trail.
• Hernádkércs Village — The starting point is a small, traditional Hungarian settlement with a 13th-century Reformed church that has survived centuries of turbulent regional history. Its modest square is typical of the Hernád valley communities that pilgrims have passed through for generations on this ancient corridor.
• Bőcs — A mid-route village with characteristic low-roofed farmhouses and a welcoming atmosphere for walkers. The village sits where the broad floodplain begins to give way to the more varied terrain approaching Szerencs, and marks roughly the halfway point of the first stage.
• Szerencs Castle (Rákóczi Castle) — The historic market town of Szerencs anchors the midpoint of this segment. Its 16th-century castle, known as Rákóczi Castle, served as a key stronghold during the Rákóczi independence wars against Habsburg rule (1703–1711) and now houses a local museum and postal history archive. Allow 30 minutes for a worthwhile detour from the trail.
• Szerencs Sugar Factory Chimney — A visible industrial landmark on the town skyline, the chimney of the former sugar refinery stands as a reminder of the agricultural-industrial past that shaped this region from the mid-19th century onward. Szerencs was one of Hungary's largest sugar-producing centres for nearly 150 years.
• Tokaj-Hegyalja UNESCO Landscape — As the trail climbs into the vineyard hills approaching Mád, you cross into the Tokaj wine region, a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape inscribed in 2002. The hillside vineyards — many classified as első osztályú (first-class) dűlő sites — produce some of the world's finest dessert wines, with Aszú Tokaj carrying centuries of royal reputation.
• Mád Village & Wine Cellars — The trail's endpoint is among the Tokaj region's most celebrated wine villages, with a dense concentration of historic cellars cut into the volcanic rhyolite tuff hillsides. The village has attracted serious winemakers from across Hungary and internationally, and its main street offers direct tasting access to several estate cellars.
• Mád Synagogue — Built in 1912 in a striking Historicist-Eclectic style, the restored Mád Synagogue testifies to the Jewish heritage of the Tokaj wine region, where Jewish winemakers played a defining historic role. Fully renovated and now open to visitors, it is one of the most significant rural synagogues in Central Europe and a genuinely moving landmark at the trail's end.

Best Time to Hike the Mária-út, M01-32 (Hernádkércs – Mád)

This section of the Mária-út is walkable from April through October, with each season offering a distinct character.

April–May: The Hernád valley blooms with wildflowers and the vineyards flush with new growth. Temperatures are pleasantly cool (10–18 °C), ideal for sustained walking, and the trails are at their quietest. Spring rains can make some of the field tracks along the valley muddy after extended wet periods, so waterproof footwear is worthwhile.

June–August: Longest daylight hours, warm to hot (22–32 °C), and the vineyards are in full summer growth. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in July. Carry ample water — shade is sparse across the valley stages. The annual 1Úton International Pilgrimage, held 15–31 August each year, draws walkers from across Europe, making the route lively if occasionally busy at guesthouses.

September–October: The best season for most visitors. Temperatures settle into a comfortable 15–22 °C, the szüret (harvest) transforms Mád and surrounding villages into a celebration of wine and food, and the vineyard slopes turn gold and deep amber by mid-October. September is the single best month — as of 2026 forecasts for northeastern Hungary, early September brings reliably settled weather, post-summer crowds ease, and the pre-harvest energy in Mád is at its most welcoming.

November–March: Cold, short days, and some tracks become waterlogged or frozen. Not recommended for casual hikers, though dedicated pilgrims do walk year-round and guesthouses on the M01 network remain open.

Practical Information

Accommodation

Accommodation options along M01-32 are modest but well-suited to pilgrimage walkers. The Mária Út Association maintains an updated list of approved pilgrim lodgings (szálláshelyek) via the official Mária-út website, and pre-booking is strongly advised in September and October during the wine harvest season when Mád fills quickly.

Mád has the widest choice at the trail's end: boutique wine guesthouses cost €35–60 per night, with private rooms in the village available from around €25 per night, several attached to working wineries. Breakfast is typically included or available at a small surcharge. Szerencs, the natural midpoint, offers budget hotels and pensions in the €30–50 per night range — a sound choice for those splitting the segment into two days. Wild camping is not standard practice on this pilgrimage route; most overnight walkers use guesthouses and collect stamps in their peregrin útlevél (pilgrim passport) to document their journey.

Getting There & Back

To the start (Hernádkércs): The nearest major city is Miskolc, approximately 15 km to the west, served by frequent trains from Budapest Keleti station (journey time ~1.5–2 hours, regional fares from around €8 one-way). From Miskolc, local buses connect to Hernádkércs — check current timetables at volanbusz.hu before travel. Journey time from Miskolc bus station to Hernádkércs is approximately 30 minutes.

From the finish (Mád): Local buses run from Mád to Szerencs (approximately 15 minutes), where trains connect back toward Miskolc and onward to Budapest. If finishing in Mád in the afternoon, check the last Szerencs bus departure — evening connections are limited. Taxis from Mád to Szerencs cost approximately €8–12. The nearest international airport is Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, approximately 230 km southwest — the Budapest–Miskolc InterCity train is the recommended connection from the airport.

Permits & Fees

No permits are required to walk the M01-32 segment. The Mária-út is a free, publicly accessible pilgrimage trail. The optional peregrin útlevél (pilgrim passport), available from the Mária Út Association, can be stamped at churches, guesthouses, and waypoints along the route — a meaningful keepsake for multi-day walkers and not a fee document. The only paid entries on this segment are the Szerencs Castle museum (approximately €3–5) and the Mád Synagogue (approximately €2–3, supporting ongoing restoration).

Gear & Packing List

The M01-32 is a moderate trail on well-maintained paths, but the right gear matters — especially if this forms part of a longer pilgrimage across the full M01 route where cumulative load takes a toll over weeks of walking.

Footwear: Trail runners or light hiking boots with grip. The Hernád valley tracks can be muddy after rain, so waterproofing is worthwhile in spring; in dry September conditions, trail runners are perfectly adequate and keep feet cooler on the warm valley stages.

Pack: For a day walk, a 20–35L pack is ideal. For multi-day pilgrimage walkers continuing along the M01, a 45–65L pack loaded efficiently serves well over weeks of travel. The Osprey Aether 65 is a reliable choice for longer pilgrimages, offering excellent load transfer for heavier carries across consecutive days. Ultralight walkers will appreciate the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Windrider, which weighs under 600 g and performs well in wet conditions. For a proven middle ground, the Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10 is a popular European pilgrim pack with adjustable back length and expandable capacity.

Water: Carry at least 2 litres from Hernádkércs. The first reliable refill point is Szerencs at approximately 12 km. The vineyard stages between Szerencs and Mád have no water sources.

Navigation: The purple M01 waymarks are consistent through this section. A downloaded offline GPX track is a useful backup, available from the official Mária-út website.

Food: Pack lunch for the Hernádkércs → Szerencs stage — there are no shops until Szerencs town. Knowing how to fuel properly for a full walking day is worth thinking through before you set off: read our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day to plan provisions accurately.

Other essentials: Sun protection for the exposed vineyard stages, a light rain layer, blister kit, and a journal if you are treating this as a pilgrimage rather than purely a walking route.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the Mária-út M01-32 appeals — the combination of cultural depth, wine-region scenery, and peaceful rural walking — these Hungarian and Danube-corridor trails share a similar spirit. The Camino Benedictus traces a different Hungarian pilgrimage axis, connecting Benedictine abbeys across Transdanubia; the Danube floodplain trails offer flat walking through Hungary's most ecologically rich river landscapes. For something dramatically different in terrain, the Theth to Valbona hike in Albania is an equally rewarding European walking experience.

• Camino Benedictus, Tihany–Pannonhalma–Lébény–Mosonmagyaróvár–Rajka — Hungary's Benedictine pilgrimage route connecting historic abbeys across Transdanubia.
• ST307 Nagylók–Mezőfalva — A lowland route through the Mezőföld agricultural heartland of central Hungary.
• ST311 Kalocsa–Bóni-fok — Crosses flood plains near Kalocsa, a historic town celebrated for paprika cultivation and folk embroidery.
• ST202a Čunovo–Lipót — Danube riverside walking along the Slovak-Hungarian border section.
• ST203a Lipót–Győr — Routes westward through the Danube bend toward Győr, one of Hungary's finest Baroque cities.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Mária-út M01-32?

September is the single best month. Northeastern Hungary settles into warm days (15–22 °C) and cool evenings, the vineyards approach harvest, and Mád's atmosphere is at its most vibrant. April and May offer spring wildflowers and quiet trails. Avoid July and August if heat-sensitive — temperatures can reach 32 °C with limited shade across the valley stages, and water sources between Hernádkércs and Szerencs are scarce.

How difficult is the M01-32 segment?

The M01-32 rates as moderate — flat to gently rolling along the Hernád valley, with a more sustained climb through the vineyard hills in the final approach to Mád. Total elevation gain is approximately 280 m over 22 km. The main challenges are trail length and sun exposure rather than technical terrain. Good footwear and carrying at least 2 litres of water from the start are the two most important preparations.

How many kilometres per day should I plan on this trail?

Most walkers complete the full 22 km in a single day, allowing 6–7 hours of moving time at a comfortable pace. Splitting into two days is equally valid: Hernádkércs to Szerencs (~12 km) on day one and Szerencs to Mád (~10 km) on day two. The two-day approach leaves time to visit Rákóczi Castle in Szerencs and gives you a full afternoon in Mád for wine cellars and the synagogue.

What accommodation is available along the M01-32 route?

Mád offers the best choice at the trail's end — boutique wine guesthouses at €35–60 per night and private rooms from around €25 per night. Szerencs has budget pensions and hotels at €30–50 per night, ideal for a midpoint overnight. The Mária-út Association maintains an updated pilgrim lodging list at mariaut.hu. Pre-booking is essential in September and October when the Tokaj wine harvest draws visitors from across Hungary and Central Europe.

Do I need a permit to hike the Mária-út M01-32?

No permit is required. The Mária-út is freely accessible with no trail fee. The optional peregrin útlevél (pilgrim passport) is not a permit — it is a personal keepsake for collecting stamps at churches and guesthouses along the way, available from the Mária Út Association. The only paid entry points on this segment are the optional Szerencs Castle museum (approximately €3–5) and the Mád Synagogue (approximately €2–3).