We Won a Medal at the Olympics!

Planetrise Association took part in this year's member group meeting of the Hungarian Association of Nature Conservationists, which was held in Pusztamarót, in the Gerecse Mountains, between 8–10 September. As part of the event, a "Nature-Friendly Hiking Olympics" was organised – and in a heroic effort, the Planetrise representatives achieved a prestigious first place!

We formed a joint team with the Gömör-Torna Foundation. The foundation was represented by Enikő Piller, who is also a staff member of the Aggtelek National Park – hence the name of our team: "Aggtelek – Planetrise." The Planetrise members competing were Tamás Miskolczi and Csaba Szeremley.

The team faced a range of challenges including: local knowledge/history questions about the Gerecse Mountains and Pusztamarót, general knowledge, comparative statistics on Hungary's natural assets, bird call identification, boot throwing, identifying herbal teas by taste, and an orienteering and observation competition in the forest.

Our team tackled the tasks with heroic spirit and good humour, literally and figuratively overcoming every obstacle – through bushes and brambles, fire and water.

The location, set in a picturesque area of the Gerecse Mountains, is one of Hungary's most significant memorial sites. Pusztamarót and its surroundings were the scene of one of the most tragic events in our nation's history, an episode that is still reflected in the name of the area: "Valley of the Slain" (Emberölő-völgy). Between 12–15 September 1526, following the defeat at the Battle of Mohács, this was the site of the largest act of resistance against the Ottoman army. Our ancestors fought to the bitter end. A memorial now stands on the site, where 20–25,000 people perished during those few days – more than at the Battle of Mohács itself.

We would like to encourage everyone to explore Hungary's natural, cultural, and historical heritage. If you can, be sure to visit this area – there's a wealth of sights to discover nearby!