Architecture: Hungarian Folk Architecture
Project: Gombos Hill
Years: 1750s
Geo: Hercegkút, HU
Text: Anastasia Strashnova
In the Tokaj wine region, there are cellars carved by hand into rhyolite rocks. The historical location of the region was very convenient for the sale and distribution of wine, as it was situated at the meeting point of river and land trade routes.
Tokaj gained widespread recognition through Louis XIV, who proclaimed Tokaj wines the main drink of the Versailles Palace. It was in Tokaj that the technology for producing late-harvest wines and wines from noble rot berries emerged and spread. Since 2002, the region has been protected by UNESCO and is listed as a World Heritage Site.
The winery on Gombos Hill in Hercegkút has 93 cellars with triangular stone façades, ranging in depth from 10 to 40 meters. They are located 6−8 meters apart, some equipped with underground passages. The standard temperature maintained inside is 10−12 degrees Celsius. All façades are covered in greenery that absorbs noise and prevents flooding. The houses harmoniously exist within nature, as if they have grown out of the ground themselves.
The cellar walls are formed from rhyolite — a volcanic rock ideally suited for creating a microclimate for winemaking. Here, mold has formed a layer 1−3 cm thick, aiding in the wine’s maturation and storage under favorable conditions.
Inside one of the cottages, the winery owners have organized a tasting cellar and decorated it with stained glass.
The association of Gombos Hill with hobbit homes came about thanks to the film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s 'The Lord of the Rings.' The heroes' dwellings in the film trilogy are actually located in New Zealand, but this does not prevent tourists from calling the Hungarian winery 'Hobbit Village.' Moreover, hobbits loved to host feasts, invite guests, and drink delicious alcohol.
@gorkjournal
Project: Gombos Hill
Years: 1750s
Geo: Hercegkút, HU
Text: Anastasia Strashnova
In the Tokaj wine region, there are cellars carved by hand into rhyolite rocks. The historical location of the region was very convenient for the sale and distribution of wine, as it was situated at the meeting point of river and land trade routes.
Tokaj gained widespread recognition through Louis XIV, who proclaimed Tokaj wines the main drink of the Versailles Palace. It was in Tokaj that the technology for producing late-harvest wines and wines from noble rot berries emerged and spread. Since 2002, the region has been protected by UNESCO and is listed as a World Heritage Site.
The winery on Gombos Hill in Hercegkút has 93 cellars with triangular stone façades, ranging in depth from 10 to 40 meters. They are located 6−8 meters apart, some equipped with underground passages. The standard temperature maintained inside is 10−12 degrees Celsius. All façades are covered in greenery that absorbs noise and prevents flooding. The houses harmoniously exist within nature, as if they have grown out of the ground themselves.
The cellar walls are formed from rhyolite — a volcanic rock ideally suited for creating a microclimate for winemaking. Here, mold has formed a layer 1−3 cm thick, aiding in the wine’s maturation and storage under favorable conditions.
Inside one of the cottages, the winery owners have organized a tasting cellar and decorated it with stained glass.
The association of Gombos Hill with hobbit homes came about thanks to the film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s 'The Lord of the Rings.' The heroes' dwellings in the film trilogy are actually located in New Zealand, but this does not prevent tourists from calling the Hungarian winery 'Hobbit Village.' Moreover, hobbits loved to host feasts, invite guests, and drink delicious alcohol.
@gorkjournal