Lavender is not only worth taking home as a fragrant decoration, it can also be used to make honey, tea, cordials, soaps, essential oils or ice cream, even to create a medicine or spice. This versatility has made it really popular, so it’s no wonder that lavender is being grown in large quantities in more and more places. Flowering starts in June, so here are a few tips as to where you can pick a few bouquets within an hour of Budapest.
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Agárd/Dongó kert
Right next to Lake Velence, you can also
collect lavender at Dongó Garden in Agárd. Pickers can visit at weekends from
26 June to 11 July at the plantation beside Agárd Spa and Thermal Baths. A
small collection bag costs 1,000 forints, large ones 3,000 forints, plus a visitor’s
ticket for 500 forints. Admission is free for children under eight. More details here.
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Budakeszi Levendula Farm
The Budakeszi Lavender Farm holds
its annual public harvest on 26-27 June in picturesque surroundings, with Zsámbék-medence
and János Hill in the background. The plantation offers home-made treats and gifts
for children for those who come here to collect lavender. More details here.
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Daruszentmiklós/Smaragdfarm
Dog-friendly Smaragdfarm in
Daruszentmiklós can be reached in about an hour from Budapest, and in addition
to lavender picking, there are other activities for all members of the family. Treasure
hunts, lamb petting, cordial-, honey- and quail-egg tasting, and many other
surprises. The harvesting itself takes place between 12-20 June – just buy a bag
for 1,500 forints. More details here.
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Pilisborosjenő/Kevélyhegyi Levendulamező
Perhaps the most famous lavender
field in Pest county can be found at Pilisborosjenő, at the foot of Nagy-Kevély
Hill. This three-hectare territory has plenty of flowers for everyone, and the
plantation also has a dog-friendly area. The exact start of this year’s harvest
has not yet been set, but soon details will be posted on their social-media
outlets. More details here.
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Sárkeresztúr/Levendulás
The pick-it-yourself harvest will take place at the Sárkeresztúr lavender field from 1-18 July, with special events lined up for 10 July, the main day of the event. Details are still being posted, so keep track of the Facebook posts. More details here.
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Tápiószecső/Lázók Birtok
On 10 July, the annual ’Szecső Lavender Harvest will be held for the fourth time at the Tápiószecső Lázók Estate. Here there’s a small but more atmospheric array of lavender around the vines, so it’s worth getting here on time. More details here.
