Vértesszőlősi előembertelep🏛 museum
Vértesszőlősi előembertelep is an important prehistoric settlement museum in Vértesszőlős.
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Vértesszőlős
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ℹ️Practical info — Vértesszőlős
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Check the seasonal opening hours of the archaeological site (Samu) before visiting, as it is an open-air museum.
- Combine your trip with a visit to the nearby town of Tata and its beautiful lake.
- Watch your step on the nature trails, as the ground can be slippery after rain.
- The petrified footprints of prehistoric animals are a must-see, take your time with the exhibitions.
🍽 Food
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Hearty Hungarian Roasts
Stop at a traditional csárda along Route 1 for a filling meal.
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Local Pastries
Buy fresh sweet and savory snacks at the small bakeries in the village center.
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Homemade Cold Cuts
Try these at smaller grocery stores or butcher shops in the area.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
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Museum Souvenirs
You can find fitting mementos at the small shop in the archaeological site.
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Local Groceries
Small village shops offer good opportunities to buy provisions for hikes.
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Archaeological Park
The shaded areas around the excavation site invite you to linger and relax.
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Walk along the Által-ér stream
The path along this small river provides a quiet, nature-close atmosphere.
Water temperature…
Vértesszőlős is a globally significant archaeological site located in Komárom-Esztergom County, located between the Gerecse Mountains and the Tata basin. It gained international fame in the mid-1960s when fragments of a Homo erectus skull were unearthed, belonging to an early human nicknamed 'Samu' (Samuel). Dating back approximately 350,000 years, this site provides crucial evidence of early human activity in the Carpathian Basin. Today, the location functions as an open-air museum under the supervision of the Hungarian National Museum, where visitors can see ancient fire pits, tool-making areas, and petrified footprints of prehistoric animals preserved in freshwater limestone. The village itself is a peaceful settlement with a rich cultural life, balancing its prehistoric heritage with modern development. Its location near the M1 highway and the main railway line connecting Budapest and Vienna makes it easily accessible for international travelers. The surrounding Gerecse hills offer numerous hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, and a chance to explore the unique geological formations typical of Central Transdanubia.
- Location: Komárom-Esztergom, Hungary
- Top sights: Vértesszőlősi előembertelep · Kereszt-hát · Szent Péter-rotunda
- Nearby: Tata (6 km)
- Population: ~3.200
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -2 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| Rain mm | 39 | 40 | 41 | 35 | 65 | 70 | 66 | 63 | 57 | 51 | 44 | 43 |
Geography
Facts
- Samu's skull fragment is one of the oldest human remains in Europe.
- The site features one of the world's best-preserved prehistoric fireplaces.
- The museum building was designed specifically to protect the calcified layers.
- Average annual temperature in the area is 10.2°C.
- The village name refers to the historical viticulture of the Vértes region.
- Over 3,000 stone tools were found at the excavation site.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
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Sights in the town Vértesszőlős (9)
Sights nearby (2)
Tata🏺 historical
7 kmKnown as the City of Waters, featuring a medieval castle on the lakeshore.
Turul Monument🏙 civic
5 kmA colossal bronze statue of a mythical bird overlooking the region from Tatabánya cliff.
Frequently asked questions
What is unique about the Vértesszőlős archaeological site?
This is where the 350,000-year-old footprints and occipital bone of an early human named 'Samu' were discovered.
When is the Samu museum open to visitors?
The site is open seasonally, usually from April to October, Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
Is the exhibition outdoors or covered?
The most important finds are housed in protective pavilions, so the exhibition can be visited even during light rain.
How far is Vértesszőlős from Budapest?
It is located about 60 km west of Budapest along the M1 motorway, right next to the city of Tatabánya.
Are there family discounts for tickets?
Yes, discounted family tickets are available, and there are also concessions for students and seniors.
Vértesszőlős: where is it located?
Vértesszőlős is located in Komárom-Esztergom, Hungary.
Vértesszőlős: what is there to see?
Highlights include Vértesszőlősi előembertelep, Kereszt-hát, Szent Péter-rotunda.
Vértesszőlős: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Vértesszőlős: why is it worth visiting?
Vértesszőlős is a globally significant archaeological site located in Komárom-Esztergom County, located between the Gerecse Mountains and the Tata basin.
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History & landmarks
Turul Monument
The largest bird statue in Central Europe, located on Kő Hill above Tatabánya.
Tata Castle
A beautiful water castle on the shores of Lake Öreg in Tata.
Vértes Mountains
Karst mountains in Transdanubia with ruins and forests.
Vértesszőlős / Vértes - Csókakő
Prehistoric site at Vértesszőlős and the scenic ruins of Csókakő Castle in the Vértes hills.
Nature
Száraz Hill
Száraz Hill is a distinctive elevation in the Vértes Mountains.
🗺️
Altal-er River
An important watercourse flowing through Tata and feeding Lake Öreg.
Gerecse
A mountain range in northern Transdanubia, known for its red marble.
Lake Bokod
Famous for its 'floating village' of fishing huts.
Lake Garancsi
A small, idyllic lake in the Zsámbék Basin.
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Vertes Peaks
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Port of Komárno
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Fort Monostor
A gigantic fortress system in Komárom, one of Central Europe's largest fortifications.
Veres Hill
A peak in the Vértes Mountains with a beautiful view.
Alcsut Arboretum
One of the oldest landscape gardens in Hungary, founded by Archduke Joseph.
Battle of Párkány
Site of a significant 1683 battle shortly after the Siege of Vienna.
Suzuki Plant Esztergom
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