Geosite of the Year in Bakony–Balaton UNESCO Global Geopark 2016

The label ‘Geosite of the Year’ was first given to a geosite by the Geopark organisation, the Balaton-felvidéki National Park Directorate in 2013. Since then the award has been presented annually to a new geosite and the associated local community. The award acknowledges the active role of these communities in protecting and promoting their local geological heritage by renewing an old nature trail or for example clearing a rock exposure of vegetation. In this way the geosite becomes more easily accessible and visible for residents and geotourists, and the community develops a stronger connection to its geoheritage. These activities are carried out by civil organizations and the local government, in cooperation with Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate, the leading organisation of the Geopark.
Alsóörs, a charming beach village on the Northern shore of Lake Balaton, has 1600 inhabitants. The village is surrounded by gentle slopes with vinyards and orchards. A fantastic view of the lake and sandy lidos await visitors. With the active support of the local government and experts of the Geopark’s leading organization, young and enthusiastic volunteers of the Pangea Association, a Geopark Partner, renewed the Red Stone Geological Trail in 2015–2016. Thanks to this successful cooperation, the local community received the award of ’Geosite of the Year in Bakony–Balaton Geopark’ in 2016. Several geo-programmes – guided geo-tours, a geo-activity day and a geopark contest – celebrated the award and promoted the geosite. Festivals, fairs, online platforms and a hiking map have proved to be indispensable tools for the Geopark to promote the results achieved by this cooperation.
The renovated trail is located in a disused stone quarry. Besides describing a typical rock type of the Geopark, the aproximately 260 million years old Permian red sandstone, panels connect the living and non-living natural heritage of the site, the history of local stone quarrying and processing, the architectural heritage of the village and – in the spirit of networking – other sandstone sites in UNESCO Global Geoparks.
The label ‘Geosite of the Year’ has been an effective tool to promote the geosites, the communities living nearby and the positive effects of cooperation, thus presenting a good example to other communities in the Geopark. The events for the promotion of the site as the “Geosite of the Year” organized by the Geopark and assisted by the members of the local community have strengthened the cooperation of these stakeholders.