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In the palm of God
It is quite obvious that God created the Nógrád landscape Ladislaus. The pilgrimage site, built around the miraculous
while in a cheerful mood, which is why one it feels like one well, now welcomes local and foreign pilgrims with a mod-
is in the palm of God here. ernized open-air place of worship, the renovated Basilica
The storehouse of sacred experiences and feelings is almost Minor, and comfortable new hotels and conference venues
inexhaustible in our county. in a magnifi cent sett ing. This place can be visited at any time
The inviting Nyitott-tenyér (Open Palm) lookout tower is of the year and is particularly suitable for meditation, a stay
between Felsőtold and Hollókő (and is part of the national of several days, and to hold spiritual exercises.
blue hiking route). Sitting on the palm, the experience is In Szécsény, this small town of Nógrád with its jewel-box
unparalleled. beauty, significant religious places can be found in addi-
Herencsény is not far from here, where the modern people tion to the fortress and the castle. The Franciscan Church
placed a sacred sign, the Great Cross of the Watchful Palóc and Monastery is located here. The house of novices of the
People. It was not intended primarily as a tourist att raction Franciscan Order of the Lady of the Hungarians is operat-
– although it is really spectacular – but as a symbol of the ing here. The town also has two Franciscan sister commu-
truly deep sense of togetherness. And that is what it has nities. Namely, the Poor Clares Sisters and the Franciscan
become. It is worth visiting! Sisters of the Poor. Both the church and the monastery
The Mátraverebély-Szentkút national shrine is an 800-year- can be visited.
old holy place full of miracles and legends. A famous pil- In addition to the above sights, there are numerous church
grimage site that pushes the boundaries. It is one of the and religious places in Nógrád. We will encounter the ma-
most important centres of Christianity in Hungary. Th is nifestations of the Palóc folk religiosity wherever we go
shrine, that used to belong to the Franciscan monks, can (Hollókő, Maconka, Mohora, Kalonda, Szurdokpüspöki).
be traced back to the miracle performed by our King Saint
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