Villánykövesd

Villánykövesd is one of the Villány Wine Region’s traditional Swabian wine villages, where local traditions and wine culture have been beautifully preserved. Located in Southern Hungary, at the foot of the Villány Mountains rising above the Drava Plain, the village lies just 3 km from Villány and 30 km from Pécs.

Hotel Cabernet is situated directly at the foot of the historic Villánykövesd wine cellar row, which is a protected historic monument with wonderful views of the Fekete Hill. It is an ideal base not only for exploring the beautifully preserved, authentic little wine cellars of Villánykövesd, but also for discovering the Villány Wine Region.

With 25 comfortable rooms, a cosy cellar restaurant and a panoramic wine terrace, Hotel Cabernet welcomes guests in Villánykövesd. If you are looking for accommodation near Villány combined with unforgettable experiences, or would rather listen to birdsong at the foot of Fekete Hill than the noise of large tourist crowds, our hotel is the perfect choice.

The hotel itself forms part of the historic Villánykövesd wine cellar row. In the past, the owners of the house were involved in grape grafting and winemaking. During the renovation of the once-dilapidated, historic manor house, we envisioned a high-quality accommodation that would provide the perfect setting for relaxation and rejuvenation. Alongside our wellness and leisure services and programmes, our gastronomy is inspired by local traditions and wine culture, offering guests an ideal base from which to discover the historic wineries of Villánykövesd and its beautiful surrounding landscape.

Book your room or an experience-filled weekend next to the picturesque Villánykövesd wine cellar row and discover the unique charm of the Villány Wine Region in Southern Hungary!

Historic sights of Villánykövesd

Three-level cellar row

One of Villánykövesd’s most distinctive landmarks is its historic cellar row, consisting of 77 adjoining wine cellars arranged across two or three levels on the hillside. This protected architectural ensemble reflects the village’s centuries-old winemaking traditions and is one of the most remarkable sights of the Villány Wine Region. From here a two-hectare park can be seen below where a children’s playground is located. For the opening hours of the cellars of Villánykövesd click here!

The Roman Catholic church was built in late barroque style in 1780, with a tribute to Virgin Mary.

wine cathedral and wine song festival

Another excellent sight of the region is the Batthyány cellar, or ″wine cathedral″, named after the former landowner, which is today in the possession of the cooperative farms of Villány. The fascinating sight of the baroque cellar culture evokes the atmosphere of a real cathedral. Its wooden barrels can contain 4000 hectolitres of wine. In the second half of September the opening ceremony of the International Wine Song Festival of Pécs, which is becoming more and more popular worldwide, has been celebrated for years. Find out more about visiting the Wine Cathedral here.

History of villánykövesd

Villánykövesd was first mentioned in written records in 1290 under the name Kuestd, then, after two centuries, in a document dating from 1436 it has the name Kwesd.
During the Árpád-era the village was inhabited by Hungarians, its main holders were the Siklóssy family. During the Turkish times Serbs settled down in the increasingly depopulated village, their lords were the Zrínyis.

In the 1750s numerous German families moved into the village. The Germans brought a high-quality wine-growing culture into the region. The village became one of the most significant wine-growing areas of the lordship of Bóly.

The settlements and deportations following World War II concerned the village, as well, Hungarians arrived from the environs of Debrecen and Felvidék. In spite of this, the population that remained here has preserved the way of life and culture of the Swabians to this day.