Zselic National Landscape Protection Area, International Dark Sky Park in Somogy County, Hungary.
This protected landscape protection area covers rolling hills, forests, and open meadows across southwestern Hungary, with streams running through the valleys between wooded ridges. The site has been formally designated as an International Dark Sky Park due to its minimal light pollution and favorable conditions for observing the night sky.
The landscape became a protected area in 1976 when the Hungarian government designated it to preserve its natural features. The site gained international recognition three decades later as a Dark Sky Park, highlighting its growing importance for astronomy and environmental conservation.
The landscape has long been shaped by rural traditions and small farming communities that still live within its boundaries today. Visitors can see how villages and hamlets are woven into the hills, with locals maintaining centuries-old ways of managing the land and forests.
Visit on clear nights when the moon is not bright for the best stargazing experience, especially during darker months of the year. The area is accessible by car, with multiple viewing spots and walking paths where you can stop to observe the sky.
On particularly dark nights, visitors can see the Zodiacal Light, a faint glow that appears along the ecliptic and is invisible from most populated areas. This rare phenomenon only becomes visible under exceptionally dark skies and makes the area special for serious observers of the heavens.
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