Nógrád county is in Northern Hungary.

Cities

1 Salgótarján A former mining town in the hills with two castle ruins.

2 Balassagyarmat Former seat of the Nógrád comitatus (county). Famous for the traditional Palóc culture.

3 Bátonyterenye

4 Pásztó

5 Szécsény

Rétság is described in the Danube Bend article.

Other destinations

• 1 Hollókő. A beautiful old preserved village, part of UNESCO World Heritage List  

See

Salgótarján, downtown

• 1 Bátonyterenye (buses and trains to/from Hatvan and Salgótarján). Paloc Country House (19th-century folk style building with local history collection), Maconkai Roman Catholic church, (14th century, Romanesque style); Gyürky-Solymossy Castle (1790) and Castle Park; Kisterenye's Roman Catholic Church (1736); Szúpatak's Lutheran Church (1903), Puszta's Church remnants (1277); Arany (Gold) Hill's (Bronze Age urn cemetery) excavation also with the Rákóczi castle remnants 
• 2 Buják (Pásztó 30 km). Buják's Castle ruins, Calvary Hill and St. Anne's Chapel (circa 1800), Kesely meadow, The Roman Catholic Church, Bujáki folk costumes, Sasbérc lookout, Sandstone Cave, Alpine-style HHunting Lodge - inexpensive but excellent accommodation in beautiful surroundings. Egidius-source 
• 3 Csesztve (Bus from Balassagyarmat). Madách Mansion and Park 
• 4 Horpács (bus from Rétság. - Balassagyarmat approx. 15 km south-west). Szontágh Mansion and Park 
• 5 Ipolytarnóc (Szlovak: Ipeľský Trnovec) (bus from Salgótarján, train from Balassagyarmat, Aszód). Fossils Nature Reserve; paleontological exhibition; Roman Catholic Church; St. Ann cemetery chapel; Bory mansion. 
• 6 Karancsság (NW of Salgótarján). Catholic Church 
• 7 Mátraverebély (Bus from Bátonyterenye, also train too from Hatvan, Salgótarján). Catholic church (Gothic); Szentkút's Catholic Church and St. Mary's Shrine, hermit caves 
• 8 Mohora (from Balassagyarmat south 10 km, trains and buses to Aszód, Balassagyarmat). Vay Zichy Palace; Mauks Mansion (Mikszath-memorial place) and the tree of Mikszath; Tolnay Klári's former house and its museum; Mohora's marsh 
• 9 Pásztó (from Hatvan or Salgótarján take bus or train, bus also from Gyöngyös, Szécsény). Paszto Monument City Centre, Catholic Church, Cistercian monasteries and ruins, Pásztói Reservoir, Castle of Cserter Museum 

Romhány, Prónay Palace

• 10 Romhány (bus from Rétság 10 km, Salgótarján and Budapest 70 km). Rákóczi memorial tree, Prónay Castle (18th century, Baroque), Stone bridge with three openings (18th century) , Roman Catholic Church (19th century, Neo-classical), Former Laszkári mansion, Turkish hazelnuts tree (a protected natural site), Turul Memorial, Romhányi battle monument. Passed by the Countrywide Blue Tour 

Franciscan Convent, Szécsény

• 11 Szécsény (Bus and train from Balassagyarmat). Castle district, Forgách Palace ( Francis Kubinyi Museum , Tu-Th: 10:00-16:00, F-Su: 10:00-18:00, Monday: closed, Ft 1000, (2014)), the Franciscan Monastery (Baroque, Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00, Ft 500), Roman Catholic Church (Gothic), Benczúr Castle, Fire Tower (early 18th century,Tu-Su 10:00-18:00, Ft 400 ), Parliament Place of Szécsény (Borjúpást), Sandor Pinter Memorial Room, Handicraftsman’s House with a Tourinform office 
• 12 Szente (Bus from Rétság). Doll Exhibition, 13th century in the Roman Catholic Church (13th century), Palóc houses 
• 13 Szanda (Zunda) (Bus from Balassagyarmat). Castle of Szanda ruins, Castle Hill, Palóc houses, Country House, Mary's Chapel 
• 14 Tar (Bus from Pásztó). St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church (Romanesque-Gothic style), Buddhist stupa (former Gaal homestead ), Lawrence of Tar fortified manor house. Tuzson Arboretum, approx. 4 hectares, installed around 1898. 
• 15 Tereske (Bus from Balassagyarmat, Vác). Catholic church (Gothic). 
• 16 Hollókő Landscape Protection Area (Hollókői Tájvédelmi Körzet) (See at 'Hollókő'). 141 hectares. The Hollókői castle with the old village since 1987, the UNESCO World Heritage list can be found. The surrounding area is under nature protection. The Bükki National Park designated around a castle - 'Castle Tour Path' that presents the cultural and natural values ​​of the area. Take a walk or a bike. The Path marked with green and there are twenty three guide plates. Also part of its six museums and exhibition halls. 

Karancs Medves Landscape Protection Area

• 17 Karancs Medves Landscape Protection Area (Karancs-Medves Tájvédelmi Körzet) (from Salgótarján NE 5-10 km). This is part of Bükk National Park. Location: administrative border of Bárna, Karancsalja, Karancsberény, Karancslapujtő, Kazár, Mátraszele, Salgótarján és Somoskőújfalu settlements. The marked trails on foot can be visited freely. By bike outside on the roads only with a separate signed roads free to travel There are over 100 separate basalt areas. The most spectacular formations can be viewed on the Szilváskő (so called 'Cathedral organ whistles'). Landscape Protection Area's coat of arms plant: Silene coronaria (or commonly rose campion). Europe's largest beetle can be see here: the Giant Stag beetle. A special geological value of the area the 'Pétervására Sandstone Formation'. Nature conservation demonstration sites and nature trails: Somoskő settlement area; Rock garden of Magyarbánya (outdoor show); Petofi promenade (between Somoskő and Eresztvény ); Bird Park (in Eresztvény's public park); Colliery memorial tunnel; Salgo (medieval castle ruin on a 625 m high basalt cone); Kis Salgo (Witch's Rock, a volcanic basalt formation), Quarries of Eresztvény; Szilváskő's nature trail to lookout tower at the peak of Mt. Karancs - More info: Nógrádi landscape Service - 3100, Karancs Road 78. phone/fax: +36 32 413-255; e-mail: nte@bnpi.hu. 

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This county was one with Novohrad (Slovakia) in the ancient past, representing one of the first counties of Kingdom of Hungary (since 11th century).