Due to the petrographic character of the Bükkalja, working with stones, vernacular application of stones has a rich tradition in the settlements of this region associated primarily with resistant but easy-to-carve volcanic rocks, rhyolitic and dacitic tuff (ignimbrite).Quarrying building stones and using them in vernacular architecture, stone carving and recessing rooms in rocks has longest history here in the Carpathian Basin.Bükkalja is a traditional area of stone building, apart from ecclesiastical and noble architecture stone has been present in peasant architecture as well for centuries.In the vernacular architecture of the region, stone appears in two ways: in buildings with standing walls (houses, hutches, stables) and in cave dwellings, cellars and other rooms with economic purposes carved in rocks.
The most important cultural historical values of stone culture in Bükkalja apart from dwelling places carved in rocks, stone dwellings/cellar houses, are other stone rooms “carved in stone” associated with traditional land use and farming methods: mementos of extensive cattle raising, shepherding, stone stables, stone barns, shepherd accommodation on the one hand, and on the other hand the cellar holes, tithe cellars, shelters of vineyards and wine production.Such objects can be found in most of the settlements of Bükkalja.
Beehive stones and the stone culture of Bükkalja reflect the special relationship between landscape and humans living in it.This complex natural – landscape management – cultural system typical for the region and having historical roots and living traditions deservedly received – in the course of the meeting of the Hungarian Hungarikum Committee on 17th June 2016 – the title Hungarikum due to its unique character.
