The style of the park is a landscape dendrological garden. The landform is varied, rolling with ornamental trees in the middle and streams running through the edges. These water bodies also significantly modify the microclimate of the park.
Its protection is maintained by the current Decree 33/2007 (X. 18.) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on the maintenance of the protection of the Alcsút Arboretum nature reserve.
Decision No 344/1952 of the OTT.
Nature reserve register number: 37/TT/52
Size of area: 40,5 ha
Administrative boundary concerned: Alcsútdoboz, outskirt no. 078
Main characteristics of the protected natural assets
In 1818, the Alcsút manor was granted to Joseph the Palatine, and two years later he built his castle according to the plans of Mihály Pollack. The manor soon became the first model farm in the country. The castle gardens are landscaped from 1825, with the help of the Tot family of Schönbrunn.
Its flora is the result of a collection of 540 species of woody plants from Europe, Asia Minor, East Asia and North America, as a result of plant exploitation in the 19th century. The park's finest old specimens are plane trees, hazel, tulip trees, ironwoods, copper beeches, swamp cypresses, holm oaks and yews, but also a valuable collection of linden, maple, oak and chestnut species. Of particular value are the giant ash with 24 trunks, the beech with its rapeseed, the seven-trunked hazel and the 170-year-old Lebanese cedar of the nearby Chaplar forest.
Its fauna is secondary, with a significant population of songbirds. Among the garden structures, the castle chapel, doll's house, bear house, gloriette and small park structures are significant. Unfortunately, the castle was destroyed after 1945 and only the front wall remains.
The arboretum is now a park of limited public use. Its functions are the following : gene bank collection, demonstration site, excursion site, recreation area, bird sanctuary and experimental station, historical memorial, garden monument, cultural area.
Its special value is that it is an unadulterated reformed garden, preserved in its original state. It is protected both as a monument and as a nature reserve.
The castle chapel houses an exhibition on the history of the garden, while the doll's house houses an exhibition on the soldiers of Archduke Joseph.
The main threats and special conservation tasks:
It is important to preserve the park in its original state and to restore the plant groups and spatial effects to their original state. It is also the ongoing task of the manager to improve the plant collection, to acquire and plant new species and to renovate monuments and buildings.
The threats to the arboretum include:
Genetic erosion and the decline of the collection. In addition to the natural death of old trees, the proliferation of certain wood decay fungi, the deterioration of air quality, the long summer droughts and the severe winter colds are causing serious damage.
Deterioration of water quality: this is caused by the pollution of water catchment areas and the filling of the lake with silt. Nearby mining has significantly lowered groundwater levels and greatly reduced stream flows.
Impact of activities in adjacent areas.
Transport of hazardous waste and materials by road. Oil transport accidents have occurred, resulting in high levels of soil and water contamination.
The intensive operation of nearby livestock farms may also have a negative impact on the protected area.