On a once busy route connecting Jerusalem Hill and Dózsa Town, you can find the Tethys Sea Prehistoric Tunnel.
The tunnel runs along the Sintér Ditch and under Dózsa György road. In fact, it is the little bridge, once a roadway, connecting the viaduct with the city. Today, the murals on the walls of this old tunnel give you an insight into the prehistoric flora and fauna of the Veszprém Tethys Sea. This giant painting of prehistoric animals from 230 million year ago is 6 metres high and almost 9 metres long. The prehistoric species on display are real local curiosities and include the tablet-toothed turtle (Placochelys Placodonta), a treasure unearthed in the nearby Veszprém quarry 120 years ago by geologist Dezső Laczkó.
Sintér Hill and Ditch at the heart of the city are an important local nature conservation area. The green route running between Harmat utca and Kálmán utca is undergoing improvement works and by 2023, there will be a 9-station educational trail, which will provide information about the former quarry, the unique geological and natural beauty of the local area as well as the protected plant species.
It’s worth bearing in mind that the Harmat utca viewpoint above this area offers the most beautiful panoramic view of the city.
The tablet-toothed turtle and Veszprém:
Dezső Laczkó, geologist and Piarist teacher found one of Veszprém’s world-renowned treasures in the quarry on Jerusalem Hill: the remains of a tablet-toothed turtle from the Upper Triassic. This was his most important paleontological find, which brought fame to its finder and to Veszprém. Thus, the little “beastie” has become one of the symbols of the city and an important part of local identity.
