Taking a walk through the Alsóerdő one should remember the place reveals a woodland that actually retained its natural unity for centuries. Only after the great city fire of 1826 was a larger tract cleared to build a brick factory. Long cherished as a favourite excursion destination, the forest was described with great affection by Pál Pesthy in his 1931 travel guide Egerszeg: Past and Present:
“The romantic scenes of the Alsóerdő, the picturesque shifts of its hills and valleys, its spacious clearings, fields and flowered lawns truly entice lovers of nature.”

Covering 240 hectares, the area embodies nearly all types of public-welfare forests: at once a recreational woodland, a scenic panorama forest, and a tranquil walking forest.

Its professional development began in 1965 and continued for 25 years, the starting date is significant because besides the Buda hills, the Alsóerdő (officially the Zalaegerszeg Forest Park) was the second forest park to be established in Hungary. It is home to 35 species of deciduous trees, 29 varieties of conifers, and a notably high number of protected plant species (29). The forest has been a traditional venue for student May Day festivities since the early 20th century.