Zabar lies about 30 kilometres (19 mi) east of Salgótarján, where the borders of Nógrád, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Heves counties and Slovakia meet.

The name Zabar is of Slavic origin and its meaning approximates to "a place behind the pine forest."

Most of the hills are covered with forest, although deforestation has recently intensified on privately owned lands.

Between May and September the forests are abundant with several kinds of edible mushroom, which inhabitants take full advantage of.

They eat them and also sell them, mostly for export to France and Italy, and many locals treat it as a pastime.