Geography
Gentle slopes, proud dolomite cliffs, rich-flavoured wines mellowed by the sun; and beaches with silky water and the spas still keeping the warmth of long extinct volcanoes, underground canals where you can go boating, caves in which even the air has a healing power, moors rich in wildlife. All these natural treasures and beauties featuring hills, spas, moors and the ‘Hungarian Sea’ as the brightest colour of the palette belong to the Balaton Region.
When they visit us, our guests arrive at a region especially rich in curative waters. In our region, you can choose the one best suiting your needs from a great variety of indoor or outdoor spas and adventure baths. This is where you can find the Hévíz Medicinal Lake, which is the biggest biologically active thermal lake of the world. Its waters were already widely used by the Romans, however facilities for bona fide bathing culture were created by the Count György Festetics 1st in the 18th century.
Languages
The official language is Hungarian, and it’s a language that to some may seem rather difficult to grasp. Get in the spirit with a simple jó napot (good day!) and – for the most part – worry not, almost everyone is speaking German. English and Russian is becoming more widely spoken in the tourist areas and hotels.
See and Do
Balaton is Central Europe's largest lake and is sometimes called 'Hungarian Sea', providing numerous bases for sailing, canoeing, windsurfing and other water sports as well as some magnificent lakeside beaches, particularly on the southern shore which is shallower than the north shore.
Between the beginning of May and the middle of September, the number of sunshine hours reaches 830, so the water of the lake is characterised by an evenly pleasant temperature. Lovers of the sun and the Hungarian sea are sure to find a beach they fancy. The velvet-soft shallow water of the lake, the sandy beaches and the playgrounds offer cheerful enjoyment.
Those who wish to get healthy and beautiful can enjoy the beneficiary effects of the thermal water all the year round. In Hévíz, medicinal spa tourism goes back to a past of over 200 years. The Hévíz lake is unparalleled in treating and curing patients suffering from rheumatic and locomotor problems. Its health-keeping force, rich mineral content facilitates the treatment of ther diseases as well. The Hévíz treatment is suitable for not only curing people but for prevention and relaxation as well. There is ample choice for those who are in for wellness and a healthy way of life.
With the volcanic cones of the Tapolca basin and the spring cones of the Tihany peninsula, the lake of Hévíz was put on the nominee list of the Hungarian National World Heritage Committee.
Balaton Region offers a huge range of leisure activities for tourists. As a part of the Balaton Highland National Park and together with the Keszthely mountains, its unique natural values, the protected flora and fauna of the Little Balaton with the rich stock of birds of this area have been considered a nature reserve area since the 1920s. With the development of the bicycle paths, bicycle tourism is getting more and more popular. Hévíz and Balaton are connected by a built road, from where you can reach the Balaton Bike Ring or you can opt for the Little Balaton. Lovers of horseback riding may also indulge in their passion without fear, choosing from numerous opportunities.
The Festetics Castle in Keszthely and the fortress of Sümeg attract visitors with their architectural and culture-historical curiosities and specific atmosphere.
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