Lake Balaton

Lake Balaton is recognized as the largest freshwater lake in Western Europe, it is located in Hungary. Once upon a time there was a real sea in this place, but the landscape has changed over time, and the size of the reservoir has significantly decreased. Despite this, some people in the country sometimes still refer to the lake as the Hungarian Sea.

Description of Lake Balaton

It is located near the capital of Hungary, Budapest, and can be reached via a comfortable toll road, as well as a free highway. For those who do not drive a car, electric trains run here regularly, the journey time on them takes a little more than an hour.

There are a large number of places for recreation and recreation around Lake Balaton. The aquariums were built because there are many mineral springs in the vicinity of the lake that are beneficial to health. The lake gained wide popularity as a place to relax in the early 19th century, when the first holiday homes, hotels and private cottages began to be built here. Beach holidays are common on the south side of the reservoir, and families with children come here. The bottom at the shore of Lake Balaton is not deep and very shallow, the water depth at the sandy beach rarely exceeds 0.5 meters. There are many interesting sites around that will be useful for tourists visiting Hungary.

Attractions near Lake Balaton

Kesthey is an ancient town, where you can admire fishing rods and houses that preserve the imprint of bygone times. The main attraction of the city is the Festetich Palace, which used to be the ancestral home of a wealthy family. The castle is built in the Baroque style, a large-scale structure surrounded by a park. Those who wish to go on a tour of the castle will find luxurious 18th-century interiors - immaculate halls, grand staircases, columns, fireplaces, antique vases and other decorative items and furniture. The huge library also makes an unforgettable impression.

Tihan is a small peninsula on the northern side of Lake Balaton. There is a small town on it. It houses a Benedictine abbey, whose history began in the distant 11th century. It is the main symbol of the lake. The local monks were the first to grow lavender in these places, and today it can be found everywhere.

Balatonfured is considered the oldest health resort in these places, a town in the northeastern part of the lake. It is not known exactly when it was founded, the first mentions of the settlement date back to the beginning of the 13th century, and since the 18th century it has received the official status of a water resort. The first steamer on the Balaton set off from Balatonfüred to the opposite shore of the lake.

The lake is surrounded by natural and historical monuments, it is necessary to set aside 2-3 days to explore its surroundings, and if you plan to have a beach holiday, it will definitely take at least a week. Lake Balaton is a truly interesting place with its unique cultural monuments and many places for quality recreation. There are a large number of restaurants and cafes around it, where you can taste national Hungarian food and drinks.