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Favorite thing: According to legend long ago, in times before history began, giants lived in the landscape, which the good Lord had created in his joy.
Balaton, the last giant spent his everyday life on the spacious uplands of the Badacsony with his daughter, Haláp. When his daughter died, Balaton began to build a tomb for her, and he found a large stone. He remembered that a long time ago this had been the altar of the mermaids.
When he lifted it, he lost his balance and the heavy stone buried him beneath itself. Water gushed forth from beneath the moved stone and just flowed, unstoppable.
Fondest memory: On one day people woke up and found a gently waving lake rocking the rays of the Sun at the foot of the mountains.
This large water has been called Balaton ever since.
Updated May 1, 2009
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Favorite thing: City of Siófok bought the Kiliti-airport which can be found in the city border. The aerial base is leased by Artic-KÉSZ company from the local government for 208 million forints. In five years with an expense of two billion forints the company develops it into a luxury aerial base which will be suitable for the reception of small machines exclusively.
Until the season-beginning probably will have the operator time enough, to receive permissions, which are necessary for the operation of the airport, being closed since 3 years.
Fondest memory: The noise load will be considerable after the airport's opening.
Updated May 1, 2009
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Favorite thing: On a short distance trekking route of Badacsony geology and botany you can study the wonderful basalt formations, the former mine walls, the moments of ancient geological events.
One of the sights of the path is the Rózsa stone; according to the folklore to sit down on it is worthy for young couples, their wedding party will be held within a year.
Directions: The trail starts from the shore of Badacsony, at Kisfaludy-house
Website: www.bfnpi.hu
Email bfnp@bfnp.kvvm.hu
Updated May 1, 2009
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Favorite thing: The Siófok Rose Garden can be seen next too the shore of Lake Balaton. Flower beds end the variety of rose-bushes, shade given by the gigantic might plane-trees, the humid catching of the lake creates some kind of paradise atmosphere.
Here you can see the statue of the first man, who swam cross the Lake on August 29. 1880.
Kálmán Szekrényessy, a 34 year old lance captain, starting from Siófok crossed the Hungarian sea in 6 hours and 40 minutes , reaching the opposite North shore at Balatonfüred, where the Balaton is the widest, cca. 14 kilometres.
Fondest memory: By the way he not only swam cross the Balaton, but the Lake Boden, the Suez Canal and Bosporus as well.
Today the cross-Balaton-swimming between Révfülöp and Boglárlelle is an event, which attracts masses of people. Every year in July the ambitious people can try their strength in swimming from the North to the South shore in a distance of 5200 metres.
Updated Nov 23, 2008
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Favorite thing: Tihany Peninsula, the first landscape protection area to be created in Hungary, has a great wealth of natural treasures. Access to the protection area is only allowed on foot and is restricted to designated paths.
The first written reference concerning Tihany is the famous deed of foundation of the Abbey. This is the oldest written linguistic record of the Hungarian language, dated 1055.
Fondest memory: The local climate is very special, it allows figs to ripen three times a year.
The Csúcs-hill which is overrun by lavender, has a fantastic sight.
Updated Feb 5, 2008
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Favorite thing: Tourism Office
For Tihany:
8237 Tihany, Kossuth utca, 20
- Tel: (+36) 87 448 804 and 538 104
- Fax: (+36) 87 448 804
- Internet: www.tihany.hu
- E mail: tihany@tourinform.hu
For the lake:
- Internet: www.balaton-tourism.hu
- E mail: hungary@touriminform.hu
And for the different offices along the Balaton shore:
- www.balaton-tourism.hu/public/balaton.php?magazin=inf
Updated Sep 7, 2007
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Favorite thing: Stone cross on the top
The stone cross was raised by Janos Ranolder (1806-1875).
He was the bishop of Veszprem.
As the legend tells 40 buffalos pulled up the cross and when they reached the top and saw the water jumped down from the hill
Written Nov 27, 2003
Favorite thing: St. George Hill
Basalt columns
Written Nov 27, 2003
Favorite thing: Hegyestu
The hard basalt cones
Written Nov 27, 2003
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Favorite thing: House of Roza Szegedy Literary Memorial Museum
Roza Szegedy was the wife of the poet Sandor Kisfaludy. Her house is a museum.
Written Nov 27, 2003
Reviews and photos of Balaton attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Balaton sightseeing.
House of Roza Szegedy Literary Memorial MuseumRoza Szegedy was the wife of the poet Sandor Kisfaludy. Her house is a museum.
Q: Hello to all, I'm planning a weekend in Siofok, we will arrive by car from budapest airport. My question is: is there the risk...
A: I think if you leave early in the morning and its not raining you should be ok without much problem. If you leave mid day you will tend to run into traffic, but bearable...
Read 3 Replies
1
The Lake seems to be a Sea - Balaton
Lake Balaton is the largest lake - surface area 592 km² - in Central Europe. Since Hungary is landlocked ( no access to any sea since more than 80 years), the lake is sometimes called the "Hungarian...
2
Lake Balaton. An hour from Budapest.
The lake is about 90 kms from Budapest in a southwesterly direction. The new M7 motorway gets you there in less than an hour and the blue car of Gentleman 75 chewed those kms up like a hungry animal....
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This is the biggest lake in Hungary and in Central Europe. The with of the lake is 5-6kms, the length is 78kms. The average depth of water is 3 ms, the deepest is 12 ms at Peninsula of Tihany. The...
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Lake Balaton - The Hungarian Sea
The Balaton is often called the Hungarian Sea. No doubt it's the biggest lake in Central- and Western Europe (for surface, it's slightly bigger then Lac Léman, the Lake of Geneve!). It's length is 77...
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The "Hungarian Sea", is the people's name for the 50 mile long lake with silky green-yellow water in the middle of Transdanubia. Lake Balaton is one of Hungary's most precious treasures and most...
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