Hungary’s scenic Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe, often called the “Hungarian Sea.” This destination is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country, for its natural beauty, for resort towns like Siófok, Keszthely, and Balatonfüred, but also for the famous Balaton wines.
The main whines around Balaton are whites, from an ancient variety of white wine grape called Olaszrizling (Romanic Riesling), the most widespread grape variety of the country. Image: Balaton Lake, courtesy, Wikipedia.
But the wines, while adding a lot to the charm of the area, are just one aspect of Balaton’s varied tourist attractions. The lake itself, as you see in the image above, is popular for its marina, and for tourist activities such as sailing, fishing and other water sports. The area has many historic attractions as well, including the Szigliget fortress, the Festetics Palace in Keszthely, and many others. The local festivals however, although not known by many, have immense potential of becoming major tourist attractions, with the right, timely promotion.
The beautiful Baroque Festetics Palace is one of the main attractions around Balaton. But there's so much more for the avid traveler. Image courtesy, Wikipedia.
One of the most beautiful events at Balaton takes place on the Tihany Peninsula. The Lavender Festival (Levendula Fesztivál) has been held here since 2005. This year, you can enjoy the blossomed lavender fields for 10 days, from June 19 to 29. The festival is based on the local landscapes and traditions. Lavender has an important and significant role in the history of Tihany, which is the most important processor of lavender in Hungary.
The festival features local art groups displaying their skills, folk arts and crafts, music and dance. Young and old, the people of Tihany gather together to learn about the different types of lavender and their processing. Image courtesy, hungary.com
Visitors can find here authentic souvenirs, including pottery, basketry, and homemade lavender products, including soaps, flagrances and more.