Lake Balaton Lake Balaton is the largest lake

Lake Balaton

Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Hungary and also in Central Europe. Its is often called the ‘Hungarian Sea’.

• The lake is 77 kilometres long and 1. 3 -14 kilometres wide • Its area is 594 km 2 • It is 3 -3. 6 metres deep, its deepest point is 12, 5 metres • The lenght of the shore is 195 kilometres

The northern shore is well-known for its wine region. The southern shore is famous for its resort towns.

Wine regions The most popular wine producing towns are Badacsony, Balatonfüred and Balatonboglár.

The lake became the most visited holiday destination in Hungary after the Trianon Treaty following World War I when large areas of Hungary including some seashores were taken away.

Tourists have several opportunities to relax e. g. : sailing, sunbathing, horseriding, playing golf, fishing. In winter if the water is frozen people can skate on the ice.

The major resorts around the lake are Siófok, Keszthely, Zamárdi, Tihany and Balatonfüred.

Siófok • Siófok is called the ‘Party Capital of Hungary’ as it has a lot of large clubs which are attended thousand of young people during summer.

Keszthely • In Keszthely the beautiful Festetics Palace can be found. • Its a perfect holiday resort for families with little children and for young people alike because in the daytime you can relax on the shore, bathe or play volleyball and in the night you can dance in the clubs located on the shore.

Zamárdi • Balaton Sound is a music festival with a very strong line-up of bands and DJ-s every year. It takes place in Zamárdi ont the shore of Lake Balaton in beautiful surroundings. • It has eight stages with the focus on electronic music. • The programme brings music 24 hours a day.

Tihany • Tihany is a village on the Tihany Peninsula. • The whole peninsula is a historical district. • The Benedictine Abbey is visited by thousands of tourists the whole year. • The church was rebuilt in baroque style. • It has the best view of Lake Balaton. • The village has the highest housing prices in Hungary.

Balatonfüred • Balatonfüred is a small town on the northern shore of Lake Balaton and it was declared the first official health resort of Hungary in the first half of the 18 th century. • The Anna Ball is held in Balatonfüred where the most beautiful girl visiting the ball is given the title Belle of the Anna Ball