Holidays in the resort of Keszthely, Hungary. Keszthely guide - everything you need in one place Keszthely, Hungary

Traveling to Hungary without travel agencies allowed me to explore such striking sights of Köszthely as the Festetics Palace, the town hall and the cathedral, find out where you can eat inexpensively in Köszthely and what kind of shopping there is; to find out more, read the story about the trip to Köszthely

A popular saying says that if after several sunny days the weather turns bad, it means the weekend has arrived. In our case, the situation was exactly the same, only it was not a matter of Saturday or Sunday: according to the travel plan, it was necessary to spend some time in blissful idleness, finding out whether the holiday at Lake Balaton was good...

And it had to happen that instead of sitting on the beach surrounded by a picturesque landscape, we had to get wet in the rain all day...

It all started with Buk, where we stopped for the night. The rain ruined our walk around this small but popular spa resort in Hungary, and although the planned tour of Szombathely still took place, despite the bad weather, we simply could not force ourselves to get out of the car in the downpour in Zalaegerszeg. I had to give up on exploring the city and go into the arms of the sweet couple of Heviz-Köszthely. The two towns are located literally next to each other, their outermost houses stand a kilometer apart. Therefore, when choosing where to stay, in Köszthely or Heviz, I considered them as a single whole. The result of the search was a luxurious three-room apartment with a balcony on the second floor of one of the local villas, offered for the ridiculous price of 22 euros.

As sad as it is, I didn’t rejoice for long: already on the road I received a message about the cancellation of the reservation - something didn’t work out. I had to think again about where to live, and now the choice fell on Heviz with an option of 24 euros. Looking ahead, I will say that it is not at all necessary to book accommodation in the low season: apartments in Heviz and Köszthely are rented out in batches, “kiadó” signs, as “housing rental” is written in Hungarian, are hung in almost every first house.

So, having shamefully retreated and not having seen the sights of Zalaegerszeg, we arrived at the most famous spa resort in Hungary with the hope of changing clothes, warming up and, of course, drinking tea. Our disappointment was all the greater when we learned that the room was not yet ready for us, and the owner’s wife, the head of the housekeeping department, would arrive only in the late afternoon. In addition, the Hungarian who met us did not speak English at all; we were able to communicate with him only with the help of Google translator.

At this point, things have stalled, and postponing getting to know the surrounding area until better times, we decided to get from Heviz to Köszthely to unwind and refresh ourselves.

The journey took only a few minutes, which cannot be said when looking for parking in Köszthely. We stopped near shops a couple of times, but it immediately became clear that there was nothing interesting around, and it was impossible to leave the car where the main attractions of Köszthely are located. Finally, I found a free place on the main street of Kossuth Lajos; If we plot the route from the main square of the city to the Balaton Museum, then we got up just about halfway. At the same time, we were immediately pleased by the presence of two cafes where we could eat inexpensively, and this was in the center of Köszthely!

The city tour, as in Szombathely, had to be carried out under periodically drizzling rain, which greatly spoiled our impressions: even when the water was turned off upstairs, the sky still remained gray... And we so wanted to see the elegant Hungarian resort in the sunshine...

The history of Köszthely dates back to ancient times. The Roman colonists who were exploring Pannonia settled on the shores of Lake Balaton seriously and for a long time. Under the cover of the Valkum fortress, built under Emperor Constantine II, they managed to stay in place even after the legions left the Danube Limes. Only in the 6th century were the last traces of Roman rule swept away by the Lombards.

The Middle Ages became a testing time for the city. He was never able to reach the previous level of prosperity, but partially restored the economy after the creation of the centralized Kingdom of Hungary. For some reason, local residents received a valuable privilege from the rulers of the state - permission to hold fairs, and they used the chance as they should. By the end of the 14th century, Köszthely became largest center trade of the region.

The period of prosperity of the townspeople was cut short by the invasion of the Turks. Although, unlike Eger, Győr, Budapest and others major cities Hungary, Köszthely was not captured by the Ottomans, undermined by them trade relations put an end to the country's economy.

But even here Fortune smiled on the city, albeit not immediately: in the 18th century, the influential family of magnates, the Festetics, began to manage the surrounding area. The aristocrats, who had colossal funds at their disposal, began to build a luxurious estate near Lake Balaton, which required many artisans and servants. Thanks to this, by the end of the century the number of inhabitants of Köszthely exceeded four thousand people.

In the 19th century, the history of Köszthely took a new turn: the fact that outdoor recreation had become fashionable among wealthy Europeans gave the city the opportunity to make itself a resort. Over several decades, the development was supplemented by a number of luxury hotels and countless villas. Since then, Köszthely has stood apart: all the resorts on Lake Balaton are good in their own way, but it definitely stands out from the crowd.

How good the city is could be judged already by the first steps we took on the central Foter square. Our attention was immediately drawn to the impressive Köszthely Town Hall, built in 1769 according to the design of the architect Christoph Hofstader. In fact, he built a luxurious palace in the late Baroque style, and the city authorities acquired the building much later, in 1930. It took another five years to adapt the internal premises for administrative needs, and even then there was not enough space for everyone: in 1985, builders added two side wings to the town hall, significantly increasing its size.

Near the official's nest there are two more attractions of Köszthely. Count György Festetics sits thoughtfully in front of the town hall, having invested huge amounts of money in the construction of the family estate and the transformation of the surrounding area. And on the side of it stands a Gothic-looking church, built more than 620 years ago. In the last quarter of the 19th century, a neo-Gothic tower was added to it, which, although it distorted the historical appearance of the temple, somewhat softened its medieval gloom.

A little later, having walked about two hundred meters from the main square to the north, we came to the next attraction of Köszthely, the old town hall. You can recognize the building in an eclectic style by the coat of arms of the Festetics family mounted on the façade. The golden heraldic lion recalls the heroic struggle of the Hungarians against the Turkish invasion, the ships represent the close connection with Balaton and further in the same spirit. It is also worth paying attention to the Baroque-style plague pillar installed in front of the town hall.

While in that part of Kossuth Lajos street, which is located south of Foter, there were several cafes, to the north there were literally rows of catering establishments, and we quickly looked for a couple of places where we could eat cheaply in Köszthely. One of the restaurants generally served set meals for 2000 forints, and we enjoyed a hot meal. The soup turned out to be so-so, the juicy meat and side dish pleased us, and the dessert completely lifted our spirits. And since the cook and waitress were efficient, we finished the meal in less than three-quarters of an hour. There was still plenty of time left to see the sights of Köszthely.

The next object on excursion route became a local synagogue, distinguished by its unusual appearance. Remembering the Moorish-style Jewish temple of Szombathely, for a long time I could not believe that the Jews of a popular resort decided to build something like this. The community erected the typically neoclassical building in the mid-19th century. Why it is necessary to give the synagogue the appearance of a museum remains unknown...

In addition to those already listed interesting places Kossuth Lajos also houses other attractions in Köszthely, including an erotic museum, a doll museum with about 700 toys from different eras, and the Horrarium, a kind of torture museum in which scenes of executions and interrogations are recreated using wax figures. Each of these popular attractions was worth a visit, but we were in a hurry to see the local gem, the Festetics Palace, before the downpour began - this threat hung over us all the time like a natural sword of Damocles.

The ensemble in the Baroque style took a long time to develop: Count Christoph Festetics placed the order in 1745, and the final design details took their place shortly before the beginning of the 20th century. Significant changes affected the most popular attraction of Köszthely at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries: then, for the construction of a new wing to house an extensive library, the architect Andreas Fischer, by the way, a member of the Vienna Academy, specially came from the capital. Naturally, he was not honored with the trip himself; he was invited by the already mentioned Gyorgy Festetics. By the way, pay attention to the monument in honor of this gentleman standing in front of the front facade.

Since the complex did not share the fate of many ancient objects cultural heritage Hungary, destroyed during the Second World War, has retained an authentic atmosphere inside it. Judging by the photographs, the interiors are very good, and if the opening hours of the Festetics Palace did not change depending on the season, we would certainly go in to see what the rooms designed in the Rococo style look like. Alas, only in the summer are visitors allowed in until half past five, and in the spring the entrance closes even earlier. We had to limit ourselves to an external inspection of the buildings and a walk through the elegant park. The surrounding area looks great all year round, and the reconstruction, which started in the winter of 2015, has not yet been completed. With the allocated funds, the Hungarians hope to recreate the pond, fountains, pavilions and generally give the park the Victorian-style appearance that it had in the 19th century.

What else you can see in Köszthely is Helikon Park. The largest recreation area of ​​the resort arose on the site of a grove that once belonged to the same Festetics. After the First World War, experienced gardeners cultivated the landscape by laying paths and planting many trees, including plane trees, oaks, chestnuts and even specially brought cypresses, which successfully took root in the Hungarian soil. The border of the green area runs almost right up to the lake shore, so in summer you can combine a walk with sunbathing. The beaches of Köszthely are small in number - in addition to this, Helikonsky, there are also Varosha and Libas - so you need to take advantage of the opportunities that exist. But if I were planning a vacation to Lake Balaton in the summer, I would choose the area around Balatonfüred or Siófok. The shore is long, but in reality you can’t swim in Lake Balaton everywhere, and the conditions are wildlife not at all the same as those provided by the paid beaches of Köszthely or Siófok - the fee of 1.5-2 euros per day for the right to use the resort infrastructure is not so high as to save on your own comfort.

And, finishing the conversation about the sights of Köszthely, I finally recommend getting to the Church of St. Theresa, located on Tapolcai Street. The building does not have an ancient history, nothing can be said here, but the talented architect Bruno Bruchweiser designed it in the neo-Romanesque style, which made his creation damn cute. You can get to the church, which recently became a basilica, along a straight path almost from the gates of the Festetics Palace, fortunately the walk there is less than 10 minutes.

The tour of Köszthely, although it took place in cloudy weather, was educational and left a pleasant impression. As we later found out, both Heviz and Siófok, despite all their efforts, cannot compare with the westernmost resort of Lake Balaton. Eh, if only we had a chance to walk in the sun, I think I might just fall in love with the town...

On the western shore of Lake Balaton there is a small town with authentic old streets - Keszthely. But it is not only the beauty of the city landscapes that attracts tourists here. The city welcomes them with convenient beaches, a magnificent park and the Festetics family palace located in it. Another reason why Keszthely is popular with holidaymakers is Lake Heviz, which is located just four kilometers from the town.

The history of Keszthely begins in ancient times. In those early years, there was a settlement of Roman colonists here, which controlled the trade route from the province of Pannonia to Italy. The settlement grew into a fortress (which was called Valkum) with a powerful garrison. It was this powerful defense that allowed the settlement to hold out for so long. Only after the withdrawal of Roman troops from the territory of modern Hungary in the 5th century AD, the town was captured by the warlike Huns.

The early Middle Ages were a difficult time, both for the entire Balaton coast and for Keszthely in particular. It was conquered by the Ostrogoths, the Avars, and the Franks. The city was able to recover only after the formation of the Kingdom of Hungary. By the end of the 14th century it had become the largest locality region, which received a significant privilege - the right to hold fairs. The economic growth of the city was stopped by the Turkish invasion of Hungary.

The city expected a new takeoff only in the 18th century, when the territory southwest of Lake Balaton became the fiefdom of the powerful Festetics family. In the city center was erected luxurious palace, which served many artisans and craftsmen.

After the Balaton area gained popularity among aristocrats and lovers of outdoor recreation, Keszthely began to be positioned as a resort. To attract vacationers to the city, a prestigious hotel and houses in an eclectic style were built, and a beautiful park was laid out.

Sights of Keszthely

Thanks to numerous historical and architectural monuments, creating the unique appearance of Keszthely, the program of your stay here is always rich and interesting. Keszthely offers its guests an inexpensive and very convenient way to get acquainted - a special tourist train that runs around the city.

The main attraction of Keszthely is undoubtedly the palace of the Festetics family. And today, built on the model of famous French palaces, it amazes not only with its architecture, but also with the luxury of its interior decoration. In numerous rooms of the palace you can see paintings by famous masters, elegant furniture, a collection of Hungarian weapons from different historical eras, as well as about 100,000 volumes of books, including many unique tomes, and publications with autographs of the authors. And the English park surrounding the palace is recognized as a masterpiece of landscape design and is protected by law as a nature conservation area. Nowadays, the castle hosts international conferences within its walls, and outstanding performers hold their concerts here.

The Festetics family is known in Hungary not only for its wealth, but also for its philanthropy. Thanks to their support, a hospital and a pharmacy, a gymnasium and the first agricultural school in Europe were opened in the city (at the end of the 18th century).

The main street of the city is decorated with the Franciscan Church. Built in 1386, it served for some time as a fortress. No less beautiful is another baroque building in the city - the Petkhe house. But it is interesting not only for its architecture. Built on Gothic foundations, the house hides a synagogue built in the 18th century in its courtyard.

On the main square of Keszthely, according to European traditions, stands the City Hall - one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Today within its walls is located Cultural Center them. Károly Goldmark (composer born in Keszthely in 1830).

Right here on central square In the city you can see the equestrian statue of Istvan Lakfi Palatine, installed in front of the monastery, and the sculpture of the “Holy Trinity” adorning its eastern part.

Not far from Keszthely you can visit another attraction of these places - the Sumeg fortress. Playing an important role in the defense of the city, it was known for its inaccessibility. After 1552, it served as the residence of a bishop, and today historical reconstructions are carried out near its walls, attracting the attention of tourists from different countries peace.

Keszthely is rightfully proud of its centuries-old history and the people who were born and lived here. This is confirmed by the many museums opened here:

• Museum of Lake Balaton, telling about the flora and fauna of the lake and its shores, offering visitors exhibitions with archaeological finds and household items local residents, documents telling the history of the region.
• The Károly Goldmark House-Museum, preserving the memory of the composer and virtuoso violinist who lived here.
• The Bacchus Wine Museum introduces visitors to the wines of Hungary and the traditions of Hungarian winemaking.
• Museum-confectionery “Marzipan”, which has prepared a sweet exhibition with a fabulously beautiful marzipan castle.

Along with exploring historical sights and museums, Keszthely offers its guests beach holiday on the shores of the cleanest Lake Balaton. The traditions of beach holidays go back centuries. The first bathhouse was built here back in 1864. Despite this, until the beginning of the 20th century, most of the coast remained overgrown with sedge and reeds.

Today, beach holidays in Keszthely are represented by three city beaches: Varosha, Helikon and Libas, located next to the yacht harbor. Thanks to its shallow waters, excellent recreational conditions, and restaurants located right next to the coastline, Helikon is perfect for families with children. Unlike the old Varosha beach (renovated and equipped in last years), new beach Libas is more loved by young people. In the evenings, loud club music is played here, and impromptu discos are held.

For its excellent beaches and the diligent Hungarian approach to organizing holidays, Keszthely is very popular among tourists from Austria and Germany.

The main attraction of the Hungarian city of Kextey is the palace of the Festetics family. This is one of the largest and most luxurious Hungarian estates that have survived to this day. The palace was built in the 18th century and belonged to the Festetics family of the same name. This family is known throughout Europe for its charitable activities. It was thanks to this family that the first gymnasium, hospital, pharmacies and agricultural lyceum were opened in the city. The palace is surrounded by a luxurious park, decorated in English style. In total, there are 101 halls on the territory of the museum, some of which regularly host various conferences, while others house an exhibition of a weapons museum and a library. Not a single tourist bypasses the museum library, as it houses a unique collection of books, including engravings by medieval artists, the first printed books, sheet music with autographs of famous composers and other unique exhibits.

In its architecture, this palace resembles the best palaces of that time. It is distinguished by a beautiful facade and luxurious interior decoration with frescoes, carvings, gilding and other elements.

From June 1 to August 31, this palace complex is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and at other times from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Mondays). The entrance ticket costs 3,500 Hungarian forints, and for visitors under 26 years old it is half that.

Several interesting objects can be observed in the main square of the city Fő ter. Back in 1170, a column of the Holy Trinity was built in the center of this square. Also on this square is the City Hall, which was built in the Baroque style in the 18th century. Now this building houses the city cultural center, which anyone can visit. Another attraction located on the square is the Franciscan Church. It was originally built in 1386 in the Gothic style, but was subsequently rebuilt several times, and the last changes were made in 1880, when a bell tower was added to it. This church is of particular interest to tourists because its walls contain the largest collection of Gothic frescoes in Hungary.

Kehstay is very interesting city in every way. Tourists who come to this place have the opportunity to see not only standard, but also some relatively unusual attractions and places that are difficult to see in other cities. One of these places is the Museum of Horrors. Visiting this museum is not recommended for people with weak psyches, but everyone else will be able to see and learn a lot of interesting things. The collection of exhibits in this museum demonstrates the centuries-old history of torture and punishment, which in the Middle Ages were popular and welcomed not only in Asian but also in European countries (you can see some types of instruments used in modern torture). Inside the museum there are a variety of tools that executioners used to different time executed criminals (and not only criminals) in Japan, Hungary and France. A large number of exhibits are presented in the form of wax figures. One of the main highlights of the museum is the electric chair.

Part of the museum exhibition is dedicated to Count Dracula, which is not surprising, since the meaning of the latter’s life was directly related to executions, torture and other abuses. If you decide to visit this museum, then pay attention to the exhibition, which is dedicated to Countess Erzsebet Bathory, who deliberately killed girls and then fed on their blood, being sure that in this way she would prolong her youth.

Lake Balaton is rightfully considered the main natural attraction of Hungary, therefore, when you are in Köhstey, it is simply impossible not to look into the museum of the same name of this lake. By visiting it, you can learn about the history of one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe. Museum exhibits tell about the features of the local natural and flora. Among the museum exhibits you can see various archaeological finds, household items, weapons and other exhibits that tell about the history of the inhabitants of the cities of Kekhstey, its culture, customs, etc. The oldest exhibits are about six thousand years old.

There are several other interesting museums in the city, a visit to which will give you many pleasant impressions. In 2008, a hunting museum was opened, which displays more than 200 species of various animals (in their natural habitat). In the doll museum, opened in 2010, visitors can see a huge collection of dolls from different historical eras, dressed in national costumes.

Keszthely is a city in southwestern Hungary, located in the southwestern part of Lake Balaton. This is the largest and oldest town in the vicinity of Lake Balaton. Many of its streets still retain the atmosphere of a provincial town of the last century. The city is located approximately 160 km southwest of Budapest.

Keszthely was already the center of the region in the Middle Ages; at the beginning of the 15th century it received the status of a city. In the middle of the 18th century, the city was purchased by the Festetics family. The magnificent palace they built is the third largest in the country and is considered the most beautiful restored palace in Hungary.

The climate is temperate continental, with cold, cloudy winters and fairly hot summers. The average annual temperature is 9.7 degrees; in summer the thermometer can rise to 27-35 degrees, in winter it ranges from 0 to -15. Annual precipitation is 600 mm.

Since the Middle Ages, the center of Keszthely has been F? t?r Square, whose name translated into Russian means “Main”. It’s best to start your trip around the city from here. The dominant feature of the square is the Gothic Franciscan monastery and its church. Thanks to its powerful walls, during the Turkish invasion this building was turned into a border fortress. The church boasts the richest collection of Gothic frescoes in Hungary in its sanctuary. Despite its antiquity and many reconstructions (the temple was built in 1386), the temple is very well preserved. Representatives of the noble noble family of Festetics are buried in the crypt.

Kossuth Street originates from the Main Square, the northern section of which has been turned into a pedestrian zone. Among the many beautiful buildings, towering majestically on both sides of the street, house number 22, or Päthe's house, deserves special attention. Built in the 18th century on medieval foundations, it is famous for the fact that the outstanding Hungarian composer Károly Goldmark was born here in 1830. There is a synagogue in the courtyard of the building. The city coat of arms on the facade of house 28 indicates that in old times it was the city hall. Nowadays the Goldmark Cultural Center is located here.

At the northern end of Kossuth Street stands the imposing neo-baroque building of the Balaton Museum. On its first floor there are Roman and medieval lapidariums; permanent exhibitions on the second floor introduce museum visitors to the origins of the lake, the history of local bathing and water navigation, its flora and fauna.

The continuation of Kossuth Street is Kastėli Street (Kast?ly utca). Here, in the center of a beautiful well-kept garden, rises the main attraction of Keszthely - the magnificent Festetics Castle. It is not difficult to guess that the palace received its name in honor of the noble family to which it once belonged. Built in the mid-18th century under Kristof Festetics on the model of French mansions, the palace is distinguished by the luxury of its exterior and interior decoration and is one of the largest in Hungary. At the end of the 18th century, the famous Helikon palace library, numbering 52,000 volumes, was founded here.

Representatives of the Festetics family became famous as philanthropists who actively supported art and science. Thanks to them, a hospital, a pharmacy, a gymnasium appeared in the city, and at the end of the 18th century, the first agricultural school in Europe (!) was opened here. The Festetics actively supported art, literature, and museums in Hungary.

Luxurious furniture, paintings in gilded frames, massive fireplaces decorated with fine carvings, rich trinkets and household items - the palace interiors provide an opportunity to take a fascinating journey into the world of the Hungarian nobility of the 18th–19th centuries. The halls on the first floor display the most valuable and beautiful examples of Hungarian weapons from different eras (some of them are 1000 years old!). The library is not only the most beautiful hall of the palace, but also one of its main values. Here is the only private collection of books preserved in its original form, numbering about one hundred thousand volumes. The main rarities of the library include: the first printed books, unique engravings, sheet music with original autographs of Haydn, Pleyel, Goldmark. After examining the interior of the palace, you can stroll among the spreading trees and well-groomed bushes of the park adjacent to the palace, inhaling the intoxicating aromas of flowers.

In addition to its cultural significance, the Balaton region has always been famous for the wines produced here. You can get acquainted with the history of Balaton viticulture and winemaking by visiting the Hungaricum Wine House or the Bacchus Wine Museum. The latter showcases wines from 21 other Hungarian wine provinces.

Queen Erzbet Street, also starting from the Main Square of the city, will lead us to the Balaton coast; The villas towering here were built mainly at the beginning of the 20th century. The pier, which extends far into the lake, serves as a boat dock and is also a favorite spot among local fishermen.

Every day at the end of July a wonderful holiday takes place on the coast with unusual name“Wine Boulevard”, during which you can taste Balaton wine, as well as watch performances of folklore ensembles. Lovers of nature and solitude can also stroll along the picturesque alleys of Helikon Park, which is one of the main natural attractions of Keszthely.

Along with historical sights and museums, Keszthely offers its guests to relax on an equipped beach on the shores of the pristine Lake Balaton. Thanks to its excellent beaches and the diligent Hungarian approach to organizing holidays, Keszthely is extremely popular among Austrians and Germans.

20 km from Kesztehely rises the “father of Hungarian castles” - the impregnable Sümeg, founded during the reign of the founder of Hungary, St. Stephen. This gigantic castle, towering impregnably above the small town of the same name, was one of the few Hungarian strongholds that the Turks were unable to take by storm.

Keszthely is one of the oldest Hungarian cities located on the southwestern shore of the largest lake in Central Europe - Lake Balaton. The city is famous for its ancient and beautiful architecture and museums.

Lake Balaton itself is one of the main resort areas in Hungary. There are many mineral and thermal water springs along its shores. There are also well-equipped city beaches. Keszthely was purchased by the Festetics family in the 18th century. After which large-scale construction of a magnificent family palace began, which is the third largest in all of Hungary.

The estate of Kristofer Festich is the first palace complex to appear on the shores of Lake Balaton in the mid-18th century. The palace is a beautiful building of 40 halls and an adjacent area with a beautiful park area. The building gradually expanded, and already at the end of the 18th century the palace had a huge library on 100 thousand copies. This collection of unique and valuable books is rightfully considered national treasure Hungary.

The Festetics Palace was repeatedly expanded and completed, but the last major reconstruction was carried out at the end of the 19th century. Then the building finally acquired a neo-Baroque style, and the number of interior rooms increased to 100.

Today, all interested tourists can book excursions around the palace and enjoy the luxurious decoration of the estate.

Location: Kastély u. - 1.

Another beautiful architectural landmark of Keszthely is the Town Square with the Town Hall. The building is made in the classical Baroque style. Erected at the beginning of the 18th century. In the center of the square itself there is a large column dedicated to the Holy Trinity. It was erected at the end of the 18th century. The square and the adjacent city hall are made in the late Baroque style.

From the town square there is a large pedestrian area - Kossut Street, along which there are various restaurants and cafes. Walking along the pedestrian area you can see many buildings made in a classical style. Also here you can find the building of the former city hall and the modern cultural center named after Goldmark. A little further behind a beautiful arch is the old Synagogue. The building was rebuilt more than once and now it is made in the eclectic style.

But one of the oldest surviving buildings in Keszthely is the Franciscan Church. After all, it was built back in 1386. The church was built in the late Gothic style. During Turkish rule, the church was turned into a fortress. But already during the Kingdom of Hungary, after the expulsion of the Turks, the church was restored. It was restored and rebuilt many times, and at the end of the 19th century the Franciscan Church acquired a bell tower.

Inside the Franciscan Church, one of the richest Gothic frescoes in Hungary has been preserved to this day. Also near the church you can find two interesting monuments. The first is located in front of the church - this is a statue of Istvan Lakfi Palatine on horseback.

Location: Fő ter - 9.

City museums

Keszthely has a rich history. Much information about this old European city and its culture can be learned from local museums. Let's look at the most famous of them:

Located in the Festetics Palace. It was formed in the city in 2008. About 200 species of animals living both in Hungary and in other countries are represented here. All animals are housed in their natural habitats. A visit to such a museum will be quite educational for both children and hunting enthusiasts.

It is located in the same building as the previous museum only on the second floor. Here are models of trains from different eras and different European countries. Models of railways in different cities are also presented. In this museum, visitors will be able to see almost the whole of Europe in miniature.

This is another small museum of Keszthely. It is located in a former agricultural school founded in 1979 by the famous Gyorg Festetics. The museum is dedicated to the agriculture of the region. In addition to excellent expositions Agriculture In the museum you can find a large collection of agricultural machinery.

Location: Bercsenyi Miklós u. - 65.

As the name implies, this museum is dedicated to Lake Balaton. Collected here a large number of specimens of flora and fauna inhabiting the lake and its surroundings. The museum also contains archaeological finds that tell about the life and culture of local residents.

Location: Múzeum u. - 2.

Almost a few hundred meters from the Festetics Palace you can find the incredible Marzipan Museum. The museum displays various souvenirs and products made from children's favorite sweets. One of the largest is the model of the Festetics Palace. It took the craftsmen about 2 months to create it. There is a special store next to the museum. Here everyone can buy sweets for every taste.

Location: Katona József u. - 19.

This is a small building that houses a huge collection of dolls. All dolls are dressed in Hungarian national costumes and are distributed in chronological order. Thus, all visitors can observe changes in the folk costumes of the Hungarians in different historical eras.

Location: Kossuth Lajos u. - eleven.

The Keszthely Toy Museum is no less interesting. Although it was built relatively recently, in 2010. Yet his collection includes more than 10,000 toys.

Location: Kossuth Lajos utca - 11.

Lake Balaton is not the only interesting water attraction in Keszthely. Also near the city, 6 km to the north, is Lake Heviz. It is the largest in the world and at the same time the only thermal lake in all of Europe.

Near Lake Heviz you can find the perfectly preserved Batthyany Castle. Near the castle there is a huge park with centuries-old trees. The castle was built by the noble Battyany family in the mid-18th century. It served as a family estate for the count's family.

The castle was rebuilt and restored several times. Now it houses the Battyany family museum, where everyone can learn the history of the noble count family.

One of the main defensive structures in the Keszthely region is the old Sumeg fortress. For a long time this fortress was considered an impregnable stronghold. And since 1552, Sümeg was the residence of the bishop.

Try to visit the Sumeg fortress. Although it is located 25 km from the city, all lovers of medieval history should definitely visit this architectural monument. After all, amateur and historical reconstructions and festivals are often held here. And with high mountain, on which the fortress is built, offers stunning views.