Page 702 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

700  CENTR AL AND EASTERN EUROPE

2 Szentendre
* 23,000. £ 5 HÉV from Battyhány
tér. @ 4 from Budapest.
n Dumtsa Jenő utca 22 Tel (26) 317
965. ∑ szentendreprogram.hu
Szentendre was settled by
Serbian refugees, who first
came here in the 14th century.
After the Turkish occupation
of Belgrade in 1690, more Serbs
arrived, ushering in a period of
great prosperity.
The Slavic interiors of the
town’s many churches are filled
with incense, icons, and candle-
light. Blagovestenska Church
on Fő tér, the main square, has a
magnificent iconostasis, while The Tihany Peninsula, jutting out into Lake Balaton
other sites worth visiting are
Belgrade Cathedral, for Sunday The 16th-century marble wide choice of tourist
Mass, and the bishop’s palace. Bakócz burial chapel, next to accommodations. The largest
Next door, the Museum of the southern entrance, was resort is Siófok, characterized
Serbian Art contains displays of built by Florentine craftsmen. by high-rise buildings, lively
icons and other religious artifacts. South of the cathedral, the bars, and noisy nightlife. By
Many artists have made their remains of Esztergom’s Castle day, windsurfing, sailing, and
home in Szentendre, including date from the 10th century. pleasure cruises are available.
the Hungarian ceramic artist, In the picturesque old town, Those in search of a more
Margit Kovács (1902–77). Her Esztergom’s central square is peaceful atmosphere should
work can be seen at the Margit bordered by many lively head for Balatonvilágos, set
Kovács Museum. pavement cafés. atop attractive wooded cliffs,
or Balatonberény, which has
E Margit Kovács Museum + Castle a nudist beach. Southwest of
Vastagh György utca 1. Tel 36 20 779 Szent István tér 1. Tel (33) 415 986. Balatonberény, the tiny
6659. Open Mon–Sun. & 8 Open Tue–Sun. & lake known as Kis-Balaton
(Little Balaton) is a protected
3 Esztergom 4 Lake Balaton nature reserve, home to over
80 species of birds.
* 28,000. £ @ 4 from Budapest. Siófok: £ @ g to/from Balaton- One of the most popular
füred. n Fő tér 11, Siófok Tel (84) 696 destinations on Balaton’s
St. István, Hungary’s first Christian 236. Balatonfüred: £ @ g to/from northern shore is the spa town
king, was baptized in Esztergom Siófok and Tihany. n Blaha Lujza utca of Balatonfüred, whose mineral
and later crowned here on 5, Balatonfüred. springs have been used for
Christmas Day in AD 1000. curative purposes since Roman
Dominating the city’s skyline Every summer Lake Balaton, times. From here, you can visit
is the huge Catholic Cathedral, Europe’s largest fresh-water the Tihany Peninsula, which
built in the early 19th century on lake, attracts thousands of became Hungary’s first national
the site of a 12th-century church. vacationers. The southern park in 1957, and boasts some
In the treasury are religious shore is the more developed, of the most beautiful scenery
artifacts from the original church. with sandy beaches and a in the area.
At the far northwestern tip of
the lake, the university town of
Keszthely has three beaches,
as well as a number of other
attractions, including the
Balaton Museum, which covers
the history and natural history
of the region, and the imposing
Festetics Palace. A 15-minute
drive from Keszthely brings you
to Hévíz, an old 19th-century
spa resort, where you can bathe
in the world’s second largest
Esztergom’s vast cathedral, on the banks of the Danube River thermal lake.
For hotels and restaurants see p704 and p705

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