Page 17 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Hungary

DISC OVERING HUNGAR Y  15

Day 12: The Őrség Region
to Sopron
From Balaton, head west to the
lush, thickly forested Őrség
Region (p163), dotted with pretty
villages. Turning north, take
some time to amble around
delightfully sleepy Kőszeg
(pp168–9), the most attractive
town in western Transdanubia.
Continue north to Sopron
(pp172–5), with, arguably,
Hungary’s finest medieval old
town; climb its Firewatch Tower
for superlative views.
Festetics Palace, housing a superb library and several unusual museums
Day 13: Győr and
which is distinguished by its northern shore. Disembark at Pannonhalma Abbey
magnificent blue stained-glass Tihany Peninsula (p206) and Leaving Sopron, visit the
dome. For a spot of post- walk up to exquisitely pretty Esterházy Palace in Fertőd (p171),
sightseeing refreshment, Tihany village. After lunch, work a Baroque and Rococo master-
seek out Klauzál square and its your way along the shoreline to piece; you may even catch a
buzzing outdoor cafés. Badacsony (p205), where you lunchtime concert in the room
can divide your afternoon where Haydn used to perform.
Day 8: Mohács to Pécs between the village itself and The next major town heading
Cross the Danube at Mohács Badacsony mountain, a stiff east is Győr (p178–9), stuffed
(pp186–7) for the Memorial Park, climb but well worth it for the with Baroque churches and
site of the famous Battle of marvellous lake views. mansions. It’s a short hop south
Mohács in 1526. The route west to the sombre elegance of
from here takes you along the Day 11: Keszthely and Héviz Pannonhalma Abbey (p180–81),
lovely wine road between The lake’s western shore with its awesome 330,000-
Villány (p187)and Siklós (p188), beckons this morning, and first volume Empire-style library.
where it’d be remiss not to up is Keszthely (pp200–201),
pause in one or two of the Balaton’s most charming town; Day 14: Tata to Lake Velence
many cellars along the way. take a guided tour of the stately Begin your last day in Tata
From here, take a sharp turn Festetics Palace (pp202–3), (p177), a delightful lakeside town
north to Pécs (pp190–91), as then stroll around its fragrant nestled around a moated castle.
vibrant a city as any in Hungary; rose gardens. A few miles out Then discover how some of the
one place not to miss is the of town, while away an hour or finest hand-painted porcelain
Csontváry Museum, containing so in Héviz (p204), the world’s in the world is made, touring
the oeuvre of one of Hungary’s second-largest thermal lake; the Herend factory with its
greatest painters. note that hiring a rubber ring tempting shop. From here,
is de rigueur. Returning south, strike out for Veszprém (p208–
Day 9: Szigetvár to Lake make for the reedy Kis- 9) and its beautifully preserved
Balaton Balaton (“Little Balaton”) Castle District. Ornithologists
Travel north to Szigetvár (p194) nature reserve (p198), where will appreciate a stop at bird
to view the town’s numerous you’ll encounter an impressive haven Lake Velence (p154) on
Turkish relics, before continuing range of migratory birds. the way back to Budapest.
to Kaposvár (p189), whose
most important sights revolve
around the work of József
Rippl-Rónai, the father of
Hungarian Art Nouveau. Head
due north again and you’ll
eventually reach the clean,
shallow waters of Lake Balaton
(pp198–9). Enjoy a sundown
stroll before a fish supper at
one of the lakeside restaurants.
Day 10: Lake Balaton
If the weather allows, hit the
beach in Siófok (p198), then
hop aboard the ferry to the The most famed landmark in Pannonhalma, the Benedictine Pannonhalma Abbey

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