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Polish Attractions
Worth the visit
Keszthely, located directly on the shores of Lake Balaton and this is a historical resort town. Tourists encounter a vibrant cultural offering in our city – numerous festivals (Helikon Festivities; KeszthelyFest; City Day), outdoor theaters, cultural events, exhibitions (Balaton Theater and Congress Center), performances, concerts, and ongoing programs await visitors here.
The main attraction is an 18th-century neo-Baroque palace, formerly owned by the Festetics family. Its most valuable room is the Helikon Library, which has gained worldwide fame with its collection of over 80,000 volumes in various languages. In the Helikon Castle Museum, or the Festetics Castle, visitors can see the Carriage Exhibition and the Hunting Exhibition, and even Europe’s largest miniature railway network can be found here, as part of the Historical Railway Model Exhibition. The castle is surrounded by a triple-tiered genuine Baroque garden – open to visitors free of charge throughout the year – where the characteristics of French and English garden art can be discovered alike. The park is beautiful in every season. In the summer, the bubbling of the fountains and the small waterfall above the lake, and in the winter, the white snow cover creates a unique atmosphere in the embrace of the majestic trees. During the summer, the castle park is also the venue for numerous exhibitions, concerts, and theater performances, and when illuminated at night, it can be wonderfully seen from various points in the region. In the castle park, you can also find exciting attractions typical of Mediterranean gardens, such as the Palm House and the Bird Park, which are worth visiting! However, the Festetics heritage is not only found in the park. They left their mark on many buildings and areas in the city, and numerous museums and sights in the region are also associated with their name. You can explore the Festetics Route in our region, get to know the recently renovated Festetics Estate and (Little) Castle in Fenékpuszta, visit their cellars in Vonyarcvashegy at the Festetics Helikon Tavern, and even have the opportunity to taste the historical Festetics Menu from this summer. Many other city museums are also associated with their name.
They laid the foundation for cultural interest in our city, so today Keszthely has become the City of Museums:
Georgikon Major Historical Exhibition Site
Balaton Museum
Amazon House Visitor Center
Marzipan Museum
House of Stoves
Radio and Television Museum
Museums of Keszthely Downtown
1. Nostalgia and Kitsch Museum // 2. Snail Parliament and Panopticon // 3. Horrorarium and Torture Museum
4. Folk Costume Doll Museum // 5. Cheerful Toy Museum // 6. Renaissance Erotic Panopticon
Keszthely plays an important role in the western region of Lake Balaton,
serving as a cultural center hosting many attractions and regional administrative institutions. Nevertheless, the attractions of the Festetics heritage encompass the entire region, including the world-famous spa town of Hévíz, located approximately 4 kilometers away, which can be easily reached by direct bus service. The former bath of the Festetics family was visited all year round, and its rightly famous thermal water and therapeutic treatments are known in almost every country. The lake is a fantastic sight in every season, but its winter view, with temperatures above 36 degrees Celsius, simply enchants visitors.
Active Sports in Four Seasons
The four-season Balaton is primarily attractive to Hungarian and foreign tourists in the summer.
However, it is worth knowing that from early spring to late autumn, numerous outdoor events,
festivals, active sports, and recreational opportunities await guests here. The best beaches of Lake
Balaton from Keszthely to Balatonederics, with delicious local dishes, various services, and programs,
are prepared for the season. In addition to swimming, there is the opportunity for windsurfing,
sailing rental - with or without a captain - and boating from the Bahart harbors - Keszthely is one of
them. In the Keszthely Mountains, there are short and long hiking trails, and well-accessible,
renowned viewpoints can be found in many villages or near them. Among the ongoing programs, it is
worth mentioning the nearby castles to visit (Sümeg) and castle ruins (Rezi, Szigliget), or the animal
parks (Festetics Imre Animal Park, Bird Park, Africa Museum) and botanical gardens (Folly Arboretum,
Balaton Uplands National Park), as there is much to find near Keszthely. The proximity of the Balaton
Uplands is also attractive to many. In the embrace of the witness hills with wonderful locations, the
region awaits its visitors all year round with its famous producer's market (Káptalantóti Liliomkert
Market), smaller and larger restaurants (Mi a Kő), and renowned inns.
In addition, bicycles, roller skates, and segways are available nearby, but there are also many riding stables offering services, and in Gyenesdiás, the Sportház or the No1 Salon in Keszthely offer bowling, or the latter darts and billiard tables. So enthusiasts of various active sports will find plenty of opportunities for relaxation in our city and its surroundings.
Balaton Gastronomy - with delicious dishes, local producers, and gastronomic programs throughout the year!
Get to know the world of Balaton gastronomy a bit, as the Zala quince and the pálinka made from it are extraordinary, but we can also mention the Balaton fish, or the volcanic effects of Badacsony on our wines. If you're here, you should also get to know Bakonyi Károly and the Cserszegi Fűszeres grape variety in the Zala wine-growing areas. And, of course, you must taste them! Zala winemakers make their wines available at numerous places (Varsás Cellar in Gyenesdiás, Darnay Cellar in Gyenesdiás), and it's worth tasting the Italian Riesling, Cserszegi Fűszeres, and Pinot Gris with us in every season! In terms of restaurant offerings, one of the gems of our city is the Keszthely Halászcsárda, which is very close to our Guesthouse and awaits its guests directly on the waterfront with traditional, Hungarian, and fish dishes and daily opening hours throughout the year. However, in our city, not only Hungarian and classic dishes can be tasted; lovers of Mexican, Italian, Indian, and Far Eastern flavors will also find something to their liking in the downtown area. (Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant, Piccola Napoli, Pajti, Klassz Kultbisztró) However, special restaurants and culinary dreams are available throughout the region, so it's worth turning to us, and if you tell us what you desire, we will reveal where you can find it. Trust us at the VillArt Guesthouse, and we promise to recommend the most suitable programs for you according to your needs!
The Citadel of Culture
In Keszthely and its surroundings, numerous writers, poets, painters, actors, and renowned artists have made their mark or lived a shorter or longer period of their lives. In addition to the members of the Festetics family, for example, the memorial room of Szendrey Júlianna is still visitable in Keszthely, but when visiting this city, besides the Festetics, it is worth getting to know many other great names. Bertha Bulcsú, or the former beauty queen Simon Böske, or the painters, Mikus Gyula, “the painter of Balaton”; Egry József, or our very own Bánk Bán, Simándy József, or actors like Raksányi Gellért, Soós Imre, or Kauczki Armand, who recently moved here. In addition to our many celebrities, our country’s laureate, József Attila Prize-winning contemporary poet and writer, Szálinger Balázs, also comes from here, but also well-known from Zala is the humorist Bödöcs Tibor, recognized in Hungary. Our guesthouse is a bit of a memory of the past, as when you visit us, you will immerse yourself in a truly unique artistic environment, and in Keszthely, you can come across a small slice of culture, a bite of tradition, or a sip of volcanic essence in any season!