Northern Hungary

The highest hills in Hungary are situated in the northern part of the country. The ridges of the Cserhát, Mátra, Bükk and Zempléni mountains hold incomparable natural, cultural and historical treasures.

UNESCO considered three places in the area to be worth preserving as a part of the World Heritage program. The folk art of this region has extraordinarily colorful forms: Palóc embroideries and Matyó costumes are unparalleled in the country. The health spas are visited by rheumatic patients. 

Aggtelek National Park

Aggtelek National Park contains one of Europe's largest stalactite caves. The Baradla Cave is a World Heritage site and, according to scientists, is one of the  world's most wonderful geographic phenomena. Tours are conducted from the  three entrances of the cave. The Cave Museum presents the history of the Aggtelek karst (limestone). The site has been an international biosphere reserve since 1979. An additional artificial entrance to the world-famous cave has been opened in Jósvafõ. This enchanting little mountain village, reached by meandering roads, is criss-crossed by the Jósva Stream.

Bükk Mountains

The most scenic parts of the Bükk Mountains are the Bükk Plateau and the rocky crags rising around it. These crags have names such as Istállós-kõ, Tar-kõ and Õr-kõ. Nearby caves feature world-famous prehistoric archaeological finds.

Lillafüred-Szilvásvárad

 One of the most spectacular holiday resorts in the country, Lillafüred, is on the shore of the Hámori Lake, surrounded by mountains. Lillafüred can be reached from Miskolc by road and by light railway. Its romantic atmosphere is enhanced by the fabulous Hotel Palota. Two caves offer a special experience to lovers of nature.

In summer you can take a light railway excursion on the most popular route through Bükk National Park, the 5-kilometre long, wonderful Szalajka Valley. The railway starts from Szilvásvárad. The train takes you to the amazing Fátyol [Veil] Waterfalls. The nearby Open-air Forest Museum gives an insight into the life of the charcoal manufacturers who lived here in the 19th century.

The world-famous Lippizaner stud of the Viennese Spanish Riding School grazes at nearby Csipkéskút. The flora of Bükk is exhibited in the Orbán House. The former Pallavicini Palace, standing in the middle of the wild park, functions as a hotel, surrounded by holiday houses.

Miskolc and surroundings

Miskolc, the third largest town in the country, is known for its industrial traditions as well as its rich history and culture. Its monuments are of outstanding interest: the Greek Orthodox Church is decorated with the largest iconostasis in Central Europe. The Avas Hill is known for its wine cellars. The Avas lookout tower offers a panorama of the city. There are 18th century Baroque buildings such as the Minorite Church and Monastery, the Lutheran Church and the Church of Mindszenty. The 17th century House of Rákóczi houses the Gallery of Miskolc. This institution presents the life-work of famous Hungarian graphic artists born in the city. The gallery of the Ottó Herman Museum and the mineral collection are also worth a visit.

The medieval, four-tower Diósgyõr Castle was the dowry of Hungarian queens. The exhibition in the round tower and the annual historical castle show in August recall those times.

In neighbouring Újmassa, the Massa Museum presents the history of Diósgyõr iron production. The Garadna trout farm, the ruins of the Pauline Monastery in Szentlélek, the Bánkút ski centre and the lookout places of the Bükk Mountains are worthwhile possible excursions.

Miskolctapolca`s thermal cave bath is a natural formation. The water, rich in minerals, and the crystalline air of the cave have a healing effect on heart and vascular, rheumatic and respiratory disorders. Bathing here is an awesome experience, thanks to the special light effects, the underground stream and the bubble bath. Boating is relaxing on the scenic lake encircled by wild trees.

Eger

Eger, the thousand-year-old Episcopal seat, is one of the most beautiful Baroque towns in the country. With an illustrious historical past and a valuable heritage of monuments and buildings, Eger is also known as the `Town of Patriotism`. In 1552, István Dobó, the castle commander, held out for over a month with his tiny company against the Turkish troops. This was a frontier castle during the Turkish era.

The Castle contains the István Dobó Castle Museum which displays the history of the town. Other relics from the 150 year-long Turkish occupation are the Minaret and the famous Turkish Bath with its open-air pools. Open all year round, the therapeutic water is recommended for the healing of rheumatic diseases.

The classical Cathedral has the largest organ in the country. The late Baroque Lyceum -today a teacher training college- has one of the most beautiful libraries in Hungary. The Spekula Observatory astronomical museum is located in the library tower. The Archiepiscopal Palace contains 250 year-old historical treasures.

Széchenyi Street, the town's pedestrian street, has many restaurants, brasseries and terraced confectioneries. Eger is also the town of wine. The excellent red and white wines of the famous historic wine district are sold in cellars which are hundreds of years old. Visit the Szépasszony Valley where cellars are dug into the porous rock. You can also taste the world-famous Bikavér (Bull's Blood) of Eger. The Palóc Folklore Exhibition offers a survey of the ethnography of the region.

Hollókõ

Hollókõ is secluded among the ridges of the Cserhát Mountains. It has remarkably preserved its medieval structure. The centre is a living museum village. It was the first village to be included by UNESCO on the World Heritage List of protected heritage sites. Exhibitions include the Post Museum, the Weaving House, the House of Crafts and the Village Museum. Visitors may stay in several of the houses. The 13th century castle on the hill next to the village offers a wonderful panoramic view.

Mátra Mountain

The "top" of Hungary is the Kékes, a 1014-metre high Mátra Mountains peak. The unparalleled panorama can be seen from the television tower lookout. There is a winter sports centre and a health-resort. The nearby hotel at Galyatetõ welcomes guests all year round. The excellent quality of the air helps convalescence after various illnesses. Mátrafüred, Mátraháza and Mátraszentimre - are favorite destinations for rural tourism.

Matyóland

The inhabitants of the "Matyóland", the villages Mezõkövesd, Tard and Szentistván, are famous for two things: the preservation of their Catholic faith in a Protestant environment and their especially colorful costumes. On the fresco of the Roman Catholic Church the Blessed Virgin is pictured in Matyó costume, which is a rarity in church art. The wonderful embroidery can be seen at the Kiss Janko Bori House at Mezõkövesd. The Machine Museum has the country`s largest agricultural machinery collection. The excellent Zsóri Bath can be found at the edge of the town.

Palócland

 Parád, the center of the "Palócland", is one of the oldest thermal resorts of the country. Its colorful folk costumes are typified by the characteristic fabric hood, woven in a rich set of patterns. The 200 year-old Palóc House presents the life of the Palóc folk and masterpieces of wood carving.

Parádfürdõ has been known since the 17th century. Its unique places of interest are the aristocratic Fancy Stable [Cifra Istálló], covered with red marble, and the Coach Museum, presenting the history of the world-famous Hungarian carriage-making industry. The therapeutic water of Parádfürdõ is used mainly for the healing of gynecological disorders.

 Parádsasvár is famous for its Parád Medicinal Water. This drinking water helps heal respiratory and gastric complaints and is also recommended for hangovers. The former mansion of the Károlyi Counts is now a luxurious five-star hotel. The famous glass decorative objects of Parád have been produced in the glass-works since the middle of the 18th century.

Sárospatak

Sárospatak used to be a favorite estate of the Honorable Prince Ferenc Rákóczi II, who fought for Hungarian liberty against the Habsburgs. The Castle is rich in Gothic and Renaissance details and houses the Rákóczi Museum. The castle church posesses a Baroque organ and the country's largest wooden altar. In the museum of Calvinist College founded in 1531, wonderful religious art treasures can be found.

The library with its rare early manuscripts is worth a visit. The Roman Catholic ecclesiastical collection is housed on the first floor of the former Jesuit Monastery. From the pier on the River Bodrog there is a regular pleasure-boat service between Sárospatak and Tokaj.

Tokaj

The historic Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region has provided the world with the famous Aszú of Tokaj, known for 450 years as the "King of Wines, the Wine of Kings". An exhibition on the illustrious history of this noble drink, honored in the Middle Ages as a medicine, can be seen in the Tokaj Museum.

Tour routes lead to the volcanic Great Hill, where there are abundant protected plants and a panoramic view. This view has recently become a World Heritage Site.

Lake Balaton

The "Hungarian Sea", is the people's name for the 50 mile long lake with silky green-yellow water in the middle of Transdanubia. Lake Balaton is one of Hungary's most precious treasures and most frequented resort. It is the largest lake in Central Europe. At its center, the depth is 52.5 ft. The southern shores are ideal for small children because of the shallow water. On the north shore the water gets deeper immediately. The summer water temperature of around 80 °F is warmer than the air in the morning and in the evening. The water and the silky mud of the lake are very good remedies for nervous complaints, anemia and nervous fatigue.

Rich vineyards in the region produce an assortment of excellent wines that go very well with the delicious local food. Large numbers of inns and restaurants welcome guests from home and abroad.

Northern Shore

Between Balatonakarattya and Keszthely, there are approximately 25 lakeside resorts surrounded by hills on the northern lake shore. The innumerable sights in villages and towns away from the lake offer memorable outings for a cloudy day.

Balatonalmádi

Balatonalmádi has the longest beach on the northern shore. Its Chapel of the Holy Right Hand is ornate with gold mosaic from Venice. On the 4-mile path called "Red Sandstone", signposts indicate the interesting sights of the Balaton Highlands National Park. The symbol of Vörösberény is its 13th-century medieval fortress church.

Felsõörs
Felsõörs can be proud of its Provost's Church, built in the 13th century. Its 5-register organ made in 1745 is played for the popular summer organ concerts. There is a geological study path at Hill Forrás, allowing us an insight into the tertiary period of the Earth's history.

Balatonfüred
Balatonfüred was important to social life in the 18th century, even before bathing and swimming took off as a mass pastime a hundred years later. This is the place where the first Balaton steamship started its trips. The first yachtsmen's association began here. Here were built the villas of 19th-century celebrities, suchs as the villa (now a memorial museum) of the great romantic novelist, Jókai Mór. The town is still the center of festivities. The annual Anna Ball, with the coronation of the Queen of the Ball, has been organized in the town theatre for 170 years, on the last Saturday of July. Start-of-sailing parties are held each May in the Rose Garden.

Patients have been treated for three hundred years with the help of the mineral water sources. This water is good for diabetes and digestive malfunctions; you can taste it in the Kossuth Lajos drinking house next door to the Hospital of cardiology and the Sanatorium Building.

Tihany
The twin-towered church of the Tihany peninsula is distinctly visible far and wide. The peninsula, inhabited almost a thousand years, is of volcanic origin, and has a profusion of rare plants and animals. The crypt of King András I, founded in 1055, survived the turbulent past and still stands in its original form. The present church was built over the crypt in the 18th century in Baroque style and has many precious wood carvings. In the Museum of the Benedictine Abbey, you can find an exhibition about ancient times. There are frequent organ concerts in the abbey church in summertime.

The Open-air Ethnographic Museum, the rural houses of the old village and the Potter's House show the life of fishermen. From the natural lookouts of the peninsula-the Kiserdõ top and the 'Golden House', the most beautiful among more than a hundred geyser cones-an unforgettable panorama opens onto the Inner Lake, so loved by anglers, and the Outer Lake where tens of thousands of birds nest.
A ferry from one of the prettiest ports on Lake Balaton heads for Szántód, one mile from here, on the southern shore.

Örvényes

In Örvényes the still active water-mill that stands next to the more than 200 year-old bridge on the Pécsely stream, was milling wheat as early as 1211. It still uses the ancient tools of the millers' profession.

Balatonudvari
In the cemetery of Balatonudvari you can find approximately 50 graves with heart-shaped tombstones from the years 1808-1840.

Kál Basin
Kál Basin region is particularly attractive because of the medieval ruins of palaces and churches, as well as the peculiar geological formations. Extinguished volcanoes surround the villages there. The mineral water source on the outskirts of Kékkút, producing the famous bottled water, Theodora, was known to the Romans. The clusters of basalt columns and small crater lakes like Lake Kornyi of Mount Hegyestû, the basalt columns of the Fekete-hegy [Black Mount], and the wind-eroded stones of bizarre shape that are world-wide rarities and stand at Szentbékkálla, Kõvágóörs and Salföld, are really special. This basin is a very popular place for rural tourism because of its old peasant houses, and the quiet life of the countryside.

Badacsony
It is worthwhile to tour the strange basalt formations of Badacsony. The panorama is amazing from the porch of the Baroque Kisfaludy House, or from Ranolder Cross. The excellent wine of the Pauline monks called 'Grey Monk' [Szürkebarát] is pressed here. The Badacsony Regional Protection Area consists of wonderful volcanic hills, such as Gulács, Csobánc, Mount St. George.

Szigliget
Szigliget has a unique atmosphere with its houses creeping up the hillside and its green gardens. The old village consists of thatched rural houses. There is a stunning panorama from the ruins of the 13th-century Szigliget Fortress on Castle Hill. The Esterházy Palace is now a house for writers. There are more than 150 types of pine trees in its well-kept park.

Balatonederics
The renowned Hungarian hunter in Africa, Endre von Nagy, established a Safari Park and Africa Museum at Balatonederics. Nearby, the recently uncovered enormous Csodabogyós stalactite cave can be visited by appointment.

Keszthely

Keszthely is the largest and oldest settlement of Lake Balaton. The beautiful Festetics Mansion, with 101 rooms surrounded by an English park, is the third largest chateau in the country. The Helikon Library contains 86 thousand books. In its Museum, decorative arms and the trophy collection of the Duke of Windischgrätz are exhibited. Weekly concerts are organized in the music hall of mirrors.

The Georgikon Agriculture Museum and the Balaton Museum display the flora and fauna of the Balaton Region. Remnants of the castrum (fortress) of the 2-4th century Roman town of Valcum can be seen at Fenékpuszta.

Southern Shore

Velvety sands cover the 70-kilometre beach on the southern shore from Balatonaliga through Balatonszentgyörgy. The beach is an uninterrupted line of large and small resorts teeming with bustling life, a paradise for worshippers of sun and water, particularly families with small children.

Siófok

Siófok is the largest town on the southern side of Lake Balaton. Its port serves every boat route on the lake. Cruise boats also start from here. The hotels of the Golden and Silver Beaches are very much in demand. The pleasant parks are ornamented with statues. The Lutheran church has a remarkable style. The composer of the internationally renowned operettas, Imre Kálmán (1882-1953), is the famous son of this city. His piano and many personal belongings can be seen in his museum. The Water Management Museum covers the history of shipping and fishery on Lake Balaton, while a huge collection of minerals is exhibited in the Museum of Minerals.

Beyond the Lake

When you visit Lake Balaton, it makes sense not to limit your visit to the towns directly on the shore. After all, the region beyond the lake has plenty of natural beauty, history, and culture to explore.

Nagyvázsony

A wonderful panorama can be seen from the tower of the castle of Kinizsi Pál (15th century), at Nagyvázsony. The history and archaeological finds are shown in the Fortress Museum. The ruins of the Pauline church and monastery, and the interior of St. Stephen's church are reminiscent of the 15th century. The Zichy Palace is a hotel today with a functioning riding school. The garden, a protected area, is the venue for the current Nagyvázsony Horsemen Festivals. Exhibitions invite the visitor at the Post Office Museum and at the thatched Schumacher House.

Tapolca

The area of Tapolca has a splendid landscape: basalt hills covered with vineyards encircle the small town. You can have a great experience paddling a boat on a lake within the 2.3 mile-long Tavas Cave. The 200-year-old watermill on the shore of the picturesque Malom [Mill] Lake is now a hotel. One of the oldest elementary school buildings in Central Europe contains the town's library and museum.

Hévíz

Hévíz ['Hot Water'] is extremely fortunate to have its Thermal Bath which has been attracting visitors for more than two centuries. The Lake is covered with water-lilies and extends over an area of approximately 30 square-miles, with a depth of 118 feet at the center. It is the second largest hot-water lake in the world, at a temperature of 90°F, open-air bathing is very pleasant even in winter. Treatments are conducted under the supervision of specialized doctors from the Hospital of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation.

Kis-Balaton

The Kis-Balaton [Balaton Minor] area is a swampy region with tens of thousands of birds nesting in the reeds. You can watch their life from the Kányavári Island and the lookout tower of Pap Island. These protected areas can only be visited with a special pass and an escort. In the near-by Kápolnapuszta, you can visit the one and only buffalo reserve of Central Europe.

Zalakaros

The medicinal center of the Zalakaros spa is very popular with its tubs and underwater traction bath. In the well-tended garden, a new recreation complex is under development. New hotels and vacation houses are springing up, and the thermal caravan camp with its own swimming pool is also popular.

Somogyvár

In Somogyvár the third historic memorial shrine of Hungary, the restored remains of the St. Egyed Benedictine Basilica (founded in 1091) can be seen.

Western Transdanubia

The western area of Hungary offers a rich variety of beautiful and fascinating attractions - quaint medieval towns and villages, Baroque and Renaissance palaces, fortresses perched on rocky crags, romantic castle ruins, healing spas, stunning churches, and protected natural landscapes of forests, lakes and wetlands.

The region is rich in thermal springs. Come and enjoy the soothing effects of the baths in Balf, Sárvár and Bükfürdõ. Those interested in ethnology will certainly appreciate the incomparable blend of local cultures (German, Croatian, Wendish, Jewish and Hungarian). The various types of red wines of the region, and the colorful vintage season celebrations around Lake Fertõ are other tempting reasons to visit. 

Gyõr

Gyõr at the meeting point of the rivers Danube, Rába and Rábca is often called "the town of rivers". It is the gateway to the west, situated between the Austrian and the Hungarian Capital. This is a Baroque and neo-Classical town, with a magnificent cathedral, palaces, doorways framed in stone, and elaborate wrought iron decorations. The majority of protected buildings stand within the 16th century city-walls. See the Town Hall, the Széchenyi Pharmacy Museum, the lavishly decorated Rosalia house, the Carmelite church, the Municipal Gallery, and many more.

On the Káptalan Hill, the episcopal castle stands face to face with the imposing baroque cathedral. The masterpiece of medieval Hungarian goldsmith's craft, the statue of St. László (Hungarian king) is kept here. The treasury of the cathedral has the second richest ecclesiastic collection in Hungary.

The town is an important educational center: among its famous teachers was Jedlik Ányos, who invented the dynamo. Two famous artists, the ceramicist Kovács Margit and the sculptor, Borsos Miklós were born here. The ceramics of Ms. Kovács can be seen in the Kreszta House, while the Borsos Miklós Memorial House displays his sculpture collection.

Every year, during the Gyõr Summer International Cultural Festival, the scenery of the baroque inner city provides the background for the international ballet, a street-theatre and puppet festival, as well as a folk dance and folk music festival. The Gyõri National Theatre and the Gyõr Philharmonic and the world-famous Gyõr Ballet Company are the hosts of several foreign companies, musicians and bands.

Sopron

Sopron sits close to the Austrian border and is a treasure trove of historic buildings. With foundations from Roman times, the 185 ft. high Fire Tower has become the symbol of the city. Also worth seeing are the numerous old churches, such as the Dominican and the Evangelic, a synagogue dating back to Gothic times, and former burgess houses, like the Storno and the Fabricius, and the Caesar House with its Venetian-style balcony.

The town is surrounded by the pine-covered Lõvérek Mountain, a great area to explore. The vineyards produce fine wines, like the Soproni Kékfrankos. There are many tourist attractions outside of the city. In the garden town of Sopronbánfalva, the impressive Carmelite church building and monastery with Baroque steps look down from a hill.

Fertõrákos, with its water camp and quarry reminding one of the Egyptian rock temples, is part of the bird paradise of the Fertõ-Hanság National Park. Today the Cave Theater performs there. A summer opera performance is an unforgettable experience in the midst of the magnificent scenery. A spiral staircase takes you up to the rooftop, where a panorama opens to Lake Fertõ.

Fertõd

Near Sopron, the castle in Fertõd, known as the 'Hungarian Versailles' is an outstanding example of Hungary's baroque architecture.

The Eszterházy Palace, built over a period 46 years starting in 1720, is the largest and most beautiful Baroque chateau in Hungary. There is a breathtaking rococo garden in the huge park around the palace. Today, its museum displays valuable objects from the 18th century aristocratic palaces. The world-famous composer and musical director, Joseph Haydn, spent more than a decade in this palace as the in-house composer for the Eszterházy family.

Pannonhalma

The buildings of the thousand-year old abbey in Pannonhalma are situated on a hilltop and command a fine view of the surrounding countryside. The Abbey was founded in 996 and consecrated in 1001 by the first Hungarian king, St. Stephen, who was later canonized. As a guardian of the country's cultural treasures it houses one of Hungary's most valuable libraries and is on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

Ják

 Hungary's  most beautiful Romanesque church can be found in Ják. The monumental former Benedictine Abbey church was built between 1214 and 1256. Its delightful gateway is decorated by numerous statues.

 The inside of the church is divided into three parts by enormous rows of pillars. 700 year-old frescoes decorate the walls.

Kõszegi Mountains

The Kõszegi Mountains, in the Kõszegi Nature Protection Region, are rich in plant life.The peak of Írott-kõ is the highest point of Transdanubia. The village of Cák is famous for the protected row of 8 thatched wine cellars and periodic exhibitions about grape cultivation. There is an excellent panorama from the 13th century chapel of St. Vid on top of the hill overlooking the resort village of Velem. This area has a sub-alpine climate. A protected park surrounds the famous monument of the village of Bozsok: the Sibrik Palace built as a royal hunting lodge.

Kõszeg

Kõszeg is probably the only city in the world where the bells toll at 11 a.m. in celebration of a victory over the Turks. In this Sub-Alpine treasure box town, every building has its own history. The four-corner-turreted Jurisics Fortress (named after the brave Captain of the fortress) was built in the 13th century and received its present form after the fire of 1777.

The largest bastion on the city walls is the Old Tower (or Zwinger). In the Fortress Museum you can see the arms of the siege, historical memories of the city of Kõszeg, and interiors of the 18th and 19th centuries. The courtyard is a venue for performances of the Kõszeg Fortress Theatre. Marvellous architectural monuments surround one of the most attractive city centers in Hungary-Jurisics Square. Its imposing entrance is the Heroes' Gate, built for the 400th anniversary of the Turkish blockade.

Objects relating to the history of guilds and the small artisan professions of Kõszeg-watchmakers, butchers, comb makers, blacksmiths, pastry cooks, barbers, weavers and photographers-are illustrated in an exhibition in the late-Renaissance building called the General's House. The 500 year-old Town Hall was built with architectural styles from 15th-century Gothic up to the Baroque. The Golden Unicorn Pharmacy Museum collected medicinal herbs and the best items from other old pharmacies.

Bük

Bük, at the Austrian border, is well-known all over Europe thanks to its medicinal baths. The bath of Bük has been healing for 36 years. Thermal water pools are open and functioning all year round.

Treatments are offered for complaints of the digestive system and blood circulation, and there is a rheumatology and a physiotherapy section. Holidaymakers can stay in fine thermal and wellness hotels and use the recreational park. The Birdland Golf & Country Club, which is the prettiest golf center in Hungary, has 9 and 18-hole courses.

Nagycenk

Nagycenk is the home of Count István Széchenyi (1791-1860), known as one of the greatest Hungarians. He built the Chain Bridge, the first permanent bridge over the Danube, founded the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (both are in Budapest), pioneered steam shipping on the Danube and racehorse-breeding in Hungary. The Széchenyi Palace was turned into a Memorial Museum.

The Széchenyi Museum Railway takes you to Fertõboz where an unsurpassed panorama opens from the classical Gloriette to Lake Fertõ [Neusiedler]. In the Locomotive Museum, steam engines, passenger carriages, goods and lumber wagons represent the history of narrow-gauge railroads. In the nearby cemetery, the founder of the Hungarian National Museum (in Budapest), Count Ferenc Széchényi built the family mausoleum where István Széchenyi is also buried.

Sárvár

Sárvár is a holiday resort. The charm of this small city and the medicinal water used to help cure rheumatism, post-fracture complaints and gynecological disorders, attract visitors. While the curing affect of the water can be tested in the first-class hotels, the Sárvár thermal crystal, distilled here, can be used at home for regeneration and conditioning baths.

A long stone bridge leads to the five sided Nádasdy Castle, which now houses a beautiful museum. In the lavishly decorated rooms, exhibitions present the interwoven history of the castle and the town, the life of Hungarian Hussards, and an abundant collection of applied art. The 400 year-old oak trees are the pride of the Sárvár Arboretum.

Szombathely

Szombathely, the former Savaria, was founded in 43 A.D. by Claudius, the divine Roman emperor. Two archaeological excavations help us visualize the luxurious lifestyle of those times. Relics that can be seen in the Garden of Ruins include: the details of the largest mosaic of the Lieutenant-Governor's palace, the foundation walls of a 9th-century fortress built of Roman stones, an almost 50-metre section of the 2000 year-old Amber Road, and the shrine to Mercury. The pieces of the public bath and the customs house are kept in the Savaria Museum.

The 2nd-century Isis shrine of the Iseum garden of ruins serve as background for the Iseum Summer Open-air Festival. The largest Baroque church in Hungary is the twin-towered Bishop's cathedral. The enormous interior is decorated with frescos, paintings and sculptures. The ceremonial hall of the Zopf-style bishop's palace is one of the best Baroque halls in the country. The Diocesan Museum is worth visiting for its lavish collection of ecclesiastic art. Its Library and Archive exhibits the paintings of Dorfmeister.

The Smidt Museum has an incredibly profuse collection of applied art, while the exhibitions of the Szombathely Gallery give you a taste of contemporary Hungarian art. Thirty seven buildings from 27 villages have been included in the Village Museum of Vas County. The nearby lakes are equally good for boating and fishing. The largest arboretum in Hungary, the Kámon Arboretum, has an enormous quantity of rhododendron bushes that blossom in May.

Õrség

This gently sloping recreational region of Õrség covered with forests played an important frontier-guarding role from the 10th century onward. The inhabitants settled on well-protected hilltops in so-called detachments consisting of 5 to 10 groups of houses (szer). These 18 villages preserve a form of settlement remaining from the time of the Hungarian conquest: almost every village has some old houses and belfries. The most beautiful of them is the skirted belfry in Pankasz. Õriszentpéter is the center of the Õrség. Its church, named after the Apostle St. Peter, is a relic from Romanesque times. The Õrség Exhibition House (regional museum) deserves your attention. The characteristic relics of popular architecture can be seen in the village of Szalafõ, which consists of seven 'detachments', in the open-air museum of ethnography at Pityerszer.

The highlights are the thatched "fenced" house and the store-room consisting of more than one floor. Wonderful frescos can be seen in the 13th-century church of Velemér. You will also see a medieval church at Hegyhátszentjakab. The Vadása Lake near the village is a popular resort. The Regional Protection Area of Õrség is the largest in Hungary; with 200 springs and 15 fresh-water streams in it. There are 500 species of large butterflies and a grass called lady's mantle that does not grow anywhere else. Regional pottery products are on sale in the Õrség fair of June. The fair also has popular entertainment events.