Keszthely
Keszthely
Keszthely – at the western tip of the lake and just 20km from FlyBalaton Airport – is the cultural capital of the region, a university town where history’s footsteps echo loud. The 18th-century Festetics Palace is one of the most impressive aristocratic mansions in Hungary, with a splendid nobleman’s library containing over 80,000 books, a magnificent mirrored ballroom and a fountain that comes to life with a rainbow of coloured lights at 21.30 every evening. The palace is the venue for wonderful summer concerts.
Elsewhere you’ll find museums devoted to dolls, to agriculture, to torture and even to marzipan; the enormous Balaton Museum promises a fascinating insight into life on and around the lake through the centuries. Once you’ve visited the museums, take a dip at the Városi Strand with its reconstructed 19th-century pier jutting into the water or take a stroll around the bustling local market. With a good selection of hotels and private accommodation, and some excellent restaurants and bars, you can be sure that your stay in Keszthely will be memorable.
For further information, see www.keszthely.hu.
