Sights of Badacsonytomaj

The settlement lying on the Badacsony Peninsula on the western side of Lake Balaton is located in a most spectacular micro region. Its main attractions are the natural environment, its hill and the vineyards on its slopes.

Badacsonytomaj comprises two settlements, Badacsony and Tomaj, as its name suggests.

Tradition has it that the town was named after Tomaj, erstwhile lord of the region and knight of King St Stephen. The settlement once had a Pauline monastery; its ruins were excavated in 1887.

The local inhabitants lived from fishing, grape cultivation and fruit production. Wines produced locally achieved great fame by the early 19th century. Railway traffic reached the town in 1909 and exerted a positive effect on the development of local tourism.

The basalt hill of the Badacsony, a rare natural asset, is a favoured destination for excursions. The spectacular 'Basalt Organs' are a remnant from once active volcanoes, while the lookout tower at the top offers a fantastic panorama over the landscape. The territory has been part of the Upper Balaton National Park (Balaton-felvidéki Nemzeti Park) since 1965. Since the early 1900's, nature-lovers have been able to enjoy the Folly Arboretum on Sentry Hill (Örs-hegy), which shows species that utilise the particular climate of the Balaton and can also tolerate aridity.

The House of Róza Szegedy offers a glimpse of the area's wine culture and the tools of grape cultivation whilst also being a venue for cultural events. The Balaton Almanach Exhibition is hosted in the House, displaying the manuscripts of Hungarian poets about Lake Balaton. The town's main attraction is the József Egry Museum. Known as the 'painter of the Balaton', Egry's works, a wealth of paintings of the Balaton and of Badacsony, are displayed in his former home.

How to get there:
By railway, take an express or InterCity train from Budapest to Tapolca or Székesfehérvár, then local trains commute between Székesfehérvár and Tapolca. From Keszthely local Volán buses serve the town. By car, take Route 71.

Accommodation in Badacsonytomaj: http://www.hungaryrooms.com/hotels/Badacsonytomaj/

Map of Badacsonytomaj: http://www.hungaryrooms.com/map/Badacsonytomaj/