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Visiting Hungary |
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 Hungary, also known as the "Country of the Magyars", is located Central Europe.
Hungary's terrain consists mainly low plains with rolling hills and plenty of water. It has no seacoasts but does encompass Lake Balaton - Central Europe's largest lake - known to the Magyars as the "Hungarian Sea". The country and capital city of Budapest is split by the major waterway of the Danube River, Buda being situated on one bank of the river and Pest on the other. The country lays claim to Hévíz Spa which is the world's largest thermal lake, and within Hungary's borders there are in excess of 1,000 hot and mineral springs with a capacity for more than 300,000 visitors simultaneously. These are to be found all over the country, in the larger cities such as Budapest as well as smaller town and outlying villages including Bük, Balf, Hajdúszoboszló, Debrecen, Gyula, Sárvár, and Zalakaros. All watersports, including kayaking, windsurfing and sailing, are popular recreational activities for both locals and visitors. Hungarian food is outstanding and hearty. Almost everyone worldwide is acquainted with one form or another of Goulash (Gulyás) and other stews and thick soups very often flavored with sweet or spicy paprika. Popular dishes include stuffed cabbage leaves (Töltött káposzta), meat stews (Pörkölt) and a rich cake layered with chocolate with a hard caramel glaze called Dobos Torta. The Tokay wines of of Tokaj foothill wine country are appreciated world-wide. Hungarian music is rich in the haunting tones and rhythms of the Cimbalom and Violin. The Táncháztalálkozó Festival (Dance House or Tanchaz Festival) takes place in Budapest annually. The Sziget Festival, also held in Budapest every summer, is a major musical and cultural Festival venue in Europe. Visitors to Hungary can enjoy tours of the country's several World Heritage sites, it's historic castles and country mansions, the rolling wine country, the shores and traditions of the Lake Balaton area and the entire range of incredible and colorful variety of experiences offered at every turn. |
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Hungary's World Heritage sites
- Budapest
- the Buda and Pest banks of the Danube between Szabadság Bridge and Margaret Bridge
- the Castle Quarter in Buda
- Gellért Hill with the Liberty Statue, the Citadel and the Gellért Baths
- the Waterfront area
- Andrássy Street and the Millennium Underground
- Hero's Square area
- The village of Hollókő located 100 kms. from Budapest in the Cserhát hills. The Castle overlooks Bükk National Park. Medieval village and 60 protected buildings with gabled roofs and carved decorations.
- Caves of the Aggtelek and Slovakian karst - Europe's largest cave system. The Baradla-cave is 25 kms. long.
- The 1000-year-old monastery of the Benedictine order, St. Martin's in Pannonia. Tours only with official tour guides.
- The Hortobágy National Park near Debrecen, consisting of 82 thousand hectares of protected areas and biosphere reserve, including grasslands, fishponds and marshes.
- The early Christian cemetery of Sopianae (Pécs) in southern Hungary. The Roman settlement of Sopianae flourished as a provincial capital in the 1st to 4th C. and it was the site of Hungary's first university (1367). Excavations of the cemetery have uncovered a wealth of artifacts and relics.
- Lake Fertő spanning the Austrian/Hungarian border is part of Fertő-Hanság National Park, declared a UNESCO biosphere reservation in 1979. A haven for more than 200 types of nesting birds and a number of rare plant species. Visits to certain areas can be made by special permit only; the lake itself is a popular spot for swimming and other water sports.
- The Tokaj Foothills and wine country, encompassing 27 villages, is noted for it's expertise and excellence in winemaking as well as it's natural, architectural and local cultural heritage and local traditions. A festival of Tokaj (Tokay) wines is held in the area every May.
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