Hungria Ocidental, Hungria

Sopron, the Baroque city; Kőszeg, the city like a jewel box; the fascinating Esterházy Castle of Fertőd; the gently sloping foothills of the Alps or the waving reeds of Lake Neusiedl (Hungarian Fertő-tó)… Who could miss the opportunity to see these beautiful places? Or who would not be charmed by the cottages of Őrség, representing centuries old traditions, and the endless hills of Zala region?

The mountainous area provides ample possibilities for hiking or cycling. The immense forests are full of grass-covered meadows, streams and rivers. It is also possible to go on water tours, although some Hungarian rivers are faster flowing than others.

Real plant curiosities can be seen in the arboretums and botanical gardens of the region. The arboretum of Szeleste, Pannonhalma, Sárvár; the Botanical Garden of Sopron, the Őrség-Raab-Goricko Nature Park, Brennberg Valley or the Jeli Arboretum have many sights in store for us. Furthermore, you can try such rare things as sweet chestnut or blueberry.

Several spas await those who would like to find relief for their problems, or for those who simply would like to recover their strength. The medicinal effect of these spas is famous all over the world.

If you would rather relax near a lake instead of a spa, then Lake Neusiedl with its nice warm water is the perfect place. Moreover, if you would like to sail or surf, then you can do it here as well.

Sopron, which is located right next to the Austrian border, is one of the most popular cities in the region. Visitors will find one of the most beautiful Baroque Hungarian environments in its unchanged inner city.

As for its size Kőszeg is smaller than Sopron, but as for its beauty it cannot be regarded as any less important. Its castle became a symbol of heroism against the Turks, when Miklós Jurisics managed to defend it against the Turkish army.

The most important secular building complex of Hungarian Baroque architecture, the Esterházy Castle, is situated in Fertőd. This has even been mentioned, in high terms, in contemporary English and French travelogues.

If you go southward, you will visit a highly characteristic area of Hungary, Őrség. This name derives from the fact that the duty of its population was to defend the western border centuries ago. For easier defence, groups of a few houses, which are called szer in Hungarian, were formed rather than usual villages.

If we are talking about the pleasures of the region, wines must be included. For instance, Kékfrankos was named after the fact that Napoleon’s soldiers used to pay for their favourite wine with blue franc.