Attractions along the route
Attractions
of the Balaton Uplands
The route passes more than 40 attractions – from church ruins and lookout towers to charming villages and the natural treasures of the Balaton Uplands. Here are some of the finest.
Balatonfüred – The Red Church
Hard to miss, the Church of Christ the King rises above downtown Balatonfüred with its twin 35-metre towers. Built in Neo-Romanesque style from the region's distinctive Permian red sandstone, it was completed in 1927 to the designs of Gáspár Fábián. Measuring 40 metres in length and 20 metres in width, it is the kind of building that makes people instinctively stop and look up.
Balatonfüred – The Round Church
The neoclassical Round Church, with its Greek-cross floor plan and design inspired by Rome's Pantheon, stands out even in historic Balatonfüred. Consecrated on 21 June 1846, the ceremony was attended by Ferenc Deák himself. The altarpiece, painted by Henriette Kärling, depicts Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well – a symbolic reference to Balatonfüred's famous healing springs and spa heritage.
Balatonfüred – Tagore Promenade and the Trees of Nobel Laureates
The most famous lakeside promenade on Lake Balaton began with a single linden tree planted in 1926 by Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel Prize-winning Indian poet, in gratitude for the medical treatment he received in Balatonfüred. Since then, laureates including Eugene Wigner, Edward Teller, George Oláh and John Harsanyi have planted trees here too, making the promenade a living museum of science and culture.
Tihany – Benedictine Abbey, King Andrew I and the Echo of Tihany
Founded in 1055, the Benedictine Abbey of Tihany is still an active monastery today, and its founding charter contains the earliest surviving written words in the Hungarian language. King Andrew I is buried here – the only surviving burial place of an Árpád Dynasty king that can still be visited. And if someone shouts in the abbey courtyard, the sound returns from the walls a few seconds later: the famous Echo of Tihany.
Aszófő – The Ruins of Kövesd Church
The medieval church ruins of Kövesd are among the most beautifully situated historical sites in the Balaton Uplands. Built in Romanesque style between 1260 and 1270 and once belonging to the Abbey of Tihany, the church stands on the foundations of a Roman villa – quite literally built upon the remains of an empire. The view over Lake Balaton and the Tihany Peninsula is breathtaking.
Dörgicse – Three Árpád-Era Church Ruins in One Village
In the 13th century, Dörgicse consisted of three separate settlements – Lower, Upper and Small Dörgicse – each with its own church. The villages were devastated during the Mongol invasion and later the Ottoman period, but the ruins remain. The 22-metre-high gable wall of the Lower Dörgicse church still stands, and Roman remains have been discovered beneath the Upper Dörgicse foundations.
Pécsely – The Ruins of Zádor Castle
Perched 363 metres above sea level on Zádor Hill, the remains of a 14th-century castle overlook the countryside. Once complete with towers, chapel and fortified courtyard, only fragments remain today. Yet the viewpoint built on the former bastion offers one of the finest panoramic views on the entire northern shore of Lake Balaton.
The Pécsely Basin – A Valley Not to Be Missed
The basin surrounding Pécsely is one of the quietest and most peaceful corners of the northern shore. Rolling hills, vineyards, orchards and the valley of the Cserkút Stream create a landscape that feels almost untouched. In spring, small waterfalls appear where karst springs feed the stream.
Balatonszőlős – Kőhegy Lookout Tower
Standing 298 metres above sea level, the Kőhegy Lookout Tower was built in 1935 from local red sandstone. The panoramic view across Lake Balaton and towards the southern shore is among the finest on the northern side of the lake. Arrive at sunrise and you may have the entire place to yourself.
Csopak – Nosztori Valley and the Truncated Tower
To the north lies the Nosztori Valley, where karst springs feed the Séd Stream. In medieval times, its waters powered several mills; three mill buildings still stand today, two of them on foundations nearly 700 years old. Back in the village centre stands the famous Truncated Tower, all that remains of the Árpád-era Church of Saint Stephen, destroyed by fire in 1830 – headless but proud, and one of Csopak's defining landmarks.
Paloznak – A Village of Baroque Charm and Stunning Views
The first written record of Paloznak's church dates back to 1352, although historians believe a chapel may have stood here as early as the 10th or 11th century. Over the centuries, the building evolved from Gothic to Baroque. Above the village stands a lookout tower built in 1935 from local red sandstone, offering sweeping views across Lake Balaton and the southern shore from its 298-metre elevation.
Lovas – Where Prehistoric People Mined Paint
Lovas is home to one of Europe's oldest known mines. Discovered accidentally during road construction in 1952, archaeologists found bone tools around 12,000 years old, crafted from deer and wild boar bones. Prehistoric people mined red ochre here, using it for burial rituals, body decoration and cave paintings. Twelve thousand years later, we may be drinking wine in the same landscape.
The Nivegy Valley – Where Time Slows Down
The Nivegy Valley is one of the most enchanting and least-discovered corners of the Balaton Uplands. Narrow roads wind through rolling hills, tiny villages hide among vineyards and forests, and traditional wine cellars appear around every bend. Volcanic and limestone soils, cool nights and the influence of nearby Lake Balaton create distinctive wines, but the real magic lies in the atmosphere.
Mencshely – The Hill Where Doctors Make Wine
Historically, Mencshely was a far more important wine-growing settlement than many visitors realise. The slopes of Halom Hill shaped local life for centuries. Here, the moderating influence of Lake Balaton meets the cooler microclimate of the uplands, producing fresh, mineral-driven wines with lively acidity. The soils combine limestone, dolomite, red sandstone and volcanic elements.
Hegyestű – A Volcano Frozen in Stone
Hegyestű is not simply a hill but the exposed core of a basalt volcano millions of years old. Quarrying removed one side of the mountain, revealing spectacular hexagonal basalt columns. Very few places in Hungary offer such a clear glimpse into volcanic geology. Geologists love it, photographers love it, and visitors usually do too.
Tihany – The Inner Lake and Ancient Geysers
The Inner Lake is one of Central Europe's largest volcanic crater lakes. Nearby stand unusual stone cones which are not ordinary rocks at all, but the remains of ancient geysers that once erupted here millions of years ago. Long before tourists arrived, this landscape was shaped by fire and steam.
Balatonfüred – The Summer Capital of Reform-Era Hungary
During the 19th century, Balatonfüred was much more than a holiday resort. It was one of Hungary's most important social and cultural centres. Statesmen and writers such as István Széchenyi, Ferenc Deák, Lajos Kossuth and Mór Jókai all spent time here.
Balatonfüred – The First Steamship on Lake Balaton
In 1846, the steamship Kisfaludy set sail from Balatonfüred, becoming the first steam-powered vessel on Lake Balaton. The project was strongly supported by István Széchenyi, and modern Balaton shipping traces its origins back to this moment.
Balatonfüred – Jókai Villa
Writer Mór Jókai fell so deeply in love with Balatonfüred that he built a villa here. He cultivated vines in the garden and wrote several of his works within these walls. Today, the villa operates as a museum dedicated to his life and legacy.
Balatonfüred – Lóczy Cave
Located on the slopes of Tamás Hill, Lóczy Cave is one of the most fascinating geological sites in the Balaton Uplands. Its exposed rock layers reveal millions of years of Earth's history and help explain how the landscape around Lake Balaton was formed.
Csopak – Ranolder Cross
Standing above the vineyards of Csopak, the Ranolder Cross marks one of the area's finest viewpoints. From here, visitors can see Lake Balaton, the Tihany Peninsula and the southern shore all at once. At sunset, the view becomes particularly memorable.
Csopak – The Olaszrizling Wine Trail
The Csopak Olaszrizling Trail is more than a scenic walking route – it is an open-air wine classroom. Along the way, visitors can learn about vineyard cultivation, local soils and the grape variety that has become the symbol of the region.
Paloznak – One of the Most Beautiful Villages Around Lake Balaton
Paloznak regularly appears on lists of Hungary's most beautiful villages. Its whitewashed houses, flower-filled streets and vineyard-covered hillsides have earned comparisons to Tuscany.
Paloznak – Jazzpiknik Festival
The Paloznak Jazz Picnic has grown into one of Hungary's best-known music festivals. Every summer, internationally renowned artists perform in a village with only a few hundred residents – proof that great things can happen in small places.
Szentantalfa – The Ruins of Saint Blaise Church
Perched on a hilltop, the ruins of Saint Blaise Church are among the most photogenic monuments in the Balaton Uplands. From here, visitors enjoy views across both the Nivegy Valley and Lake Balaton. Many consider it one of the finest panoramas in the entire region.
The Balaton Uplands – The Lavender Route
Although most people associate lavender with Tihany, the plant now thrives throughout the Balaton Uplands. During June and July, entire hillsides turn shades of purple, filling the air with fragrance.
The World of Traditional Wine Press Houses
Scattered across the hills are stone-built wine press houses, many between 150 and 250 years old. Some still serve their original purpose today. These charming buildings have become one of the defining architectural symbols of the Balaton Uplands.
Balaton Uplands National Park
Almost the entire wine region lies within or directly beside the National Park. Rare orchids, bee-eaters, ground squirrels, falcons and hundreds of protected plant species thrive here – a landscape where nature and winemaking have coexisted for centuries.