Balatonfüred

Balatonfüred

The Old Town in Balatonfüred

Coat of arms
Balatonfüred

Location of Balatonfüred

Coordinates: 46°57′23″N 17°53′21″E / 46.95651°N 17.88911°E
Country Hungary
County Veszprém
Area
 • Total 46.45 km2 (17.93 sq mi)
Population (2004)
 • Total 13,148
 • Density 283.05/km2 (733.1/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 8230
Area code(s) 87

Balatonfüred is a popular resort town in Veszprém county, in Hungary, with a population of 13,000, situated on the northern shore of Lake Balaton. It is considered to be the capital of the Northern lake shore and is a popular yachting destination. It is also a favorite location for fishing, carp being the most common catch, although the introduction of eels and other non-indigenous species has caused ecological damage in recent years.

Description

The town has two marinas, a string of carbonated mineral water springs, listed buildings from the middle of the 18th and the 19th centuries and fine restaurants. It has modern hotels and guest-houses to accommodate about fifty thousand visitors in the summer. The nearest villages around Balatonfüred are Tihany, Aszófő, Balatonszőlős and Csopak, all renowned for their wine, land and beaches. Highway No 71 crosses the town as well as a single track railway line between Budapest and Tapolca. Former large employer in town included the Ship-yard, whereas today the larges employer is the State Heart Hospital. The largest industry is catering and providing boarding and other accommodations. The town has a pier, a harbour, a large camping site and several private marinas.

Full moon at the shore of the Lake

Visitors come to enjoy the mild micro-climate, beautiful scenery, the local wine, made of Olaszrizling grapes, and sailing and swimming facilities, as well as to revive the two-century-old tradition of socializing around spas, bathing and vacationing. The main events of the two-month-long summer holiday season include a ball for first-time visitors with a beauty contest and a wine-tasting festival, both in August.

Füred (short for Balatonfüred) has six comprehensive schools, three grammar schools, a secondary modern school for viniculture, the Lajos Loczy High School and Janos Ferencsik Music School (conservatory). A number of choirs, bands and sporting clubs are also present. The town has a local TV studio and a monthly newspaper. Füred has a newly built conference and sport centre as well.

Swans on the lake. Notice the red sandstone rocks on the shore

There are three churches in town: a typical red-sandstone Catholic church, a white Protestant church and a modern Evangelist church. A Pentecostal, American type of Christian denomination Faith Church is also active in the former Communist party headquarters.

Balatonfüred has a number of conference halls, and a large clinic for heart patients. It also has a number of wine cellars that sell white house wine in the vineyards on the hillside overlooking the town and the lake.

In winter, the lake may freeze over for weeks so that skaters and ice boaters take over.

Anglers on the shore

State Hospital for Cardiology

With its 429 beds the State Hospital for Cardiology in Balatonfüred boasts the largest cardiac-rehabilitation center in Hungary. The hospital is built on the lake shore and is flanked by the Tagore promenade (see picture at right), named after the Nobel-laureate Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, who was treated here. Many other famous and ordinary patients come here to heal and recuperate year-round thanks to the carbonated springs and baths, which are one of the best-known healing agents in Balatonfüred since the 17th century. The town was officially declared a spa in 1772. The Kossuth Spring and other springs near the hospital supply water containing free and bound carbon dioxide as well as iron, magnesium, potassium, hydrocarbonate, calcium, sodium, sulfur and other minerals. The temperature of the spring waters is 14 to 15 °C (57 to 59 °F) they are collected into a large basin and conducted to the spa building. Then the carbonated water is warmed up to 32 to 34 °C (90 to 93 °F) and used for treatment.

Sights

Twin towns — Sister cities

Balatonfüred is twinned with:

Notable citizens

Gallery

References

    External links

    Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Balatonfüred.


    Coordinates: 46°57′N 17°53′E / 46.950°N 17.883°E