centre
of the north-eastern region of Balaton, the first medical resort town
of Hungary. The town was built on the wide, shiny side of Balaton
Riviera, protected by 300-metre high hills against cold winds. There
are vineyards and fruit gardens on hills of southern slope.
Balatonfüred is the centre of the historic wine region named after the
town.
There
had been six villages on the territory of the current city, some of them
had been depopulated because of the Turkish times and then the
destructions of Kuruts-Labanc wars. It is quite interesting and
surprising that the fame of this mellow old resort is originally due
not to Balaton but theaerated springs rushing up at the lake-shore. The
water had been used for the purpose of drinking treatments, and as
from the 1730s also for bathing (warmed up).
Water
of the springs was first analyzed in 1772 (upon the order of Queen
Maria Theresa); the first physician of the watering-place was appointed
in 1786. Medical power of the water is applied for treating heart
diseases in the Heart Hospital currently, too. Majority of the
buildings was destroyed by a large fire in 1826 that is why the current
image created by the historic monuments of Medicinal Square (Gyógy
tér) was developed only in course of the 19th century. Goldenage of the
spa was the reform period. At that time it was a patriotic gesture to
visit Füred instead of various medicinal places abroad. Great people of
the country visited Balatonfüred one after another, a theatre was also
built here in 1831, and then in 1846 the first steamship of Balaton
called "Kisfaludy" was set afloat here.
The
Abbey of Tihany divided its domain around the bath into allotments, at
that time the construction of villas which can be seen currently, too,
commenced. The oldest and most significant historic monument of the
city is the St. Mihály church registered in records already in 1211. It
was built on the ruins of an ancient Roman villa. Today only the ruins
of the church restored in 1966 can be seen. Reformed church of
neo-Classic style, consecrated in 1830, is built in the centre of the
old city of Füred. It is especially valuable because the original
furniture of the church remained completely. The well-house was erected
above the Kossuth Lajos spring in the middle of Gyógy square in 1853.
The oldest parts of the Sanatorium were built in 1748. Construction of
the "Cure Saloon" (currently cultural hall) was completed in 1878.
Memorial tablets of the Füred Pantheon are placed under its arcades as
memories of the writers, artists and scientists who had a significant
role in the life of the resort. The wonderful Tagore promenade lined
with plane-trees was created in 1863, subsequent to the hand-over of
Sió channel. The various masterpieces of the fine arts exhibited in the
promenade make it a real park of sculptures. The Round Church of
neo-Classic style, handed over in 1864, is one of the most
characteristic buildings of Balatonfüred. In the neighbourhood of the
Round Church, in the summer villa of Jókai Mór constructed in 1871 in
eclectic style, the life of the great author in Füred is shown to the
public in the form of an exhibition. Several programmes based on
tradition are offered to the visitors of Balatonfüred.
Traditional programmes in Balatonfüred
These programmes include the outstanding Reception of
the First Ship, which is a symbolic moment of the opening of
the shipping season. Every spring (at the beginning of April) the first
ship of the season leaves Siófok and it is received with a ceremony in
the port of Balatonfüred.
Since 1935, except 3 years, the Sail-Setting Ceremony
of Balatonfüred has been held every year in May, which has
become the symbol of the opening of sailing season as well as that of
the summer season in the past decade. The series of programmes include
sports and cultural events. The first sailing competitions start at
that time, along with the first performances of the Pier Stage and the
first exhibitions.
The most outstanding event is the the Anna Ball,
which has been held for 181 years in July every year, on the day
closest to the name day of Anna. One of the oldest balls in Hungary, it
is the pride of Balatonfüred as well as that of the whole country. The
ball is unique not only due to its historical traditions. The main
event of the ball is choosing the Queen of the Ball and her ladies in
attendance, who are taken for a ride in a carriage around the town the
next day, then a reception is given in honour of the ladies, and
finally they are taken on a trip on the oldest and the most beatiful
ship of Lake Balaton, the Nemere II, where they can admire the
wonderful blue water of the lake.
Since 1994, at the beginning of August the Hungarian Marathon
Club has been organizing the cross-bay swimming competition
supported by Balatonfüred and Tihany. The event is held in memory of
Miklós Wesselényi, who was the first to swim across the lake between
Tihany and Balatonfüred, the distance of which is 3,6km.
The Balatonfüred-Csopak wine region is one of the 22 historical
wine regions of Hungary, giving the valueable grapes and wines of
Balaton-Highland. The Wine Weeks of Balatonfüred is a
real celebration of viniculture. Wine-makers await visitors in their
friendly stalls built in Tagore Promenade for two weeks from the middle
of August. Every evening there are high-standard performances by
national and international folk art groups on the Pier Stage, there is a
colourful programme on 20 August with fireworks.
Preserving the traditions of vintage feasts, the Vintage
Procession is held every September. At the event wine-makers,
wine societies, folk dancers, carriages, light-horsemen walk along the
streets accompanied by brass and reed bands from Vitorlás square to
the Market Hall, where colourful folk programmes, a street ball and a
fair await visitors.
In honour of the famous Italian poet, Salvatore
Quasimodo the International Competition and Meeting of
Poets bearing the name of the poet is held at the beginning of
September. The poet visited Balatonfüred in 1961 to recover
from his illness, like Rabindranath Tagore. He also planted a memorial
tree and wrote a poem about Lake Balaton and his feelings related with
Balatonfüred. The poets' competition is an important part of Hungarian
as well as that of Italian culture. The competition has several hundred
Hungarian and foreign participants every year, the best of whom are
chosen by the 7-member jury. The award-giving gala at the beginning of
September is accompanied by classical music concerts, performances by
famous artists, and an exhibition of Italian artists can be seen in the
Art East Gallery.
In the neighbourhood of the town nice trips can be taken to
Koloska-valley, Koloska-spring, or the wonderful Lóczy-cave. From the
cave it is worth walking up to the Jókai look-out tower, where you can
enjoy the beautiful view.