The main attraction of the Hungarian city of Kechstey is the Festetics family palace. This is one of the largest and most luxurious Hungarian manors that have come down to our time. The palace was built in the 18th century and belonged to the Festetics family of the same name. This family is known throughout Europe for its charitable work. It was thanks to this family that the first gymnasium, hospital, pharmacies and agricultural lyceum were opened in the city. The palace is surrounded by a chic English-style park. In total, there are 101 halls on the territory of the museum, some of them regularly hold various conferences, while others house the exposition of the museum of weapons and a library. The museum library is not spared by any tourist, as it keeps a unique collection of books, including engravings by medieval artists, the first printed books, sheet music with autographs of famous composers and other unique exhibits.
In terms of its architecture, this palace resembles the best palaces of that time. It is distinguished by a beautiful facade and luxurious interior decoration with frescoes, carvings, gilding and other elements.
From June 1 to August 31, this palace complex is open from 9 to 18 hours, and the rest of the time from 10 to 17 hours (Monday is a day off). Entrance ticket costs 3500 HUF, and half the price for visitors under 26 years old.
Several interesting objects can be seen at main square city Fő tér. Back in 1170, a column of the Holy Trinity was erected in the center of this square. Also on this square is the building of the City Hall, which was built in the Baroque style in the 18th century. Now this building houses the city's cultural center, which anyone can visit. Another attraction located on the square is the Franciscan Church. It was originally built in 1386 in the Gothic style, but was subsequently rebuilt several times, and the last changes were made in 1880, when a bell tower was added to it. This church is of particular interest to tourists because it contains the largest collection of Gothic frescoes in Hungary.
Kehstay is very interesting city in every way. Tourists who come to this place have the opportunity to see not only standard, but also some relatively unusual sights and places that are difficult to see in other cities. One of these places is the Horror Museum. A visit to this museum is not recommended for people with a weak mentality, while everyone else will be able to see and learn a lot of interesting things. The collection of exhibits of this museum demonstrates the centuries-old history of torture and punishment, which in the Middle Ages were popular and welcomed not only in Asia, but also in European countries(you can see some types of instruments used in modern torture). Inside the museum, a variety of tools are displayed with which the executioners in different time executed criminals (and not only criminals) in Japan, Hungary and France. A large number of exhibits are presented in the form wax figures... One of the main highlights of the museum is the electric chair.
Part of the museum exposition is dedicated to Count Dracula, which is not surprising, since the meaning of the latter's life was directly related to executions, torture and other bullying. If you decide to visit this museum, then pay attention to the exposition, which is dedicated to Countess Erzsebet Bathory, who deliberately killed the girls, and then fed on their blood, being sure that in this way she prolongs her youth.
Lake Balaton is considered to be the main natural attraction of Hungary, therefore, being in Kechstee, it is simply impossible not to look into the museum of the same name of this lake. By visiting it, you can learn about the history of one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe. Museum exhibits tell about the peculiarities of the local natural and flora... Among the exhibits of the museum, you can see various archaeological finds, household items, weapons and other exhibits that tell about the history of the inhabitants of the cities of Kehstey, its culture, customs, etc. The oldest exhibits are about six thousand years old.
There are several more interesting museums in the city, a visit to which will give you a lot of pleasant impressions. In 2008, a hunting museum was opened, which displays more than 200 species of various animals (in their natural habitat). In the museum of dolls, opened in 2010, visitors can see a huge collection of dolls from different historical eras, which are dressed in national costumes.
Plague Column (pillar) - Mary's Column in Szechenyi Square.
This is a common type of monument in European countries.
Such columns were erected as a token of gratitude for the end of the plague during the plague. The column standing in the city of Sopron is made in a more ornate style, but the inhabitants of that city also lived richer.
Balaton Museum
The imposing neo-baroque building of the Balaton Museum is located on the main street of the city. Its dioramas and showcases tell about the origin of the lake, its flora and fauna, ethnography, and the history of the resort's development. Among the exhibits and archaeological finds found in the region.
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Monument to Count Gyorgy Festetics
Monument to Count Gyorgy Festetics - a monument in front of the palace of the city of Keszthely. This is the eternal gratitude of the Hungarians to the "father of agricultural technology" Count Gyorgy Festetics II (1755 - 1819). The sculptural composition represents the Count sitting on a bench and watching the guests of the palace.
Count Gyorgy Festetics, the most famous representative of the family, an outstanding figure of the Enlightenment, lived in grand style in this palace with a beautiful old park. Traces of wealth have been preserved in the refined decoration of the palace. It was he who built in 1799-1801 the south-western wing of the palace, which was set aside for the library. At the beginning of the 19th century, the count, known for his love of literature and art, twice organized luxurious literary celebrations in the castle under the name "Helikon". The library is not only the most beautiful hall palace, but also its greatest value.
But the count left a good memory of himself by not skimping on the education of the Hungarian people. He taught peasants advanced methods of cultivating the land, and in 1797 organized the first agricultural school in Europe.
The Balaton promenade is one of the most popular natural attractions in the Hungarian city of Keszthely. The embankment is well-groomed, beautiful place for hiking, from where a wonderful view of Lake Balaton and its surroundings opens.
Balaton is one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe, and the town of Keszthely is the oldest settlement on its shores. And the embankment, which stretches almost across the entire city, is a source of pride for local residents and a real attraction for tourists. The places here are really extraordinarily beautiful - there are many green spaces, manicured lawns, shady alleys and fountains. Many boats and sailing ships float in the lake itself, and in summer local children splash in its waters. There are benches and benches along the coast, where you can relax and just admire the beauty of the lake.
And the favorite pastime of those walking along the Belaton embankment is feeding the swans. There are a lot of these graceful birds here, and they invariably delight all tourists.
Palace and park ensemble of the Festetics family
The first castle in the vicinity of Balaton was built in 1745 by Krishtof Festetics. Compared to the current building, it was small - only 34 rooms. Later, the building was expanded several times, additional buildings and new halls appeared. The library wing was built at the end of the 18th century. A unique library is kept here, it contains almost 100 thousand volumes, among which there are many rare copies. This is a real national treasure in Hungary.
The building, which belonged at that time to Duke Tasilo Festetics, acquired its present form in the neo-baroque style in the 1880s. Then the last reconstruction was completed, and the number of rooms in the palace increased to 101.
One of the owners of the castle, György Festetics, founded the first in Europe in Keszthely in 1797
agricultural institute. At the beginning of the 19th century, the count, known for his love of literature and art, twice organized literary celebrations in the castle under the name "Helikon". Now this is the name of the manor museum.
The halls of the palace are distinguished by luxury of decoration and skill of decoration. Frescoes, gilding, fireplaces decorated with carvings, unique vases, ornate candelabra - the interior of a rich estate of the 18th-19th centuries has been recreated in the palace. The former canteen has now been converted into a concert hall where opera and operetta evenings are held.
The owners of the estate paid great attention to the park - more than 50 species of plants were planted here, an artificial pond, a waterfall and the pride of the park - the Lion fountain with drinking water - were created.
The most popular attractions in Keszthely with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose best places for visiting famous places Keszthely on our website.
City of Keszthely(Keszthely) is located 160 km south-west of Budapest, on the shores of Lake Balaton. The population of the city is about 22,000 people.
Keszthely is the largest and oldest town on the lake.
History of Keszthely
Already at the beginning of our era, Roman settlements existed in these places. Not far from the city, archaeologists have discovered the remains of a fortified Roman military camp dating back to the 2nd-4th centuries.
The first mention of the city dates back to 1247. At the beginning of the 15th century, Keszthely received the rights of a city. The Franciscan church, built in 1386, has survived to this day.
In the 16th century, Keszthely, like all Hungarian cities, underwent a Turkish invasion, as a result of which the city suffered. And in the 18th century, after the expulsion of the Turks, large-scale construction of mansions and churches began in Keszthely. In 1745, the palace of the Festetics family was built, which is the main attraction of the city.
Attractions of Keszthely:
- is one of the largest and most beautiful Hungarian estates, surrounded by a magnificent park in the English style. The palace was built in the 18th century and belonged to the Festetics family of counts. The noble family of Festetics became famous as benefactors and patrons, thanks to them a gymnasium, an agricultural lyceum, as well as a pharmacy and a hospital were opened in the city. In total, there are 101 halls in the palace, some of which belong to the museum, some of the halls are given for conferences.
Address: Keszthely, Kastély u. one.
Main square(Fő tér) - in the center of the square in 1170, a column of St. Trinity. Also on the main square there is city hall building, built in the Baroque style in the 18th century, now houses Cultural Center them. Goldmark. Another attraction on the square is church of the Franciscans, which was originally built in 1386 in the Gothic style, later rebuilt several times, in 1880 a bell tower was added to it. The church houses the richest collection of Gothic frescoes in Hungary.
Hunting museum- opened in 2008. The museum presents more than 200 species of animals in their natural habitat.
On the second floor of the building there is another interesting museum - models railway trains ... Models of the railroad in Europe are presented. Very interesting museum, almost all of Europe is represented in miniature.
Address: Keszthely, Pál u. 1
Georgikon Museum- the exposition of the museum tells about the history Agriculture in Hungary.
Lake Balaton Museum- founded in 1898, dedicated to the history of Lake Balaton, its flora and fauna.
Address: 8360 Keszthely Múzeum utca 2.
– was opened in 1996, is located next to the Festetics palace.
Address: 8360 Keszthely, Katona József utca 19
Museum of dolls- the museum has a large collection of dolls in national Hungarian costumes from different historical eras.
Excursions in Keszthely from private guides and travel agencies.
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Keszthely- small tourist town located 200 kilometers from Hungarian capital... Already in the Middle Ages, the city occupied a leading position.
Keszthely will amicably introduce its guests to old, narrow streets and baroque palaces. In addition to sights and graceful images of architecture, the city invites tourists to relax on a modern beach that is located along the coast clean lake Balaton. At the very beginning of our era, this place was already noticed by the Romans. The very first mention of the city, recorded in writing, dates back to the middle of the 13th century.
In the 18th century, as soon as the Turks were expelled, the city began to be actively built up with mansions and churches in the baroque style that was fashionable at that time. Today the city has turned into a cultural and historical center of the country. The city is dotted with pedestrian streets, so it's best to explore its features slowly, slowly strolling among the cathedrals.
Local residents lead a measured lifestyle, regularly organize holidays and festivals, which tourists from all over the world are in a hurry to get to. Thanks to the nearby Lake Balaton with medicinal waters, Keszthely has turned into a tourist center.
Video from Keszthely
Keszthely - pretty Old city, built on the shores of Lake Balaton. The main attractions are reduced to historical and architectural buildings... The most striking architecture is embodied in the castle of the Festić family, who once ruled the city. The palace is one of the largest and most valuable landmarks on ...
Keszthely tours and activities
Keszthely is a city that offers ample opportunities for tourism.
Despite the small size of the city, there are many attractions here, most of which are concentrated in the historical part of the city. It is better to explore them on your own during a leisurely walk along the small, old, cozy streets.
You can, of course, use the services of a guide and find out more detailed information about the city. Keszthely is often called the "city of festivals". Indeed, what is what, and on holidays locals do not deny themselves. V summer time, is the festival of flowers. Numerous platforms decorated with various types of flowers pass along the city's main avenues. The scent spreads throughout the area.
Recently, at the beginning of September, a festival of organ-grinders has been held. Musicians from all over the world come to Keszthely to demonstrate their favorite instrument and show their skills.
You can entertain yourself with a small boat trip on the lake. It is not expensive, and a lot of impressions are guaranteed. The ferry can take tourists to the other side of the reservoir, where there is an open-air ethnographic museum.
History of Keszthely
The city was important already in Roman times shopping center... The first written mention of this city dates back to 1247, but scientists claim that the settlement of ancient people in its place existed in the second millennium BC ...
The temperate continental climate prevails on the territory of Keszthely.
Summer is hot and long here, the sun is ready to warm the earth around the clock. The beach season starts in May and ends in mid-September. The winter is quite mild, there is little snow, but the lake is almost every year covered with a layer of ice, the average thickness of which reaches 15 centimeters, and sometimes 70. yachts. Therefore, special services monitor the strength of the wind.
Keszthely: entertainment and outdoor activities
Keszthe, located on the shores of Lake Balaton, offers ample opportunities for water sports.
Very developed in the summer sailing... Crowds of tourists rush to come to the resort town and compete in the ability to own a yacht or sailboat. At this time, stunning views of the green waters and snow-white ships, shining from the bright rays of the sun, open from the shores. Sports lovers will be happy to visit the sports ground, play tennis on the court or simply play a game of volleyball. Many tourists prefer passive rest on the beach, walking the historic center cities. Fishing is not poorly developed. A trip to the museum - Helikon castle will turn into a lot of impressions. The model of the old railway occupies the whole second floor. Toy locomotives can be watched for hours.
One of the most famous city beaches - "Varosi Strad" offers guests excellent opportunities for unforgettable vacation... There are many cafes and restaurants on the promenade, where experienced chefs will offer you to taste local dishes. national cuisine... Children will be delighted with water attractions which resemble a whole open-air water park.
Transport features of Keszthely
Since Keszthely is resort town, naturally, the transport system is developed at a sufficient level. Trolleybuses and buses run around the city.
Tourists are advised to explore the city while hiking. Therefore, in the historical part of the city, it is better not to use by public transport... If you are not sure if you can get to your destination on your own, it is worth taking a taxi. The cost is calculated based on the counter indicators. There is no metro in the city.
There is a route along the northern coast, as well as Railway... In addition, there is a port in Ketzhei, where ships dock every day.
Traveling to Hungary without travel agencies allowed me to explore such striking sights of Koesthei as the Festetics Palace, the town hall and the cathedral, find out where you can eat inexpensively in Koesthey and what kind of shopping there is; for more details, read the story about the trip to Kösthei
A popular omen says that if after a few sunny days the weather turned bad, so it's the weekend. In our case, the situation was right one to one, only it was not on Saturday or Sunday: according to the travel plan, we should have spent some time in blissful idleness, figuring out whether the rest on Balaton was good ...
And it had to happen that instead of sitting on the beach surrounded by a picturesque landscape, we had to get wet in the rain all day ...
It all started with Buk, where we stayed for the night. The rain spoiled our walk in this small but popular spa resort in Hungary, and although the planned inspection of Szombathely did take place, despite the bad weather, we simply could not force ourselves to get out of the car under the downpour in Zalaegerszege. I had to spit on the city tour and embrace sweet couple Heviz-Köstthely. The two towns are located literally next to each other, their outermost houses are located a kilometer from each other. Therefore, when choosing where it is better to stay, in Köstheim or in Heviz, I considered them as a whole. The search resulted in a luxurious three-room apartment with a balcony on the second floor of one of the local villas, offered for a ridiculous price of 22 euros.
Sadly, I was not happy for long: already on the way I received a message about the cancellation of the reservation - something did not work out there. I had to think again where to live, and now the choice fell on Heviz with an option of 24 euros. Looking ahead, I will say that booking accommodation in low season It is not at all necessary: apartments in Heviz and in Köstthey are rented in batches, signs “kiadó”, as Hungarian is spelled for “rental housing,” are hung out by almost every first house.
So, shamefully retiring and not seeing the sights of Zalaegerszeg, we arrived at the most famous spa resort in Hungary with the hope of changing clothes, warming up and, of course, drinking tea. Our disappointment was all the greater when we learned that the room was not yet ready for us, and the owner's wife, who was in charge of the household section, would arrive only in the late afternoon. In addition, the Hungarian who met us did not speak English at all; it was possible to communicate with him only with the help of a google translator.
On this, while the business stalled, and postponing the acquaintance with the surroundings until better times, we decided to get from Heviz to Kösthei to relax and refresh ourselves.
The road took only a few minutes, which cannot be said for the search for parking in Kösthei. We stumbled around the shops a couple of times, but it immediately turned out that there was nothing interesting around, and where the main attractions of Kösthei are located, it was impossible to leave the car. Finally, I found an empty spot on the main street Kossuth Lajos; if you plan a route from the main square of the city to the Balaton Museum, then we got up just about halfway. At the same time, we were immediately pleased with the presence of two cafes where you could eat inexpensively, and this is in the center of Kösthej!
The city tour, like in Szombathely, had to be carried out under a periodically drizzling rain, which greatly spoiled our impressions: even when the water was turned off upstairs, the sky still remained gray ... And we so wanted to see the elegant Hungarian resort in the sunlight ...
The history of Köstthey dates back to ancient times. The Roman colonists, who were exploring Pannonia, settled down on the shores of Lake Balaton for a long time. Under the cover of the Valkum fortress, built during the reign of Emperor Constantine II, they managed to stay in place even after the legions left the Danube limes. Only in the 6th century did the Lombards sweep away the last traces of Roman rule.
The Middle Ages became a time of trials for the city. He could not achieve the former level of prosperity, but partially restored the economy after the creation of a centralized Hungarian kingdom. For some reason, the local residents received a valuable privilege from the rulers of the state - permission to hold fairs, and they used the chance as they should. By the end of the 14th century, Köstthey had become largest center trade of the region.
The period of prosperity of the townspeople was cut short by the invasion of the Turks. Although, unlike Eger, Gyor, Budapest and others major cities The Ottomans did not capture Hungary, Kösthei, the trade ties they undermined put an end to the country's economy.
But here, too, Fortuna smiled at the city, albeit not immediately: in the 18th century, the influential family of magnates Festetics took control of the surroundings. Aristocrats who had colossal means began to build a luxurious manor near Balaton, which required many artisans and servants. Thanks to this, by the end of the century, the number of inhabitants of Kösthei exceeded four thousand people.
In the 19th century, the history of Kösthej took a new turn: outdoor recreation, which became fashionable among wealthy Europeans, gave the city the opportunity to make itself a resort. Over the decades, the development has been complemented by a number of luxury hotels and countless villas. Since then, Kösthei has stood apart: all the resorts on Balaton are good in their own way, but it definitely stands out from the crowd.
One could judge how good the city is from the very first steps that we took in the central Fo ter square. Our attention was immediately drawn to the imposing Köstheim Town Hall, built in 1769 by the architect Christoph Hofstader. In fact, he erected a chic palace in the late Baroque style, and the city authorities got the building much later, in 1930. It took another five years to adapt the internal premises for administrative needs, and even then there was not enough space for everyone: in 1985, the builders added two side wings to the town hall, significantly increasing its size.
Near the bureaucratic nest there are two more attractions of Kösthei. Count György Festetics sits thoughtfully in front of the town hall, having invested huge funds in the construction of the family estate and the transformation of the area. And to the side of it rises a Gothic-looking church, built over 620 years ago. In the last quarter of the 19th century, a neo-Gothic tower was added to it, which, although it distorted the historical appearance of the temple, somewhat softened its medieval gloom.
A little later, after walking two hundred meters from the main square to the north, we went to the next attraction of Kösthey, the old town hall. You can recognize the building in an eclectic style by the coat of arms of the Festetics family fortified on the facade. The golden heraldic lion reminds of the heroic struggle of the Hungarians against the Turkish invasion, the ships personify a close relationship with Balaton and further in the same spirit. It is also worth paying attention to the baroque plague pillar installed in front of the town hall.
If there were several cafes on that part of Kossuth Lajos Street, which is located south of Fo ter, then to the north, catering establishments stood literally in rows, and we quickly looked at a couple of places where you can eat cheaply in Kosthei. In one of the restaurants, set meals for 2000 forints were generally served, and we enjoyed a hot meal. The soup turned out to be so-so, juicy meat with a side dish pleased us, the dessert finally lifted our spirits. And since the chef and waitress were quick, we finished our meal in less than three quarters of an hour. There was still plenty of time to see the sights of Köstthey.
Another object on excursion route became a local synagogue with an unusual appearance. Remembering the Jewish temple of Szombatheya, designed in the Moorish style, for a long time I could not believe that the Jews popular resort decided to build something like this. The community built a typically neoclassical building in the middle of the 19th century. Why it is necessary to give the synagogue the appearance of a museum remains unknown ...
In addition to those already listed interesting places on Kossuth Lajos there are other attractions of Koesthei, including the Museum of Erotica, the Museum of Dolls, which contains about 700 toys different eras, and the Horrarium, a kind of torture museum in which scenes of executions and interrogations are recreated using wax figures. Each of these popular attractions deserved a visit, but we were in a hurry to see the local gem, the Festetics Palace, until the downpour began - this threat hung over us all the time with a natural sword of Damocles.
The ensemble in the Baroque style took a long time to develop: Count Christoph Festetics made an order in 1745, and the last design details took their place shortly before the beginning of the 20th century. Significant changes were made to the most popular attraction of Köstheim at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries: then, in order to build a new wing to house an extensive library, the architect Andreas Fischer, by the way, a member of the Vienna Academy, came specially from the capital. Naturally, he was not vouchsafed for the trip himself, he was invited by the already mentioned Gyorgy Festetics. By the way, pay attention to the monument in honor of this gentleman standing in front of the front facade.
Since the complex did not share the fate of many ancient objects cultural heritage Hungary, destroyed during the Second World War, inside it is preserved authentic atmosphere... Judging by the photographs, the interiors are very good, and if the opening hours of the Festetics Palace did not change depending on the season, we would certainly stop by to take a look at what the premises in the Rococo style look like. Alas, only in the summer, visitors are allowed in until half past five, and in the spring the entrance closes even earlier. I had to confine myself to external inspection of buildings and a walk in the elegant park. The surrounding area looks great for a year, and the reconstruction, which started in winter 2015, is not over yet. With the allocated funds, the Hungarians expect to recreate the pond, fountains, pavilions and, in general, give the park the Victorian look it had in the 19th century.
What else you can see in Kösthei is the Helikon Park. The largest recreation area of the resort arose on the site of a grove that once belonged to the same Festetics. After the First World War, experienced gardeners cultivated the landscape by laying paths and planting many trees, including plane trees, oaks, chestnuts and even specially brought cypresses that successfully took root on Hungarian soil. The border of the green massif runs almost right next to the lake shore, so in summer you can combine a walk with sunbathing. The beaches of Köstkhei are not large in number - in addition to this, Helikonsky, there are also Varosha and Libas - so you need to use the opportunities that are. But if I were planning a vacation in Balaton in the summer, I would choose the surroundings of Balatonfüred or Siofok. The coast is long, but in fact, swimming in Lake Balaton is not possible everywhere, and the conditions for wildlife not at all those that are provided by the paid beaches of the same Kösthey or Siofok - the payment of 1.5-2 euros per day for the right to use the resort infrastructure is not so great to save on your own comfort.
And, ending the conversation about the sights of Köstthey, in the end I recommend getting to the church of St. Teresa, standing on Tapolcai street. The building does not have an ancient history, nothing can be said here, but the talented architect Bruno Bruchweiser designed it in a neo-Romanesque style, which made his brainchild devilishly cute. You can get to the church, which has recently become a basilica, along a straight path almost from the gates of the Festetics palace, fortunately, it takes less than 10 minutes to walk there.
The tour of Kösthei, although it took place in cloudy weather, turned out to be informative and left pleasant impressions. As we later found out, both Heviz and Siofok, despite all their efforts, cannot compare with the westernmost resort of Balaton. Eh, it would still fall for us to walk in the sun, I think I could just fall in love with the town ...
