The southern shore of the great lake in Somogy county is your playground. The water is shallow and the beaches go on forever. It is the place for summer fun and long nights. You can walk far into the lake and still touch the sand. The sunset turns the water into a sheet of liquid gold. You can hear the sound of the waves gently hitting the pier.
Drive away from the water to find the Zselic hills. This is a dark sky park where the stars shine brightest. There are no city lights to ruin the view. It is a magical place for a night hike. You will hear the sounds of the forest under a silver moon. The rolling hills are covered in thick forests that change color with the seasons.
The capital, Kaposvár, is full of flowers and art. Its streets have a grand, old feel. You will find that Somogy is more than just a lake. It is a land of rolling green and quiet woods. Small deer often graze near the edge of the country roads. You can find peace in the quiet farmsteads far from the tourist crowds.
Somogy highlights
- Balatonfenyves Train Ride a tiny narrow train through the wet grass and woods near the shore of the big lake. It is a slow and fun way to see the wild side of the southern coast.
- Krishna Valley Visit a colorful farm and temple in the hills where people live in peace with the land. The gardens are full of flowers and the white cows have bells around their necks.
- Igal Thermal Spa Jump into the hot yellow water that is famous for its power to heal the body and relax the mind. The town is quiet and surrounded by green rolling hills.
- Lake Deseda Shore Walk or bike around the longest lake in the land which is a hidden gem for nature lovers. There is a wooden bridge that leads to a secret island in the water.
- Zselic Star Park Drive into a deep forest where the night sky is so dark you can see thousands of stars and the Milky Way. It is the best place in the land to look at the moon.
- Szántódpuszta Farm Explore a giant old farm with white barns and a small church that shows how the nobles lived long ago. You can see old wagons and watch people ride horses.
- Kereki Castle Ruin Hike to a small stone fort hidden in the woods on top of a green hill. The ruins are quiet and offer a view of the big blue lake in the distance.
- Patca Adventure Farm Stop at a place where you can see farm animals and try old games like shooting a bow or throwing a stone. It is a great break for families.
- Kaposvár Old Town Walk through a city center full of bright yellow buildings and statues of flowers. The city has a warm southern feel and many quiet cafes for a rest.
- Balatonboglár Sphere Climb a giant metal ball on a hill to look out over the turquoise water of the lake to the volcanic peaks. It is a unique landmark that glows with light at night.
The local Four
History of Somogy
Somogy is the Wild South, a land of deep oak forests and rolling hills that was once the domain of outlaws and giants. In the 10th century, the defiant leader Koppány made his final stand here against the first King, turning the region into a symbol of the old pagan ways. This independent spirit remains in the deep woods of the Zselic, where the trees are so thick they were said to hide an entire army of shadows. This rugged soul is the heart of the Lake Balaton southern drive.
The region connection to the Hungarian Sea grew in the late 1800s when the railway finally reached the southern shore. This turned quiet fishing villages into grand resort towns with long piers and elegant villas. But just a few miles inland, the landscape remained a world of grand noble estates and vast deer hunting grounds. The history of Somogy is a story of this two faced land: the sunny sandy beaches and the dark mysterious forest interior.
In the 1990s, the region became home to a unique Krishna Valley, a self sustaining farm and temple that brought a splash of Eastern color to the green hills. Today, the county is also a Star Park, where the lack of city lights makes the night sky look exactly as it did to the ancient outlaws a thousand years ago. It is a place of peace and wildness, where you can move from the turquoise water to the deep shade of a three hundred year old oak tree in minutes.