This is the most scenic part of the Veszprém county. Dead volcanoes rise from the earth like giant hats. They are covered in vineyards that produce mineral wines. The views of the blue water are everywhere. You will see old stone ruins standing guard over the valleys. The white basalt walls of the mountains glow in the afternoon sun.
Veszprém is the city of queens. It sits on high cliffs with a castle district that looks over the hills. The streets are windy and full of history. It is a town that feels noble and old. The sound of bells rings out across the deep valley in the center. You can walk through the zoo that is built right into the rocky cliffs.
Drive to Tihany to see the abbey on the peninsula. The lavender fields purple the land in summer. You can hear the famous echo across the hills. It is the heart of the Balaton charm. White houses with thatched roofs line the steep village streets. You can find hidden spots to watch the sailboats gliding across the water.
Veszprém (county) highlights
- Tihany Abbey View Stand on a high hill over the big blue lake to see the twin towers of a white abbey. The view of the turquoise water and the green hills is the best in the land.
- Sümeg Castle Watch knights on horses fight with spears at a massive white fort that sits on top of a steep limestone hill. The walls are strong and the view is wide.
- Bakony Forest Road Drive through a deep forest of old beech trees that was once a hiding place for famous outlaws. The road is winding and cool and full of green light.
- Herend Porcelain Museum Visit the world famous factory to see how artists paint tiny birds and flowers on white clay using thin brushes. You can see the royal sets made for kings.
- Csesznek Castle Explore the ruins of a stone fort built into a high rocky cliff that looks like a giant wall. It is a favorite spot for climbers and people who love a grand view.
- Badacsony Wine Hill Drive around a volcanic mountain with flat sides that is covered in rows of white wine grapes. The stone houses and the lake view make it a perfect stop.
- Tapolca Cave Lake Take a small boat through a secret underground world of blue water and white stone under the streets of the town. The air is cool and the water is crystal clear.
- Zirc Abbey Library Visit a grand monastery with a room full of thousands of old books and giant globes. The park around the site is an arboretum with rare trees from many lands.
- Ajka Glass Works See how masters turn hot liquid glass into colorful vases and jars in a hot workshop. The museum shows the long history of the local fire and craft.
- Veszprém Street of Kings Walk through an old district of grand white houses and churches that sits on a high rock. It is the city of queens and has a very royal and quiet feel.
The local Four
History of Veszprém (county)
Veszprém is the City of Queens, a dramatic volcanic landscape where the hills are crowned with white stone. In the early 1000s, the first Queen of the nation made this her home, and for centuries, only the Bishop of Veszprém had the right to place the crown on a Queen head. This royal and holy status created a landscape of grand cathedrals and high walled palaces perched on limestone cliffs. This queenly history is the star of the Balaton Uplands scenic drive.
The landscape was forged by fire millions of years ago, creating the Witness Mountains (flat topped volcanic towers) like Badacsony that stood firm while the land around them washed away. In the 14th and 15th centuries, these peaks were topped with eagle nest castles to stop the march of invaders. The volcanic soil became a treasure for wine makers, who discovered that the basalt rock holds the sun heat and gives the white wine a unique mineral fire.
The 1920s saw a cultural explosion as the turquoise waters of Lake Balaton became the Hungarian Sea for artists, writers, and sailors. They built Mediterranean style villas and planted lavender fields that turn the hills purple every summer. Today, you can boat through a secret cave lake under a town or walk through a thousand year old abbey garden.