Fonyódi panoráma túra
Fonyód! The light and gaze of Somogy;
Where once fire poured and lava flowed,
Now the ridge’s peak boils in a fiery drink;
The great branch of Lake Balaton greets with a kiss…
Pados Sándor: Fonyód (excerpt)
- A breathtaking panorama awaits us in the southern part of Lake Balaton
- On our circular tour in Fonyód, we will hike up to the Sipos lookout and across to Várhegy
- We will admire Lake Balaton from Szaplonczay Promenade and return to the starting point along the famous villa row
- At Kápolnapuszta, we will meet buffalos and a local population of ground squirrels that can be hand-fed
Schedule
On the way, we will stop for half an hour at the Székesfehérvár Rest Area on the M7 motorway…
Around 10:30, we will park our bus in Fonyód, at the parking lot of the Zákány Kálmán Sports Hall
The Panorama Promenade is Fonyód’s jewel, offering an unforgettable view that provides the same thrill even on the hundredth visit.
The tour length within the town is 5.7 kilometers, with an elevation difference of 206 meters. Comfortable sports shoes and a walking stick are recommended.
The promenade’s real name is Szaplonczay Promenade, named after Szaplonczay Manó, the developer of Bélatelep. He was a chief medical officer of Somogy who persuaded Count Béla Zichy to parcel out his estate, thus founding the Bélatelep villa row named after him.
Some of the villas are beautifully renovated and line the opposite side of the street. However, the information board tells much less than what local historian István Varga’s guided tours reveal. Among other things, we learn who created art in the Velics Villa, why local children greeted a tree (unfortunately now gone), and what Prime Minister Bethlen ate for breakfast when he stayed at the Sirály Hotel during government meetings held here.
Walking along the promenade, we soon reach a characteristic tree. It is not particularly beautiful – an acacia – but its location makes it a favorite for photographers. It simply offers a masterful composition with the opposite witness hills.
If we continue, we will soon reach the Millennium Memorial Cross.
From the promenade, a forest path leads down to the Bélatelep beach. This free beach is one of many in Fonyód and one of the most pleasant, with shady trees, a shell-covered shore, and another characteristic tree with a romantic bench underneath.
If we head in the other direction from Szaplonczay Café, we will experience even more sights.
Passing through Kossuth Forest, we reach the picturesque Catholic church.
But it is still not worth stopping, as further walking brings us to the Crypt Villa, a building with a chilling story.
Between 2:00 and 3:00 PM (or earlier), we will be waiting for you at Kápolnapuszta.
The visitor site plays an important role in the preservation and genetic conservation of the native Hungarian buffalo species. It is a popular exhibition place for the species, as the animals’ tameness allows for direct contact. We can get to know these gentle animals along a picnic area, an information board-equipped trail, and a buffalo history exhibition.
An interactive exhibition presents the flora and fauna of Kis-Balaton, part of the Balaton Uplands National Park. There is also a buffet and a gift shop available. (source: bfnp.hu)
On the large, well-maintained area, we can explore the freely grazing and wallowing buffalos and the Hungarian Grey cattle herd along an educational trail. From the lookout tower, we can observe the local wildlife as well. For an additional ticket, a Jeep tour is also available. (source: kirandulastippek.hu)
Entry fees:
Adult: 2,200 HUF
Discounted*: 1,800 HUF
Jeep tour (*may be lower with group discount):
Jeep tour adult ticket: 2,500 HUF
Jeep tour discounted ticket (student or pensioner): 2,000 HUF
No group discount confirmation has been received before publishing the trip, so prices may be reduced later.
We plan to depart at 5:00 PM.
Departure will be from the gravel parking lot at the corner of Mogyoródi Road and Hungária Boulevard in the 14th district at 7:30 AM.
The full-day bus rental fee is 15,500 HUF per person.
If paid by SZÉP card, the cost of the trip is 16,000 HUF per person.
The bus rental deposit fee is 8,000 HUF (8,290 HUF if paid by SZÉP card) per person, which is part of the trip price.
The remaining amount can be paid either by bank transfer or in cash during the trip.
You can register via the “Register” button on the website or by clicking on the “Registration” menu at the top.
The registration process can be read in the travel terms, or you can ask us for help by phone:
Zita and Gábor (phone numbers available in the event).
We warmly await you!
Lake Balaton
Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe, is a dominant feature of Hungary's hydrography. Its easily warming, shallow waters make it ideal for swimming and sports, its fauna is extremely rich and its landscape of varied volcanic cones is unique in many respects.