Southern Transdanubia

Land as flat as a pancake is punctuated by gentle slopes and rolling hills in this area stretching from the Balaton to the Dráva and between the Danube and Zalaapát. Most of this region can be described as a 'land of hills divided by a thousand valleys'.

The area's Mediterranean character and climate becomes more accentuated on the southern slopes of the hills. This is especially true in the hills of the Mecsek and Villány.

The mood of this landscape has swept along both poets and painters over the centuries. Varied and somewhat bizarre formations of the Western Mecsek have developed above Kővágószőlős. Of the many caves formed in the dolomite limestone, the largest is the Abaliget Cave. Interesting karst formations also developed on the surface.

The highest peak of the more varied East Mecsek is the Zengő at 682 metres. The East Mecsek Environmental Region was established in order to protect its most attractive areas. The thermal baths at Sikonda play a significant part in the area's tourism.

In the Villány Hills south of the Mecsek, the most sought after natural asset is the medicinal water of Harkány. Many visit Villány and Nagyharsány to see the highest peak of the mountainous region at Szársomlyó (442 metres) and to taste the offerings of the renowned Siklós-Villány wine trail.

The areas along the Dráva and Danube rivers, such as the Dráva Plain, Mohács Island and Tolna-Sárköz, were filled and formed into a plain by the river waters. It is the undisturbed places near the water that draw visitors. More and more people are discovering the charm of the peaceful and clean environment of the River Dráva and Gemenc Forest, for instance. The Danube-Dráva National Park was set up to preserve the ancient state of the flooodplains which developed between the two rivers. The organisation also takes an active part in introducing this protected area to the public.

On the steep Szekszard Hills south of the River Sió a thriving wine producing culture evolved and the Kadarka wine of Szekszárd became famous far and wide. The tourist routes near this city, the county seat of Tolna are also well visited. A significant number of tourists visit the Dark Valley (Sötét-völgy) and the Szálka area each year.

It is not only an abundance of natural assets that Southern Transdanubia is blessed with; it is also rich in history, ethnography and intellectual tradition. Janus Pannonius was the bishop of Pécs and during the latter part of the 15th century he brought Renaissance culture and the ideas of humanism to the area. There are several reminders here of the 150 years of Turkish occupation to explore: a memorial at Mohács, the site of heroic resistance at Szigetvár, and the characteristic Turkish architecture on the main square of Pécs to mention but a few of the most significant sights to be found here.

During the 18th century long-standing changes took place in the region that determined the composition of its residents to modern day. Alongside the Danube (at Mohács, Grábóc, and Dunaföldvár) Serbian colonies developed and Orthodox churches were buillt. In the eastern part of the region, communities of German settlers developed and became known as the Schwäbische Türkei (Swabian Turkey). Pure Hungarian communities remained only in small areas such as Sárköz, Ormánság and in the less accessible areas of Somogy County. This variety of ethnic backgrounds can be perceived today in the folk traditions and local arts and crafts.

Travel destinations in Southern Transdanubia