Central Transdanubia

This romantic region lying to the west of Budapest and north of Lake Balaton has a range of different terrains . Numerous settlements rich in heritage sites and cultural history stretch back to the time of the foundation of the Hungarian state. The region's intellectual centres are Veszprém and Pápa.

The characteristic features of the various areas within the region include viniculture on the Balaton Uplands (Balaton-felvidék), hunting and wood processing in the Bakony Hills, and land cultivation and trade in the areas that stretch toward the Little Plain (Kisalföld).

In the 18th century, royal and aristocratic castles were built one after the other in the excellent hunting areas of the Vértes and the Bakony Hills. These castles were later regularly the scenes of battles and subsequently constituted a chain of border fortresses.

After 150 years of Turkish occupation, as in other areas people were brought to settle this region as well. Their culture assimilated into the everyday world of the local populace, a process which also brought with it industrial development. The precursors to famous companies were established at that time, such as to the porcelain factory in Herend, the glass factory in Ajka and the meat processing plant in Pápa.

This region was and still is a melting pot of cultures: returning guests arrive from a dozen countries to the Song Festival in Veszprém (Veszpérmi Dalosfesztivál), the Baroque Festival (Barokk Napok) in Pápa, the Porcelain Museum of Herend, the rowing competitions on Lake Velence, the Medieval Tournaments in Sümeg Castle (Középkori Várjátékok), the Passion Plays in Magyarpolány (Magyarpolányi Passió), the Royal Festival (Királyi Napok Fesztivál) in Székesfehérvár and the traditional Beethoven Concerts in Martonvásár.

The area is rich in forestry and natural assets. Among the ranges of hills here, the whole of the Gerecse lies within the region. In its former quarries birds of prey have established nesting sites and the sunny southern slopes provide a habitat for rare plant communities. In the Vértes karst scrub forests, Turkey oak woods, wet gorges, and warm slopes with interchanging microclimate zones give the landscape a varied feel. There are many karst phenomena on the Bakony Hills where over a hundred caves can be found.

Simultaneously traditional and modern, the former coronation town of Székesfehérvár is the successor to Alba Regia. It is also the gateway to Lake Balaton.

A few kilometres from here lies Lake Velence, a part of a series of basins stretching from the Little Balaton to the Zsámbék Basin. In the 1930's the development of the holiday area began, which helped to preserve the original state of flora and fauna.

The region contains a 50 kilometre or so long section of the River Danube to the south of Ercsi. Most settlements in the area lie along route 6. The loess wall in sections of the Danube river bank is a habitat for primary vegetation. Abundant in natural beauty, this landscape offers many opportunities for tourism, as well as water sports (kayak, canoe, rowing and angling) and leisure time activities.

Travel destinations in Central Transdanubia