The freshwater rift lake of Lake Balaton is located in Hungary’s Transdanubian region. It is Central Europe’s largest lake and is also one of the most popular tourist spots in the region. The lake only has a single outflow, which is the canalized Sió while the biggest water inflow to the lake comes from the Zala River.
The northern shore boasts a mountainous region renowned for being a major wine region and for having a historic character. On the other hand, resort towns dot the flat southern shore of the lake. Hévíz and Balatonfüred developed early as resorts catering to affluent people.
However, it was only during the latter part of the 19th century that the landowners started to construct summer houses to rent out to the growing middle class after their grape vines were attacked and destroyed by Phylloxera.
Unlike the rest of the Hungarian endonyms for lakes, all of which had the universal suffix tó which means lake, Lake Balaton has a definite article when referred to in the local language, which is a Balaton or the Balaton.
The Romans called it Pelso or Iacus Pelsodis. This name takes on an Indo-European origin and was derived from bolto, a Slavic term that means swamp or mud.
Sunset on Lake Balaton in Hungary
It was in January 846 when Pribina, a Slavic prince, started the construction of a fortress as his primary seat of power. He also built a few churches in the Lake Balaton region in the modern Zalavár’s territory with swamps and forests surrounding it along the Zala River.
The well-fortified castle of Pribina and the Lower Pannonian Principality’s capital became known as Moosburg or Blatnohrad, which means Swamp Fortress. This served as a protection against the Moravians and the Bulgarians alike.
Plattensee is Lake Balaton’s name in German. There is a small chance that this name was given to it because it was shallow since Platt is an adjective that is a Greek loanword borrowed from French and became part of the general vocabulary of Germany in the 17th century. Also, it is important to take note that the lake’s average depth is not extraordinary for the place.
The Lake’s History in a Nutshell
Although some of the settlements on the lake such as Hévíz and Balatonfüred have always been favorite resort centers among the aristocrats of Hungary, it was not until the latter part of the 19th century that the middle class of the country started visiting the lake.
The railways’ construction in 1861 and 1909 brought about a substantial boost in tourism even though the 1950s boom after the war was much bigger.
When the 20th century came, Balaton became the research center of Hungarian hydrologists, geologists, biologists, as well as other scientists. This led to the construction of the country’s very first biological research institute on its shore.
Operation Spring Awakening, the final major offensive of the Germans during the Second World War was carried out in the Lake Balaton’s region in March 1945. This was called the Lake Balaton Offensive in most of the war’s British histories.
Lake Balaton became the top tourist destination from the 1960s to the 1970s thanks to focused efforts by the government
The battle was the German attack by the Sixth Panzer Army of Sepp Dietrich and the Hungarian Third Army between March 6 and 16, 1945, which ultimately led to a victory for the Red Army. Several wrecks of the Ilyushin Il-2 have been retrieved from the lake after it was shot down in the latter part of the war.
From the 1960s to the 1970s, the lake became a top destination among tourists because of the focused efforts of the government. As a result, the number of guests staying overnight in the local campsites and hotels increased to a whopping 2 million in July 1975 from only 700,000 in July 1965.
The number of the region’s visitors during the weekends, which included tens of thousands coming from Budapest rose to over 600,000 in 1975. Ordinary Hungarian workers visited, specifically for the subsidized holiday excursions for the members of the labor union.
The area also enticed a lot of East Germans and Eastern Bloc’s other residents. West Germans could pay a visit as well, which made the lake a common and popular meeting place for everyone that the Berlin Wall separated until 1989.
The Climate
The local area’s precipitation is affected by Lake Balaton. The place receives around 5-7cm more precipitation compared to the rest of Hungary. It resulted in less extreme temperatures and more numbers of cloudy days. During winters, Lake Balaton freezes over.
Lake Balaton’s microclimate also helped in making the region perfect for viticulture. This climate which resembles that of the Mediterranean combined with the volcanic rock-enriched soil is the reason why the region became known for its wine production 2,000 years ago during the Roman period.
Tourism
Balatonfüred, Keszthely, and Siófok are the primary resorts in the lake’s area. The resort town of Zamárdi located on its southern shore was the site of the Balaton Soun which is a renowned electronic music festival that started in 2007.
Balatonkenese was the host of various traditional gastronomic events. The large clubs of Siófok attract young people, while Keszthely is home to the Festetics Palace. The historical bathing town of Balatonfüred is the host of the Anna Ball held annually.
Lake Balaton Hungary Travel Guide: 10 Best Things to Do at Lake Balaton
The area’s peak tourist season runs from June until late August. During summer, the water reaches an average temperature of 25°C, which entices people to swim and bathe on the lake. Many of the beaches are made up of rocks, grass, or silty sand which can also be found on the lake’s bottom.
Artificial sandy beaches are found in many resorts, with all beaches featuring step access to the water. Some other popular attractions among tourists include fishing, sailing, and other types of water sports. Guests can also visit the hills and countryside, the north coast’s wineries, and the south shore’s nightlife.
People can also visit the historical district of Tihany Peninsula and Badacsony, a wine-growing and volcanic mountain region which is also a lakeside resort at the same time
