Natural Wonders of Balaton

The Balaton-felvidék and Bakony regions are defined by extinct volcanoes, basalt columns, and extensive karst systems. This collection features geological landmarks like the vertical basalt walls of Hegyestű and the iconic witness hills of Badacsony and Szent György-hegy. Beyond the peaks, it includes the 11th-century hermitages carved into Tihany's cliffs, the Zirc Arboretum’s diverse flora, and deep karst formations such as the Alba Regia cave in the Bakony Mountains.

Bajor kifli / CC BY-SA 4.0

Badacsony

Badacsony is the name of a region on the north shore of Lake Balaton in western Hungary, a mountain top and a town in that region.

Gömbkilátó

A 15-meter diameter geodesic dome observation tower on Vár Hill in Balatonboglár. It offers 360-degree views of Lake Balaton from a height of 60 meters above the water level.

Pinyoo / CC BY-SA 4.0

Hegyestű

A 337-meter volcanic witness hill featuring a vertical basalt wall with 50-meter-high columns. The site includes a geological exhibition and offers views of the Káli Basin and Lake Balaton.

Allexkoch / CC BY-SA 4.0

Hermit Colony (Monk Houses)

A complex of caves carved into basalt tuff cliffs by Basilian monks between the 11th and 14th centuries. These are the only remaining rock-cut hermitages in Central Europe.

Tátika Castle

These magical ruins of a 13th century castle are perched on top of a tall hill. Makes for a great day out.

Kit36a / CC BY-SA 3.0

Zirc Arboretum

The Zirc Arboretum is an arboretum in Zirc, Hungary.

Civertan / CC BY-SA 3.0

Somló Hill

Somló is an 832 hectare wine region in Veszprém county, in the North-West of Hungary.

Etrusko25 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Szent György-hegy

An extinct volcano known for its 'basalt organs'—towering 30-meter-high columns formed by cooling lava. It is a major wine-producing area and part of the Balaton-felvidék National Park.

Civertan / CC BY-SA 4.0

Csobánc

Csobánc is a hill in the Tapolca Basin, Hungary.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Várhegyi kilátó

A multi-story wooden observation tower on Vár Hill in Fonyód, providing views of the Badacsony hills across Lake Balaton and the surrounding Somogy hills.

Kornel Umann / CC BY-SA 3.0

Vajda Péter kilátó

A wooden observation tower atop Kőris-hegy, the highest peak of the Bakony Mountains at 709 meters. It stands adjacent to a white geodesic radar dome.

Antissimo / CC BY-SA 4.0

Alba Regia-barlang

A strictly protected cave in the Bakony Mountains reaching a depth of 200 meters. It is one of Hungary's deepest and most significant karst formations.

Szenti Tamás / CC BY-SA 4.0

Kőlik-barlang

A strictly protected cave located near Szentgál in the Bakony Mountains, known for its archaeological finds and significant karst features.

Rostásy Szabó Mihály / CC BY-SA 4.0

Alsóörs Beach

A fabulous beach on the shores of the Balaton Lake. Many facilities are at your disposal.

Zerind / CC0

Gulács

A 393-meter-high volcanic witness hill with a distinct cone shape. Part of the Balaton-felvidék National Park, it features basalt scree slopes and diverse flora.

Katalin Behina / CC-BY-SA

Ingókő

A unique geological formation in the Káli Basin where large stone slabs are balanced atop one another, formed by centuries of wind and water erosion.

Zajza / CC BY-SA 3.0

Kab-hegy

The highest point of the Southern Bakony at 599 meters. It is marked by a prominent television transmission tower and offers hiking trails through dense beech forests.

Lóczy Lajos / Public domain

Haláp

A volcanic witness hill significantly altered by basalt mining. The remaining rim provides a unique geological cross-section and views of the Tapolca Basin.

Civertan / CC BY-SA 4.0

Hegyesd

A conical volcanic hill topped with the ruins of a 13th-century castle. The peak offers views of the Balaton-felvidék and the surrounding witness hills.