Spiritual "wellness" and a conscious retreat in Balatongyörök, at the Jurta Hotel!

The yurt is a traditional residential building of the nomadic peoples of Central Asia, which was developed to adapt to the nomadic lifestyle. Its history dates back more than 3,000 years, and for centuries it was one of the most defining architectural forms of the steppes, as it was easy to transport and quick to set up. This simple, yet magnificent architectural form became known in the historical past of our people, in the period before the conquest, when our ancestors led a nomadic lifestyle on the steppes of Central Asia. Upon arrival in the Carpathian Basin, the conquering Hungarians partly carried on the memory of the use of yurts, but by then it was less widespread. The Hungarians adapted to the characteristics of the Carpathian basin: they established villages and instead they built dug-out houses and wooden houses. The yurt has mostly survived in the historical consciousness of the Hungarian people and in depictions from the time of the conquest.

Although the yurt is no longer used as an everyday dwelling place in Hungary, it is once again receiving more and more attention as a cultural symbol. This magnificent structure serves as a symbol of tradition preservation, identity and historical roots, but it has also become a symbol of nomadic lifestyle, closeness to nature and simple, sustainable living.

One of the most important features of the yurt is that it has excellent properties. Its structure is circular, which not only provides stability in windy weather, but also enables efficient use of the interior space. Its main elements are the side walls made of bent wooden ribs (lattice structure), a central roof opening, which is supported by two columns in the middle, and the fabric or felt covers placed on them, which protect against the elements. Yurts functioned not only as a place of residence, but also as a spiritual space. The division of the interior space had symbolic significance: the stove was placed in the centre and the interior space was divided according to the cardinal points, providing separate spaces for guests and family members. It was important that the entrance faced east, and that the bed was located at the most positive point of the building.

"The yurts - like the pyramids - are sacred structures," says Tibor Mihály Mag, the creator of the Jurta Hotel in Balatongyörök, who became a yurt researcher and spiritual thinker from an electrical engineer military officer. As an engineer-economist, he founded MagICS Holding Zrt. almost 3 decades ago, and as a major general of the National Guard he became the commander of the 1956 Hungarian National Guard in Zala County. Currently, he works as a health-conscious holistic therapist at the Mag Spirit Holistic Health Centre. Here he also has the opportunity to bring to fruition his master's degrees in parapsychology and chronobiology. As he says: in the yurt, as in Hungarian architecture, the ratio of the roof and walls is of great importance, as they are symbols of the physical and spiritual planes. The yurt, both in its form (a torus shape) and in its energetics, directs us towards the spiritual plane. But the yurt is an excellent structure not only because of its structure, but also because of its connection with Mother Earth. When we live in a yurt, we vibrate with nature: we hear the squirrel running across the roof at night, feel the wind, the rain and see the light of the Moon and the Sun. This special connection makes sleeping, resting and recreation in a yurt a much more intense experience.

Mihály Tibor Mag and his wife Judit Magné Dr. Nagy found a miracle place on Becehegy in Balatongyörök a few years ago after a long search. In addition to the unparalleled panorama of the Balaton, the place just exuded positive energy. The result of this fateful discovery is the 9 consecrated yurts, suitable for accommodating a total of 24 people, in which anyone can retreat from the world and calm down. On the hotel's wonderful panoramic terrace, you can enjoy a rich, vegan or vegetarian breakfast on request, and there are magnificent additional attractions in the area. The hotel in Balatongyörök is not only accommodation, thanks to their regular performance, programmes and workshops, your stay here is also a spiritual refreshment.

– says Mihály.

He adds that the central goal is to reconnect with nature, with our spiritual being - in line with this idea, bread-baking workshops and other programmes are regularly organized, for which it is worth browsing the website of the Jurta Hotel Balatongyörök.

Whatever your goal is: to calm down, to get back to nature, or just to spend a relaxing weekend on the shores of Lake Balaton, away from the noise of the world - the wonderland of Balatongyörök is an excellent choice for anyone!