Picturesque landscapes, poetic estates

Writer Gábor Lipták and his wife, Piroska, made their home in Balatonfüred in the 1940’s, where the author, known to many as Gábornok, later worked together with several others. The house has played host to many celebrities over the years, including Lőrinc Szabó, Gyula Illyés, Dezső Keresztury and István Örkény, who wrote his legendary work Tóték (‘The Tóts’) here. The Lipták House became a real literary guesthouse, where, in the words of Lőrinc Szabó, “the poor men of literature” gathered. This active literary life is still similarly vibrant today. In the 1980’s, the Liptáks donated the house to the Art Fund, with the stipulation that it continue to be used for literary purposes. This is how the Hungarian Translators’ House was created, welcoming not only the professional public but also visitors.

Most Hungarians probably need no introduction to Pál Szinyei Merse, his paintings are instantly recognisable to many. But fewer people know exactly where they were made. Located at 3 Bartók Béla Street in Fonyód, the Velics Villa is no longer a family home, but one of the town’s most important cultural venues: it is home to exhibitions on local history, ethnography and the fauna and flora of Lake Balaton. An important aspect of the cultural history is that the famous painter Szinyei spent several summers here with his family, and during his stays at Lake Balaton, he painted at least ten paintings.

This villa in Badacsony is not only romantic in style, but also in history! From an art-historical point of view, the peasant baroque character, the romantic poetry of Károly Kisfaludy for the literati, and the wines of Badacsony are the most important aspects of this estate. The imposing house was a gift from the poet Sándor Kisfaludy to his wife, Róza Szegedy. It served as an important venue for their marriage.  The three-part building complex with its folk baroque features and the vineyard perfectly fit the idyllic atmosphere of Badacsony, which has inspired many artists. It can now be visited as a literary and wine museum, where you can taste the delicious beverages and learn about the work of poets other than Kisfaludy, as well.

The Kossuth Prize-winning actress Gizi Bajor also loved to relax at Lake Balaton. The villa, located in Balatonföldvár, originally owned by Mária Andrássy, the wife of Count Imre Széchenyi, was love at first sight for the artist. The house is like the artist himself: unostentatious, unpretentious, homely, yet impressive. The flaming red geraniums, which were Gizi Bajor’s favourite flower, are an attribute of the building. She is still considered a prominent citizen of the town, and is the namesake of both the local community centre and the promenade. With a bit of luck, we can also spend a holiday in the villa.

One of Balatonfüred’s most famous memorial houses is the villa built in honour of Jókai. The renowned author Mór Jókai and his actress wife Róza Laborfalvy were so impressed by the charm of the spa and the landscape that during their regular visits, once they decided to buy the land on which the villa, which was later built, is now operated as a museum. The early eclectic cottage has a magnificent view of Lake Balaton, so it is not only interesting for its sentimental value, but also for its architectural value. Since the 50th anniversary of Jókai’s death, it has served as a memorial museum, and since 2010, the writer’s former summer house has been on display in its original splendour.  (Visitor numbers to the Memorial House are so high that group bookings are required in advance at the height of May and June, due to the increased number of school trips.)

We bought a house in Esztergom. – recorded the wife of Mihály Babits, Sophie Török in 1924. Babits, having made a very lucrative sum from one of his translations of Dante, bought a house near Esztergom, on the city part called ‘Előhegy’, at the suggestion of his friends.  This place, where many Hungarian artists of the 20th century have made visits, is of great value both in sight and in spirit. The so-called Autograph Wall, signed by poets and actors, is a witty imprint of all this. Since 2013, the Mihály Babits Memorial House has been a member institution of the Hungarian National Museum, which preserves the legacy of the poet’s work and life with even greater strength.