5 secret sights on the southern shore of Lake Balaton that are probably the most beautiful in autumn

The Balaton wine tour is a real autumn dream programme. And the Berény historic row of wine cellars can be the perfect venue for this. Grape growing has been practised in the settlement since ancient times, and a document from 1082 tells us about the Berény vineyards. The local cellars show the folk architecture of the past: the houses were made of clay from the Bokrosi Hill, and the roofs were covered with thatch from Balaton and Nagyberek. There are nearly a hundred of these listed buildings in the town. If the attraction of local wines and beautiful buildings weren’t enough, the hilltop offers a magnificent panorama of Lake Balaton. No wonder the place also inspired Béla Hamvas, who wrote his ‘The Philosophy of Wine’ here. In honour of the philosopher, the Béla Hamvas Wine Route also passes through here. It is an easy walking route that will give you an insight into the cellar row and the stages of Hamvas’' life and work. At the end of the wine route is the 5 m high Béla Hamvas Lookout Tower, from where you can enjoy the view of Keszthely Bay, the witness hills of the northern coast and the Tihany peninsula.

A characteristic feature of Balatonföldvár is the spiral staircase, which connects the Balaton shore and the High Beach (Magaspart). The staircase was severely damaged by silting caused by the 2013-2014 rains, but was renovated in 2015 and is now safe to use. The spiral staircase starts from the end of Kemping Street. If you climb it, you will arrive at the Balatonföldvár Navigation Visitor Centre, from where you can enjoy the panoramic view of the High Beach. And if you head down the stairs, you can walk along the iconic Kvassay promenade under the plane trees. Close to the spiral staircase is the Celtic promenade, where you can also visit the Chapel, built with donations from the Széchenyi family. It is also the site of the Stefania rampart, the only remaining rampart of the Celtic castle.

History lovers should not miss the ruin tower in Hetye, commonly known as ‘Törökhagyás’ (the tower abandoned by the Turks). The Árpád-era Romanesque church ruins are located in a field in the area of Ádánd. The church is named after the settlement of Hetye, which existed as early as the 11th century, but was abandoned during the Turkish occupation. The ruin has also suffered from history, agricultural work and the removal of bricks. However, the first two floors still have Romantic features, while the upper floors have Gothic features. You can see the tower from miles away, but you have to cut across farmland to reach it. If you want to take a more adventurous route, leave Ádánd in southern direction of Szabadhídvég and approach the building, via the vineyard street, but it is good to know that you have to cross the Potoli watercourse for this. If you want to avoid the danger of splashing, there is another dirt road 800 metres east of the vineyard road, which also leads to the tower.

The chapel of St. Donat in Lelle is located on the Little Hill (Kishegy), a few metres from the vineyards. The peasant Baroque-style chapel was built upon the order of György Majthényi, probably in the 17th-18th centuries, and later became the chapel of Count Ferenc Széchenyi, father of István Széchenyi. The chapel has suffered through the wars and has been restored twice, most recently in 2014. Opposite the chapel is the Majthényi press house, from where you can enjoy a stunning view of Lake Balaton. This way you can enjoy the panoramic view while sipping wine or eating a cottage cheese dumpling. In fact, you can even combine the two by embracing both its cosy interior and its terrace with its unrivalled panoramic views.

If you are looking for an active autumn weekend, the Törek Lakes Study Trail is worth a visit. The valley near Siófok was declared a nature conservation area in 1994, where you can observe the wildlife of lakes, forests and meadows, as well as birdlife. A special feature of the area is the Cinege Stream, which is the only watercourse in the area that contributes living water to Lake Balaton. The trail is 8.5 km long, but there is also the possibility of longer hikes of 14 km or shorter walks, making it perfect for families. There is also a playground, benches, a rain shelter and a fire pit next to the trail, so you can even organise a barbecue in the beautiful surroundings.