Jewels of Balaton villa architecture: time travel from Földvár to Füred

If you are in Balatonföldvár, it is a great programme to wander along the Kvassay promenade, under the giant plane trees. The Hotel Anna Villa, one of the most impressive historical buildings in Földvár, is located on the characteristic shore of the town. The elegant villa was built in the 1890s in the style of turn-of-the-century Balaton architecture and it originally served as a holiday home. Today, it still preserves its old glory, while it has been given a modern function: a hotel operates within its walls, and Fricska Balaton was also opened here, which, as the little sister of Fricska from Veszprém, offers excellent culinary experiences. The menu includes traditional dishes made from seasonal ingredients, but it is also worth trying the chef's current offer or signing up for one of the excellent gastronomic programmes. The immediate surroundings of the villa are also magical: the well-kept garden, cosy playground and the proximity to the shores of Lake Balaton create a real family-friendly idyll. Both the accommodation and the restaurant welcome visitors all year round!

"Grapes feel good in beautiful places," goes the saying. This is also the case in Csopak, at the St. Donát winery, where the vines really cannot complain: they are found at a high point from which two-thirds of Lake Balaton can be seen.

In addition to the panorama, the built environment of the winery is also worth mentioning: the wine-grower’s house built in the radical Balaton Highlands style was designed by Endre Szűcs, and the master builder Ferenc Heimann used bricks from the 200-year-old Gizella mill for the underground cellar system. Organic viticulture takes place on the estate of only 15 hectares, which means that viticulture is carried out entirely by the Kovács family, which runs the winery, with limited yield and minimal intervention. The winery is open all year round. After prior registration, you can also participate in a wine tasting, which takes place on the winery's wine terrace, from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Lake Balaton and the vineyard. In addition, there are also other great programmes on the estate, it is worth checking out their event calendar.

The Vaszary Villa is one of the jewels of Balatonfüred, which stands out among the attractions of Füred with its elegance and cultural significance. The villa, located in the cultural quarter of the town, was built in 1892 based on the plans of the architect Győző Czigler, in an eclectic style. Originally, it served as the summer residence of Cardinal Kolos Vaszary, and the ornamentation of the building and the surrounding park also reflect the taste of the time. The building, renovated in 2010, homes the Vaszary Gallery: its speciality is that the rooms of the villa have been converted into exhibition spaces. Within its walls, the art-loving public has already seen the works of such excellences as Amrita Sérgil, Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso or Robert Capa. In addition to the exhibitions, creative workshops and interactive museum pedagogical sessions for young people are also included in the gallery's annual calendar of events. To complement the cultural refreshment, it is worth relaxing in the park of the holiday home of the former prince primate, in the Vaszary Café and Garden, or to watch a movie in the Vaszary garden cinema.

Villa Chez les Amis, located in Balatonszepezd, is a truly special accommodation, where the atmosphere of a historic villa is combined with modern comfort. The classicist villa building, built in 1929, was renovated in 2022, preserving its original character. The villa welcomes its guests with six uniquely styled, comfortable rooms, each named after a famous French actor.

'Nomen est omen': the villa – true to its name – offers a friendly, social experience. The dinners take place at a common table, where the hosts, Kriszta and Péter Karikás, offer the guests fine dining dishes made from seasonal, local ingredients. Undisturbed relaxation is served by the fact that there is no TV in the villa and a further special feature is that the entire energy supply is provided from a renewable source. The building's romantic atmosphere, well-kept garden and the view of the Káli basin offer a special experience for all guests and it is open all year round.

Villa Gyetvai is one of the iconic buildings of Balatonalmádi, which evokes the atmosphere of the turn of the century: it was built at the beginning of the 20th century and since then it has been one of the jewels of the town. The elegant facade of the building and the well-kept park form a perfect harmony with the tranquillity of Lake Balaton. A tour of the winery is an excellent choice for wine lovers all year round: in the winery, wines are made from grape varieties considered traditional in North Balaton, such as Furmint, Kékfrankos and Italian Riesling, while the portfolio also includes Chardonnay, Rhine Riesling and Syrah. The ground floor of the elegant villa building also operates as a wine bar and cultural salon, where wine tastings, wine dinners, exhibitions and cellar visits are regularly organized. The surroundings of the building can be an ideal location for a quiet walk on the Balaton even in the off-season and in the surrounding streets, the lovers of architecture can discover other historic villas in Balatonalmádi.