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Well, we're back again! :)
Fertőhomok, a Croatian-speaking settlement since the mid-16th century, maintains its traditions with a tambura band, a folk dance group and traditional craft and art programs. We can find the folklore housel right next to the bike path, where our exploration group admired the traditional costumes of the past, local historical documents and objects of everyday use back in time. Our journey then led us to the Neo-Roman style St. Anne's Church where we spent a few quiet moments admiring the church's frescoes.
Another popular resting spot for exhausted hikers is the refreshing spring in the neighboring village of Hidegség. The delicious spring — after which Hidegség is named — is located in the center of the settlement. We found a true Garden of Eden here: the so-called Parish Garden. The garden's special feature is the 21 springs that flow here and the resulting unique natural landscape with many protected plant and animal species. In 2020, the Parish Garden was transformed into a sacred, meditative and tourisict attraction. A notable monument is the village's St. Andrew's Church, dating back to the early Hungarian period. The frescoes in the 13th-century chapel can be viewed in the frame of a guided tour. Equestrian enthusiasts are warmly welcome at the nearby Ilona ranch with its sport- and leisure facilities.
Throughout history, the lives of the hardworking residents of Hegykő, Fertőhomok and Hidegség have been shaped by the unique, exceptionally fertile shoreline of Lake Fertő. Local vegetable production has been discussed in detail in another section. However, we would also like to mention here that the tomatoes, parsley, carrots and onions from the region have become famous and popular in many domestic and international markets for good reason.
One of the most important excursion destinations in the region is the Gloriette lookout tower in Fertőboz. The tower is associated with the name of Ferenc Széchenyi, who was already mentioned in the first part of our excursion offer. Perhaps the count sounds familiar, as he was born in Fertőszéplak and was the founder of the Hungarian National Museum. This historic lookout point was built in 1802 in neoclassical style on the former estate of the Széchenyi family. You can observe the lake with its reed belt, the canals, even the hills of Bratislava and the neighboring settlements in the distance. The Gloriette can be reached via approximately 300 stairs.
Deep in the forest, between Fertőboz, Hidegség and Nagycenk, wanderers will find a tomb surrounded by Caucasus pines: on the site of a former chapel, Béla Széchenyi (son of István Széchenyi) and his wife Hanna Erdődi are buried. Erected in the spirit of "Faith, Hope and Love," the monument can be reached from Fertőboz through the vineyards. Our small group turned from the main road in Nagycenk at the statue of Saint Apollonia onto the dirt road — or we can even "stretch our limbs" along the 2.6-kilometer-long linden avenue from the Széchenyi Castle in Nagycenk to reach the monument.
One of the most famous and most visited attractions in the area is the castle in Nagycenk, the former estate of the Széchenyi family. Many of the area's sights and tourist destinations are connected to the famous family. The renovated castle and its memorial museum offer an interesting program in themselves. We can take a long stroll along the aforementioned linden allee, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which reminds visitors of the everyday life in the count families 200 years ago. It is worth visiting the cemetery behind the Széchenyi Parish Church to see the Széchenyi family mausoleum. To the delight of children and adults, we can enjoy the playground in the park and take a look at the Széchenyi Museum Railway across the street. Take a short but unforgettable ride on the children's railway.
Taking a look around from the Gloriettel in Fertőboz, you'll notice the change in the landscape: you're now amidst the hills of the Sopron wine region. The former Széchenyi Cellar still houses an excellent winery, and neighboring Balf is also a unique and characteristic site for grape and wine growing in this wine region. Locally produced wines are offered at almost every house and inviting visitors to taste them. The healing water are just as popular – even the Romans used the high-sulfur waters for bathing and drinking cures. In addition to the once vibrant spa life and flourishing vineyards, Balf is also a sad national memorial: during World War II, a labor camp was set up in the village where around 2,000 people lost their lives due to inhumane treatment, including the Hungarian writer and literary historian Antal Szerb. The memorial, consisting of a sculptural complex, is located on the slope of the cemetery hill.
From Balf, our group continued towards Sopron and reached the last stop of our tour, Fertőrákos. The village's landscape is also a protected monument. The settlement, with its long history, was inhabited even before Christianity, as evidenced by the Mithras sanctuary, built in the 3rd century on the territory of the flourishing Roman Empire. The sanctuary is located on the Hungarian-Austrian border between Fertőrákos and Mörbisch and is easily accessible on foot or by bike. Few similar underground temples have survived from Roman times, making this cave sanctuary even more special. Quarrying in the settlement also dates back to Roman times and shaped the architecture of both the surrounding area and more distant settlements and towns until the mid-20th century. The Gloriette in Fertőboz was also built from the mineral resources of the Fertőrákos quarry, and the stone for many buildings in Vienna was also mined here. The quarry's columned enclosure is a special attraction; it is also unique from a geological, paleontological, and botanical point of view. For those seeking theater, concert, dance and opera experience, we recommend the quarry's varied annual program (available from May to early September). A stroll through the settlement reveals another special feature: Hungary's only pillory from the 16th century stands here in its original location – a reminder of the settlement's once independent jurisdiction. Fertőrákos is also rightfully known for its Mineral Museum, renowned throughout Europe. The calcite exhibition presents 2000 minerals, 300 fossils, and two previously unknown fossil finds of prehistoric mammals. The center of the settlement is the bishop's church, which is largely in need of renovation. From here, we can easily reach the marina, taking a turn off the cycle path into the lake's direction.
Lake Fertő is also ideal for taking boat trips. The water is pleasantly warm in summer and invites for bathing. Different kinds of boat trips offer a special opportunity to explore the lake and its surroundings almost all year. Drescher Boat Company (http://www.fertotavihajoutak.hu/) offers travelers a variety of cruise programs and ferry connections; there are several daily departures from the ports of Mörbisch, Rust and Illmitz. You can enjoy the sunset on a romantic cruise with a cocktail, take a boat ride to see performances at the Mörbisch Water Stage, or combine the cruise with a bike tour, an excursion to Rust and Burgenland, a panoramic train journey or a horse-drawn carriage ride – and experience the lake's flora and fauna up close.
As travellers head towards Fertőrákos, it's also worth visiting the nearby and historically highly significant Pan-European Picnic Memorial, which marked a milestone in the destruction of the Iron Curtain that divided Europe until the late 1980s.
We really hope we've inspired you to choose from the countless sights and places of interest around Lake Fertő on the Hungarian part and are confident that we'll soon have the opportunity to explore the Austrian side in a similarly detailed way.
The team at Hotel Tornácos wishes you a pleasant stay!
