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Děkujeme za krásné ubytování a za velmi milý a příjemný personál, který se ním snažil ve všem vyhovět i tím, že se naučil částečně česky :-) Jídlo bylo úžasné a wellnes též. Budeme hotel rádi doporučovat.
Hana DundáčkováOnce upon a time - not beyond the seas, but in the northwestern corner of Hungary, in a small village called Hegykő - there once lived a teacher and an engineer. They were skilled not only with children and machines, but also with tomatoes, peppers and brilliant ideas. They were Klári and Károly Hospely who gave the first heartbeat to the soul of Tornácos.
Both came from families that had grown vegetables for generations. While raising their elder child and working full-time in their professions, they still managed to deliver their famous “Fertő-region vegetables” to the Bosnyák Square Market in Budapest and to the ABC store at the Southern Railway Station during the 1970s.
Then, in 1981, a European road trip planted a new idea in their minds: What if we dreamed a little bigger? That’s where it all began – with a small vegetable stand at the thermal bath of Hegykő, where the scent of fresh dill mingled with that of ripe watermelon, and where boiled corn on the cob was just as popular as a string of paprika.
How a dream becomes reality – with hard work, love and a little garlic
By the late 1980s came a new era: political transition, open borders and bicycle helmets. By then the couple had two children, and they quickly adapted to the changing times. In 1988, they moved their stand from the bath to a spot beside what would later become the cycling path, setting up a small wooden hut. Alongside the already familiar vegetables and souvenirs, soon appeared something new: Klári’s hamburgers – yes, before McDonald’s - Thank you very much!
Some cyclists didn’t even stop, they simply stretched out their basket for a bunch of radishes, a bulb of garlic or even a bottle of champagne and pedaled on toward Austria. Those who did stop could sit down for a rest, where local hospitality already had the same warmth and charm it has today: it was back then genuine kind, and always served with a smile, just like today.
At that time, there were no buildings here yet – this little hut was the embassador of what would later become Hotel Tornácos. It was the seed of a dream that would grow over decades, yet always remain rooted in the same soil: in a passionate family who loves to give, host, cook and tell stories – preferably over a good glass of wine, a hot bowl of soup or a slice of fresh homemade cake.
Beyond the arches – the dream that outgrew itself
As the 1990s arrived, the region’s favorite vegetable stand reached another milestone. The local municipality decided it was time to remove the old wooden huts, implement a new village plan and designate building plots. So, farewell little wooden booth – thank you for being part of our story. Now it was time for something more ambitious. And Klári and Károly already had a vision in mind…
One of Károly’s former classmate, the architect Terézia Zambó, who would later be honored with the Ybl Miklós Prize (Hungary’s highest architectural award), was at that time working on the development plan for the Fertő region. This is one of those moments when “good connections” materialize not only in anecdotes but also in architectural masterpieces. So that is how it happened that Teréz and her husband, József Koller – both Ybl Prize-winning architects – designed the building that remains, to this day, the heart and soul of Tornácos.
Klári and Károly did not leave anything to chance. Out of five plots created by the municipality, they purchased two, and in 1990, construction began. Their main goal was to ensure that the new building would faithfully preserve the traditional architectural style of the Fertő region, while remaining adaptable and expandable. It had to include space for a grocery and gift shop, but also be suitable later for adding guest rooms, a bicycle storage, beauty services or even a restaurant. Over the years, the interior evolved through their own hands-on work, shaped by life’s rhythm and opportunities.
During the early years, the room that is today the Borostyán (Ivy) private hall served as the shop, while – thanks to a family friend – the current office area housed a dental practice. ('cause really, what fits better next to a grocery store than a dentist? :)) The space that is now the Winter Garden was originally an open courtyard with arches and a covered veranda. Those signature arched corridors eventually gave the house its name (“tornácos” meaning “with a porch or veranda” in Hungarian). The “Tornácos House” slowly became a local landmark, known not only for its arches but for its atmosphere as well. More and more guests arrived – mostly from Austria in those days – and after a while, they came not only for paprika and salami. They wanted to stay overnight. And when a guest says, “I’d love to stay,” – what can a good host do but say yes?
Now the real story begins
At first, four guest rooms were created, followed by another ten within two years. There was no restaurant yet, but it soon became clear that the demand was huge. However, Klári and Károly couldn’t find a tenant they could truly trust with their regular and new guests. So they decided to create and manage the restaurant themselves, bringing on board skilled professionals who shared their core values: to build a kitchen based on local ingredients, regional products and reliable long-term suppliers, serving food that was not only delicious but also professionally impeccable.
The restaurant’s first head chef was the young, talented, and ambitious Zoltán Heveder, who in the following years not only delighted Tornácos guests but also excelled in national and international competitions and culinary shows.
As for the restaurant’s interior, the spirit of folk craftsmanship also lived on. The works of József Egresits and Károly Horváth (carpenters), Alajos Kovács (wood sculptor) and Terka Patonai and Ferenc Brodzky (ceramic artists) can still be seen and used in the house to this day. Their creations, made more than thirty years ago, are not locked away behind glass – they are on the tables, holding salt, pepper and guests’ smiles.
And then came the big day… followed by another, a bit later
The opening of the restaurant was set for 1 May, 1996 – optimistically, and with the kind of enthusiasm that didn’t believe in deadlines. You could say everything was ready… (except for the walls, the lighting and a few small details like, say, the kitchen). Work continued until the very last minute. There were days when Károly, still wearing paint-splattered trousers, was negotiating with suppliers, and others when Klári was discussing not only the menu but also the color of the curtains with the chef. In the final days before opening, the whole family was there – one cleaning windows, another carrying plates, someone quietly praying that everything would be finished in time. (Spoiler: it wasn’t.)
Finally, on 25 May, the restaurant officially opened its doors. And that was when the true story began – the one we now tell as a thirty-year journey. We consider that day the birthday of Tornácos: the day when a dream finally opened its doors to welcome its guests. Thirty years, two (or even three) generations and countless stories later, Tornácos is no longer just a place to stay or a restaurant. It is the realization of a dream – where every brick, every plate and every smile still holds the magic of the beginning. And the story? It’s far from over…
More than just a place to stay – the birth of a living space
Over time, the reputation of Tornácos spread far beyond the borders of Hegykő. As good news often does, it traveled fast. What had once been a small guesthouse, restaurant and beauty salon gradually grew into a small “kingdom” – one that attracted more and more visitors and attention. The Tornácos soon became a popular venue for events and family celebrations, and during the vibrant years of cross-border tourism, there were times when ten Austrian tour buses a week arrived one after another. The parking lot filled with vehicles that looked as if an international gastronomic festival were taking place. (And, truth be told, they probably weren’t far off.)
Naturally, this growing popularity demanded more space. The Winter Garden, which had once been an open, arched courtyard, was soon covered with a roof. The restaurant’s veranda received glass walls, and even the terrace gained partial roofing. And the fourteen rooms? They were not enough, either. When the opportunity arose to purchase two neighboring plots, the decision was immediate – another expansion was on the horizon. Once again, architects Terézia Zambó and József Koller took on the design work, because when something works perfectly once, you don’t change the formula.
An additional plot across the street could be purchased as well. At the time, no one could have guessed that nearly two decades later, this would become the site of the Tornácos Lifestyle Park – home to solar panels, outdoor relaxation areas and many of the features that are no longer considered luxury today, but a natural part of the guest experience.
By 2003, the Tornácos already offered 23 rooms, and with sustainability in mind, solar collectors were installed on the roof. A wellness area was built, and the beauty salon moved to its current spacious location. Finally, there was also a bright and welcoming reception area – the kind of place where you truly feel you’ve arrived. Around this time, the original grocery store also closed its doors for good. It wasn’t a sad farewell, but rather a symbolic one – an era had ended to make space for the new Ivy private hall and a small gift shop, where local values and traditions could continue to live on.
At Tornácos the past doesn’t gather dust – it lives
Behind every chapter of the Tornácos story lies the same intention: to do everything with heart. Whether it’s creating a new guest room, organizing a reception or hosting an art exhibition – the goal has always been the same: to welcome everyone warmly, building on local values, in a human and heartfelt way.
For us, constant renewal and modernization do not contradict the preservation of folk traditions. Quite the opposite: the true value is what stands the test of time – whether it’s a hand-carved wooden chair in the restaurant or the decades-old warmth with which we greet returning guests. As Tornácos evolved, so did its role in the cultural and community life of the Fertő region. We’ve always believed in collaboration – with local institutions, heritage protectors and artists. Paintings, textiles, wood carvings and lacework displayed throughout the house tell stories – of the past, the present and of everything we love about this land.
The other side of Tornácos – new dreams, new venues
When a dream grows big enough, it eventually crosses boundaries – sometimes quite literally across the street. That’s exactly what happened in 2010, when Tornácos reached yet another milestone. This time, the expansion didn’t happen at the back of the “old garden,” but right across the main road, in a building that once housed the local agricultural cooperative’s president (László Babarczi) and later an optician’s shop. Many locals still referred to it as “the optician’s house,” but Klári and Károly already saw something else in it – a glimpse of the future. The concept of the Lifestyle Hotel matured slowly over the years – on paper, in drawers and in the family’s imagination. They knew this new place shouldn’t just provide rooms, but also new experiences, new possibilities and perhaps even a renewed sense of the Tornácos spirit.
Finally, in 2020 – a year that was far from simple for anyone – the new doors opened at last: 10 rooms, a fresh concept and the same values. Guests welcomed the new venue with open arms. The Tornácos Lifestyle Hotel quickly became a favorite among friends, families and couples looking for special occasions and unforgettable moments. And although the building was brand new, visitors immediately felt something familiar: that distinctive Tornácos warmth, the personal attention and the indescribable atmosphere that can’t be explained – only experienced. And where are we now, in 2025? Well, even here, space is starting to feel tight. But for us, that’s not a problem – it’s more like a friendly old companion who always inspires new ideas.
A new generation steps onto the veranda
The early 2020s marked the end of a major era – but only to make way for a new beginning. After decades of building, expanding and shaping Tornácos — while raising guests, children, arches, ideas and countless vegetables — the founders, Klári and Károly, deservedly retired (Spoiler alert again: they only think they did.) The baton was passed to those who had been there from the very beginning — though in slightly different roles back then: their two sons, Charles (Karesz) and Joseph (Joci). They were the ones who learned what hospitality truly meant in the courtyard of Tornácos, long before they even knew that was the word for it.
Karesz – the "grounded" innovator
After finishing school, Karesz began his career as an electrician, and for a while, he worked in his trade — because, as the saying goes, a person should have a proper craft. Yet, even among wires and cables, he could still hear the call of Tornácos. He was the first to decide that he didn’t just want to help out in the family business — he wanted to be part of it in a real, meaningful way. He works mostly behind the scenes, but always where he’s needed most: during construction, renovations, maintenance, and endless improvements, quietly but with steady hands. After all, the one who understands connections in the walls also understands connections between people.
Joseph – who always had “vegetable plans” even as a kid
As a little boy, Joci used to say, “I’ll sell vegetables in Mom’s shop.” And in a way, he made that dream come true — only the “shop” grew a little larger, now with a few rooms, a restaurant, a wellness area and about thirty years of stories behind it. Joseph was the first in the family to consciously pursue the trade of hospitality. After training to be a hospitality apprentice, he graduated from a forestry technical school (there is no veranda without wood!). He then continued his training at Hotel Sopron, where he not only practised foreign languages but quickly discovered he could speak the language of guests as well. He later completed a two-year wellness hotel management program, followed by studies in hospitality at Modul University Vienna. During this time he traveled, learned and observed, gaining valuable experience at Lake Wörther and later working on cruise ships, discovering the world. After eight months at sea, he returned home — because, as he realized, the world is beautiful, but home is home; and where your family’s dream lives, that’s where you belong.
Today, Karesz and Joci continue the Tornácos tradition with fresh energy, creativity, and new ideas, while preserving the values passed down by their parents.
And of course, they are not alone. Because, as in every good story, the heroes are never without their heroines — the ones who plan, organize, welcome guests and sometimes even know where the husbands left the keys. A
