Lake Balaton

Balaton Uplands National Park - Hungary

About the National Park

lavender plantations of the peninsula

The southern side retains the last of the once famous lavender plantations of the peninsula.

An old dream of the Hungarian nature conservation came true in 1997: a protected ecological system embracing the adjoining area of the Balaton Uplands was established with the connection of the already protected areas which had been separate for a long time. The area of 56 997 hectares of the Balaton Uplands National Park mainly consists of these six landscape protection areas.


Among its regions Kis-Balaton is also protected by the international Ramsar Convention, serving the protection of wetland habitats. Tihany Peninsula - as a recognition of its outstanding geological values and the work of nature conservation in that region - was awarded of European Diploma in 2003. The Natura 2000 areas, covering partly the National Park and going beyond its area ensure the possibility of the conservation of habitats, plant and animal species which are of European importance.


Kis-Balaton

Kis-Balaton, Kányavári-sziget

The Balaton Upland - Kányavári Island is a protected wetland habitat of the Small-Balaton, which can be visited without a guide.

One of the strangest landscapes of Balaton Upland which can be found in the tapering southwestern corner of Balaton, the Kis-Balaton. This nature conservation area was the bay of the lake sometime, that one three kilometres of wide channel connected to the lake, entirely while Zala is a river gradually filled it up with his stream deposit. So the Kis-Balaton became one of the country's largest marshes, from which only an island emerges.



Bakony - Balaton Geopark

A former basalt mine Hegyestű

A former basalt mine Balaton Uplands National Par - Hegyestű "Pointed Needle", in which you can see the inside of a volcano formed 5-6 million years ago.

There is a geopark initiative near Lake Balaton and some parts of Bakony Mountains, called Bakony-Balaton Geopark, managed by the Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate. The 1.600 km2 area of the geopark has a very rich geological heritage and a lot of cultural, historical and ethnographical values. There are some local communities and organisations involved in this special and new way of tourism, the sustainable geotourism, which is also a chance for improving the economy of the rural areas.
The centres of the geopark will be the Hegyestű Geological Demonstration Site and the Visitor Centre in Tihany to be developed by the National Park Directorate in the near future. The Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate wishes to apply for the membership of the European Geoparks Network, integrated into the UNESCO-endorsed Global Geoparks Network.

Tapolca Basin

Szent György-hegy/Basalt columns

Country cottage in Balaton Uplands National Park - Salföld

From Káli basin to west, the witness mountains of Tapolcai basin appears as part of the Balaton Uplands National Park.

The witness mountains his identical altitude marks the former surface near, onto which the basalt lava ran, the tuff was dispersed concerned. The basalt mountains of the area are not only unique and picturesque geological relics, they are also the habitat of many rare plants and animals. In addition to the natural values it is worth to mention the vineyards dating back to the Roman times, the architectural relics of the hills and villages: ruins of castles, churches, palaces, as well as the relics of popular architecture.

Several botanical rarities live in the extreme climatic and geological conditions of the basalt mountains. The abundance of the yellow golden alyssium on the rock and quarry sides is picturesque.

Balaton Uplands - sights, day trips, activities, attractions and highlights

Pictures National Park Hortobágy, Great Fishponds

The nearly 300 meter long cave-system, this unique attraction is situated in the heart of the town. It was opened to the public in 1940, after ten years of its discovery.