Balaton still has many hidden treasures far from the crowd. From a church ruin in the middle of a cornfield to the lakes of the Balaton Uplands, these hidden spots are great options for an autumnal excursion around Lake Balaton.
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Borostyán Fountain’s Chapel, Bakonybél
Originally built in 1826, this chapel in Bakonybél towers over three freshwater springs running into a single pool, created in 1996. According to legend, Gerard of Csanád and Gunther of Bohemia both spent years here as hermits. The fountain and the chapel are about a kilometre south of the village, if you start out from Szent Gellért tér.
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Human Comedy Group of Statues, Kornyi-tó, Káli-medence
The amazing landscape of Káli-medence is definitely worth a stop. The area around Kornyi Lake is a great spot for it: the lake often dries up during the warmer months, but when there’s water in it, it’s a paradise for waterbirds. Imre Veszprémi’s Human Comedy Group of Statues stands on the hill alongside.
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Hegyesd Castle
This often overlooked hill 281 metres high used to be a volcano, similar to Gulács. A castle was even on the summit. Now in ruins, this spot offers a beautiful view which you can reach by following the trail marked with a yellow strip.
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Kereki Castle
This romantic castle ruin atop Várhegy hill is almost as high as the one in Hegyesd. The castle, built in the 1300s, is easy to access from the village, just follow the signs. Once you reach the summit, you’ll be greeted by a scenic view.
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Köcsi-tó, Balatonalmádi
One of the lesser-known lakes in the area, Köcsi-tó is an old mine pit, covered in lush vegetation. Type Köcsitó utca into your GPS to get there.
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Lajos Kunffy Memorial House, Somogytúr
This colourful exhibition, hidden in a village in Somogy County, spotlights the life and work of painter Lajos Kunffy. Numbering 120 paintings, the collection is fascinating and only a short drive from the south shore.
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Pusztatemplom, Somogyvámos
This ruin is technically not a hidden gem, as it can be spotted quite easily, standing in the middle of rolling fields. A trail marked with yellow leads to this tower, which is the last reminder of a long-gone village that stood here.
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Sóly’s church
This Árpád-era structure in Sóly offers many sacred wonders by Main Road 8. The most fascinating are the near 800-year-old pieces of fresco. After a lengthy restoration, the church is now open to visitors.
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Szent István király Chapel, Badacsonytomaj
Named after King Stephen, this chapel on the eastern slopes of Badacsony isn’t easy to find. This modern building with a sharp tower and narrow windows was consecrated in 2014. Once an internment camp stood here, now there’s only silence. If you want to go inside the chapel, you can make arrangements via the phone number you'll find here.
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Windmills, Tés
These pretty windmills can be found on the hills north of Várpalota – you can reach them from the garden of the house at 20 Táncsics Mihály utca in Tés. Once you have seen the mills, check out the exhibition in the smithy.
