Excursions from Lake Heviz to Keszthely and Köszeg
Being treated for various ailments or just relaxing in the thermal resort of Heviz, it is better to rent a car and drive through the medieval cities of Western Hungary: Koszeg, Sopron, Sü meg, Keszthely and so on. Particular attention should be paid to Koszeg and Keszthely, the latter being only 5 km from Lake Heviz. There are a lot of museums there. The church of the 13th century with the most beautiful frescoes, according to experts in Hungary, and, of course, the baroque palace of the Festetics family, built in Keszthely in 1735. The family itself is Croatian, but Dö rgy Festetics served at the court of Maria Theresa in Vienna. He made a great career and amassed a decent fortune. As evidenced by the interiors and interior decoration of the palace. Refusing to participate in the war of liberation, Derd Festetić directed all his efforts and considerable funds to the economic and cultural development of Keszthely and its environs.
The next hero of our story is the "Hero City" Kö szeg, located about 100 kilometers from Heviz, it is known for its superbly preserved medieval fortress and an excellent wine museum. In 1289, the descendants of the Austrian Princely dynasty of Gü ssing (Kö szeg in Hungarian pronunciation) laid the first stone here in the foundation of the castle, which became their residence. Until the beginning of the XIV century, the free city was subject only to its feudal lords - the Kosegi family. The freedom-loving family clan is in opposition to the Hungarian kings, but in 1325 the king of the Anjou dynasty, Charles Robert, the same one who introduced the golden forint, annexes the well-fortified and strategically important Kö szeg to Hungary, and gives him the status of a free royal city.
Thanks to its advantageous position, for many centuries the city has been the cultural and political center of Western Hungary, until, after an uprising led by Prince Rakoczi, it gives the “palm” to the city of Szombathely (translated from Hung. Saturday place). The main historical event of Kö szega still staggers the imagination today! The army of Suleiman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottoman Porte, moving towards wealthy Vienna, met with unexpected resistance. In August 1582, the 80.000th Turkish army besieged the city, a small Hungarian detachment of 800 people led by Mikló s Juriš ić repelled 19 fierce assaults! “Apparently, Allah himself is helping these Hungarians... ” was heard in the camp of the enemy, whose army was a hundred times greater than the number of a brave detachment. After a month of siege, the Turks were forced to retreat from the impregnable walls of Kö szeg.
The army of the Ottoman Empire lifted the siege at 11 o'clock in the afternoon, so every day at this time you can hear the ringing of bells, and the hands of the clock on the city cathedral have long been sleeping peacefully on the number 11. the Esterhazy family. Having lost its strategic and economic importance, but retaining its heroic biography, the small, now provincial town is one of the main historical centers of Hungary. A superbly preserved medieval fortress, Gothic churches, museums, houses of wealthy townspeople in the Baroque style, create a fabulous atmosphere of a magical kingdom. The vineyards surrounding the city for more than 1000 years guarantee wonderful gastronomic experiences, and the mountain breeze that flies in the morning through the windows of a hotel room and brings the aroma of a thousand herbs fills the heart of a city tourist with romantic dreams.
Excursions in Western Hungary, from the thermal resort of Heviz. The cities of Keszthely and Kö szeg
