SOUTHERN TRANSDANUBIA (Includes the counties Baranya, Somogy and Tolna)
Southern Transdanubia, a varied landscape with flat terrains stretching betwen green hills, and valleys, lies south of Lake Balaton, the Danube bordering it on the west and the river Dráva on the south.
This mediterranean island has exciting attractions for the visitors in store:
- historic cities and sights
- thermal baths
- hiking, horse riding
- folk traditions
- cultural programs
- food and wines
The warm, temperate climate with lots of sunshine make this region a popular tourist destination within Hungary.
The center of the region is undoubtedly Pécs a 2000-year old town with relics from the Roman Era, Turkish mosques and a graceful minarette bulit by the Turks in the 16th century.
Pécsvárad a town northwest of Pécs and at the foot of the highest peak of Mecsek Mountain the Zengő, has a Benedictine Abbey founded in 1000.
Mohács, near the Danube bank, witnessed one of the most tragic events of Hungary's history: Turkish army overpowered and defeated the Hungarians here in a bloody battle in 1526. A Memorial Park commemorates the fight and the soldiers died in it. The so-called busójárás a street carneval with people wearing scary wooden masks, and saying good-bye to long winter days, became a major tourist attraction over the years.
In Siklós the most southern town of Hungary you can see one of the most well-preserved medieval castles of the country.
The county seat of Somogy county, Kaposvár is halfway between the Mecsek Hills and the Lake Balaton. The main attraction of the town lies in its buildings representing a a variety of architectural styles: neo-Romanesque and neo-Gothic church, or the Classicist Town Hall or the seccesist Dorottya House. Many talented Hungarian actors and actresses play at Csíki Gergely Theatre.
The idilyc Szekszárd is the central of the Szekszárd Wine Region the full-bodied, rich reds of which make it one of the top red wine producing regions of Hungary (the other one is the Villány-Siklós Wine Region).
Paks
Is a town in Tolna county, central Hungary, on the banks of the River Danube. The town is the home the only Hungarian nuclear power plant, which provides about 40% the country's electricity.
Southern Transdanubia offers an array of active pursuits.
The warm climate combined with fresh air make it a very attractive spot for outsode activities.
Go on an excursion along the Danube and explore the hidden gems around Mohács. At Nagynyárád you can learn the secrets of blue-dying form the local craftsmen in Bóly you can visit gingerbread and candle making shops.
Rural tourism is developing year by year with more and more welcoming, family-owned guesthouses.
Take your family to Fadd-Dombori, a popular holiday resort at the Danube all members of the family will find something to do: water sports, kayak and canoe courses, bathing, fishing.
The Gemenc is the most beuatiful flood area forrets of Hungary where the rivers Sió and Danube break into smaller branches forming small islands. head for Bárányfok a centre of Gemenc from where you can go for a scenic ride on a narrow-gauge railway.
Another option for a picturesque exploration is from a ship on the river Sió. Visit the bird reservatum where you cans ee rare species such as black larks, lesser spotted eagles, and levant sparrow hawks. Big game like deer also live in the forrests making the area hunters' paradise.
Often fast-flowing, clean brooks run down the rocks. You can see similar waterfalls in the Melegmányi Valley.
Lakes around Orfű are perfect for angling, bathing or boating. Visit the mill museum where the millers still mill wheta and taste homemade bread.
In the caves at Abaliget you can see intriguing stalactite and stalagmite forms and the air inside is beneficial for respiratory problems.
Adventure seekers might want to visit Lajos Kassai at Kaposmérő, to acquire the skills of horse archery from the internationally renowned master.
The Duna-Dráva National Park
- Guards the natural treasures of the nearly 50,000 hectares area between the two rivers.
- One of the nicest golf clubs in Hungary welcomes golf enthusiats at Hencse (between Nagyatád and Kaposvár.
- No kidding but almost every settlement in Southern Hungary has some kind of thermal bath or pool.
The wonderful climate of Southern Transdanubia allowed the region to produce the best wines of Hungary in three official wine regions:
Szekszárd Wine Region
Full-bodied reds with high tannin content and dark red colour characterize wines produced in the Szekszárd Wine Region. Do take home a few bottles of Kadarka an indigenous Hungarian variety which go well with dishes made with paprika. Some excellent roses and whites are also worth tasting in the cellars in and around Szekszárd.
Recommended Wineries: Vesztergombi Winery, Ferenc Takler, Tamás Dúzsi
Villány Siklós Wine Region (the home of my favourite pinot noirs)
The sub-Mediterranean climate in the Villány-Siklós wine region and in Szekszárd wine region provide more favourable growing conditions than Bordeaux which lies on the same altitude.
Some exceptional Merlots, Cabernet Sauvignons and Pinot Noirs are produced here. Vineyards of this region, where the first wine route of Hungary was established stretch on the slopes of the Nagyharsány Hills. Combine wine tasting in the neat cellars with sightseeing: the press house at Palkonya or the Wine Museum at Villánykövesd surely will interset wine lovers. Our favourite wine producers in the Villány region: Tamás Gere, Tamás Günzer and Alajos Wunderlich, wines of the Malatinszky Kúria, and the Tiffan family.
Mecsekalja Wine Region
A range of spicy and fragrant white vine varieties are cultivated at Mecsekalja: Muscat Ottonel, Italian Riesling, and the speciality of the region the Pécs Cirfandli.