On the way to Balaton

Travelling from Bük to Lake Balaton, we stopped at 2 very different castles before we reached the beautiful lake of my childhood.

Blue hour @ lake BALATON

Taking small roads to enjoy the landscape
Nádasdy Castle in Sárvár
The castle of Sárvár once had a moat and the name of the town is related to that: Sár means “mud” in Hungarian, and vár means “castle”.

The Nádasdy family is a major Hungarian aristocratic family whose roots reach back into the Middle Ages. Their motto is: “SI DEUS PRO NOBIS QUIS CONTRA NOS” (“If God is for us, who can be against us?”).  Nádasdy castle was one of their holdings. The exhibition in the castle was dedicated to the Nádasdy Hussars, a regiment named after the family, and the Hungarian Hussars in general.

Hussars in full action

The Nádasdy Castle and estate later became a property of the kings of Bavaria, and the former King Ludwig III died there in 1921, three years after being deposed. During the Second World War, the castle was used as the retreat of Ludwig’s grandson Prince Albert of Bavaria.

Herend porcelain
Walking through Sárvár

The next stop was at a very different castle in Nagyvázsony: Kinizsi Castle is a 14th-century fortification donated by King Matthias I to Pál Kinizsi. We explored all the floors of the keep, which were exactly as I imagined a keep would look like. A nice gown and a charming night, and it’s a dream come through (for a day 😉 ).

Kinizsi’s sarcophagus in the castle chapel
On the way to Lake Balaton !
Vineyards near the lake
Tihany

In the evening we walked to the harbour of Balatonfüred and had a great blue hour after sunset.

Flower of the Day

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