The Village of Szigliget is situated on the north shore of Lake Balaton, between Badacsony and Keszthely. It is one of the most picturesque and romantic parts of the lake shore. It is located on a peninsula on which and in the surrounding region there are a lot of extinct volcanic hills. It was an island for a long time and it could only be approached across the water by boat or ship. During the 19th century the Central Transdanubian waterways were regulated and Lake Balaton was partially drained. As a result of this work Szigliget became a peninsula instead of an island. Water was drained from its north western approaches. The landscape is uniquely mediterranean: inside the peninsula fields of wild flowers, coppices, woods, vineyards, fruit trees covered in blooms in the spring alternate with each other. The plentiful sunshine ripens figs in the well protected corners and on the slopes famous Szigliget wine is produced. The hills have interesting old names: Rókarántó (Pull the Fox), Királyné szoknyája - Óvár (The Queen's Skirt - Old Castle), Kamonkő (Kamon Rock), Soponya, Majális domb (May Hill).
Szigliget from the air.
The closed position of Szigliget afforded a home to prehistoric man, and archaeological finds prove that Stone and Bronze Age man lived here. Continuous human occupation is witnessed by Celtic, Roman and Avar burial sites. Following the arrival of Magyar tribes during the 9th century to the Carpathian Basin, from the 12th century written proof of the village exists, according to which the occupants were quarrying stone and lime burning. The Church of Avas was built at that time, which was the centre of the settlement in those days. (Révhely/Réhely - Ferry Point.) The most famous of Szigliget's historic monuments is the Castle raised in the Middle Ages. During Turkish occupation the Old Village was built around the Castle on Castle Hill. The white-wash walled, thatched houses were dotted above each other with rambling narrow streets and they still preserve the atmosphere of centuries past today. As if time stopped, so peaceful is the mood of the Old Village nestling under the ruined Castle. With its magical natural surroundings it is one of the most favoured villages of Hungarian poetry. The settlement can be approached by boat; by car from the direction of the No. 71 road; those travelling by rail can disembark at Badacsonytördemic-Szigliget station or Tapolca and take a coach from the railway station to Szigliget.
Famous sites:
The first item of interest catching the eye of the visitor is Castle Hill (239 meter) with the Middle Ages Castle ruin crowning it. From the village church a footpath leads up to the lower courtyard of the Castle (about 15 minutes walk); from there a steep climb leads up to the Castle at the top of the hill. During the centuries several families owned it, each of them extending it and altering it.
Szigliget castle.
The owners of the Castle from 1454 were the Ujlaky family, the Tóti-Lengyel family, Bálint Török, and then the Lengyel family again. Its captains: Imre Martinfalvy, Bálint Magyar, János Lengyel. During Turkish occupation the Castle had military importance. The Castle of Szigliget never fell to the enemy. At the end of the 17th century most of the Castle was burnt down due to a lightning strike. In 1702 the remains were blown up on the orders of the emperor along with many other Hungarian forts. During the subsequent Rákóczi Revolution the insurgents could not make use of it. >From then on the Castle continually decayed. The first archaeological excavations and reconstruction commenced in 1913, then in 1953, later in 1963-66. From 1991 with the lead of Szigliget Castle Foundation extensive reconstruction work commenced in the Castle. The aim is to rebuild completely the Castle and to provide continuous maintenance. >From Szigliget Castle one of the most beautiful views in Hungary can be observed by the visitor.
The ruins of Avas Church (Csonkatorony - Ruined Tower)
The ruins of Avas Church (Csonkatorony - Ruined Tower) The Ruined Tower is what remains of Avas Church built in the 13th century. It is a quadrangle at the base, higher up it is hexagonal and octagonal at the top. Behind it stood the naved, straight church with the sanctuary at the end. Near it the shore is suitable for ferry boats landing, which is indicated by its name: Réhely (Ferry Point).
The Chapel at Rókarántó (Pull the Fox)
The Chapel at Rókarántó (Pull the Fox) The Chapel at Rókarántó - aptly named white-walled chapel - was built in Classicist style (Chapel of Holy Trinity). From the 168 meter high hill the view is breathtaking. Night illumination of the little Chapel is pretty too.
Eszterházy Palace (Alkotóház - House of Creation)
Eszterházy Palace (Alkotóház - House of Creation) Eszterházy Palace was built at the beginning of the 19th century in Classicist style. The building is decorated with a little turret. Its 15 hectare park is a nature preserve with botanical collection and rare tree species. Over one hundred year old trees are not uncommon in the park. At the bottom of the park the Tapolca Stream passes. Since 1953 the House of Creation - a retreat for writers - occupies it and the park is open to visitors.
The Park of Eszterházy Palace
The ruins of Old Castle are hiding on top of Királyné szoknyája (The Queen's Skirt). According to folk tradition many centuries ago an old gentlemen from Somogy County - on the opposite shore - wanted to build a castle on top of the Queen's Skirt. Every morning he rowed across from the opposite shore to Szigliget. All day he was building the walls, he only stopped at sunset. Then he set off in his boat across the moonlight waters to rest on his return. Next day when he arrived back to the bay he noticed that the walls built the previous day had fallen down. He continued like this for sometime, when one morning the sight of collapsed walls greeted him again. In his desperation he cried: "O'Castle, O'Castle, you ruined me!" and he returned to the other shore. After that he was not seen again working on the walls. Some said he spent some time looking at the fallen walls from his boat. But Old Castle was never built - so the tale ends. The ruins on Old Castle Hill excited archaeologists for a long time, but so far no adequate explanation has been found. Most of the geography and history books refer to it as ruins of a Roman lookout post. Some researchers thought the ship armada of Balaton was garrisoned here. The archaeologist Károly Kozák conducted the first excavations. It expired that the ruins of a regular shaped castle are hidden under the dense undergrowth covering the hilltop. The full length of the ruin is 41 meter and its maximum width 15 meter. From its orientation it is obvious that it was built to look out for an attack from the lake, or to control shipping or ferry crossings. A military survey map from 1566 presumably depicts this castle, so it must have had high military importance. It could have been defending the main Castle of Szigliget from surprise attacks. Its destruction must have coincided with Szigliget Castle.
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