Zalaapáti

The complex of the buildings of the Benedictine monastery can be found in the centre of the village. In 1715 Zalavár was connected to the abbacy of Göttweig (Austria). After the abbacy seat in Zalavár had been destroyed, the Benedictine order built a new monastery not on the original location, on the marshland, but norther in Zalaapáti which has a population of 1700 today. The new monastery was erected next to the medieval parish-church in 1753-57, later it was reconstructed in the shape as you can see it today. Nowadays it functions as a home for the aged. Not much later, in 1777-81, a new church was built instead of the old one. This is a single-naved, single-steepled Baroque church, the frescos of which were painted by Joseph Mölck, while the four altar-pieces were painted by Johann Schmidt.

Zalaszabar

 It is the first village located south of Zalavár the history of which dates back far into the past. Here was one of the seats of the Hahót-Buzád clan of German origin who were brought and settled down here by the King Stephen III in the 12th century. The archaeological excavations have found the wooden castle which was built by the outstanding member of the clan, ban Buzád. Later, having left the secular life, he became a monk. During the Tartar invasion, he died a martyr in the Dominican monastery in Pest while he was defending his flock. For this deed of his he was beatified. It might have been him who ordered the construction of the little church dating back to the 13th century which now serves as the sacristy of the present big parish-church. The church which gained its present shape in the 18th century has fragments from the 14-15th centuries under its plaster.

Besides all this, the village is well-known for its good wines and was the first settlement to set up a statue in memory of Ferenc Puskás, the greatest Hungarian football player.

Keszthely- Fenékpuszta

If you go south of Keszthely along Lake Balaton you will get to the ruins of the fortress of Fenékpuszta which is one of the most remarkable ancient monuments in Hungary. Next to it, you can find the uncared remains and buildings of the ranch which used to be the home for the famous stud of the Festetics family.

The inner fortresses of the Pannonia province were erected during the reign of the emperors Constantinus the Great and Valentinianus. The huge 377x358metre-sized fortress quad with 44 towers attached was built to defend against the frequent Barbarian attacks. It stood on a place easy to defend, on the peninsula which was surrounded by the water of Lake Balaton. It survived the turmoil of the Roman times, and was also inhabited by the settling peoples in the storms of the great migrations. The Goths who stayed in Transdanubia for 17 years left their marks on it as well, and even Theodorick the Great, the king of Italy, is supposed to be born here.

The 2.5 m wide walls contained 85,000 m3 stone, that was carried away to be used up for the nearby constructions. As a result of the archaeological excavations lasting for 125 years, the southern gate of the fortress, and the footing of the basilica and the horreum in the north-eastern corner can be visited today.

The ranch of the Festetics family was also built of this material before 1769. In 1799 the famous stud, which was the remarkable place of Hungarian horse-breeding was established here as well.

After the World War II the stud was taken by the USA as a compensation.